--- title: "EVs Are Still the โ€˜End Gameโ€™ Says GM CEO: TDS" date: "2026-01-13" modified: "2026-01-13" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/evs-are-still-the-end-game-says-gm-ceo-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # EVs Are Still the โ€˜End Gameโ€™ Says GM CEO: TDS ![Mary Barra, General Motors Chair and Chief Executive Officer]() *\Todd Plitt\* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Light, tight, and right, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive news from around the globe and puts it in one place. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. ๐Ÿšจ As you may have noticed we launched a new homepage design yesterday. It's a fresh take on *The Drive* that moves more content above the fold, makes better use of negative space, and delivers a more premium magazine-like feel. As our Editor-in-Chief Kyle Cheromcha said yesterday, "Desktop homepages might seem less important in an age of feed-based discovery and mobile audiences, but they're still a statement of purpose that defines a brand and optimizing them is an important service to loyal, every day readers." And that's our commitment, to deliver news, original reporting, features, and stories to you, our loyal reader. The redesign is only Mk I with updates for Mk II in the coming weeks as we refine and tweak the formula. Feedback is absolutely welcome and encouraged. Drop us a line at feedback@thedrive.com. The first cup of coffee is gone and it's definitely time for a second, so let's get into it. ๐Ÿ”‹ Despite spending billions on a next-generation V8 engine family and pouring money into truck development [GM CEO Mary Barra said that battery-powered vehicles are still "the end game;"]() the comment came from Barra after noting that with the Trump administration gutting the EPA regulations and loosening fuel-economy rules the automaker "had to make some fairly significant changes," which resulted in cutting billions of dollars' worth of EV investments. ๐Ÿ”Œ While the end game might be battery-electric vehicles GM CEO Mary Barra said the automotive giant is still [planning to sell plug-in hybrids in the U.S. ]()and is studying which market segments and vehicles will get the technology. ๐Ÿ“ˆ Despite the Trump administration killing the $7,500 federal EV tax rebate Kia's dealer council head said [demand for the three-row electric EV9]() is expected to remain strong. ๐Ÿ“‰ Mercedes-Benz [fell further behind BMW]() in the electric-vehicle sales race. ๐Ÿ’ฐ California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the federal EV tax credit with [$200 million in electric vehicle rebates](). โš™๏ธ The [refreshed 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class]() will be available with a flat-plane crank V8 engine. ๐Ÿš• Hyundai's planning to [launch its own robotaxi service]() to compete against Waymo and aims to succeed where GM failed with Cruise. ๐Ÿชฒ Lucid's interim CEO Marc Winterhoff [acknowledged the Gravity SUV launched with software issues]() and it resulted in him replacing the software team. ๐Ÿช‘ The [three-row seven-seat Tesla Model Y has returned]() with a set of seats in the trunk for passengers that have very short legs. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While youโ€™re reading this heโ€™s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()