Interview with GM Canada's Steve Carlisle on Bolt EV

GM Canada President and Managing Director Steve Carlisle: "The goal of the Bolt EV program was a car that would have mainstream appeal and the technology will only make a difference if it is in the hands of a lot of people.”

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

As the 2017 Canadian International Auto Show kicks off in Toronto this weekend, I went back to an interview I did at the Detroit International Auto Show with GM Canada's President and Managing Director  Steve Carlisle about the 2017 Bolt EV, which was the first electric vehicle to win North American Car of the Year, as well as some of the current trends in the Canadian automotive market. Hit jump for the full interview.

GS: " Congratulations on winning the NACY honours for the Bolt EV. A car that way shown as a prototype here last year and which took 25 months to create from concept to production."

SC: “It’s an important car, so it is always terrific when that recognition happens. Bolt EV is a recognized car already but this is one of the pre-eminent autoshows of the world, so it is a great start to 2017.”

GS: "Do you see the necessary awareness and infrastructure to support EVs happening in Canada?"

SC: “In the last year, it’s either happened or is in the process of happening. We’ve seen government sponsored programs to build out public infrastructure, which I think is terrific. What we’re really encouraged by, taking the Volt EV as a proxy, is despite lower fuel prices during the course of the year last year, we increased our Volt sales by 133 per cent last year. In Toronto and Vancouver we increased to over 200 per cent, around 263 per cent in Toronto.”

GS: "That's encouraging. The best thing about GM's hybrid and EV platforms is that they've been available in the market. The first Bolt EVs started shipping to customers in Canada a few weeks ago."

SC: “The consumer is at the centre and the consumer has choice. We have to do what we can to make our choice the most compelling. The goal of the Bolt EV program was a car that would have mainstream appeal and the technology will only make a difference if it is in the hands of a lot of people.”

GS: "Speaking of mainstream appeal, the Bolt EV at this show has managed to eclipse some of the more exotic EVs like BMW's i3 and i8 models which cost three or four times as much. Consumers now see an option that is attainable and not just aspirational."

SC: “There’s a role for cars like that that influences the role of the technology. We define the mission of the Bolt EV to be accessible to the mainstream, and in Canada the government’s really come to the table as well with purchase incentives, as high as 14,000 on purchase and investments in charging infrastructure.”

GS:"Here at the Detroit Auto Show, and likely at the Toronto CIAS, there seems to be sustained interest in trucks and SUV's, perhaps more so than sedans."

SC:” We’re in an intermediate term shift from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers. With consumers at the centre, what is it that they need? We have new GMC Terrain and Sierra trucks which are available in various options, including hybrid."

GS:"GM has been a proponent of technology in vehicles, you were the first with 4G-LTE and infotainment options like CarPlay and Android Auto. How's that going for you?"

SC: “We have 500,000 vehicles on the road with 4G-LTE, we’ve been at that for a couple of years. All have OnStar and many have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There's also As much as propulsion technology is improving, so is safety and assistive technology."