BrightDrop
{{short description|Former electric commercial vehicle marque by General Motors}}
{{infobox company
| name = BrightDrop
| logo = BrightDrop logo.svg
| image =
| image_caption =
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = {{plainlist|
}}
| founded = {{start date and age|2021|01|12}}
| fate = Merged into Chevrolet
| key_people = Travis Katz (President and CEO, January 2021 – December 2023)
| products = BrightDrop Zevo
| owner =
| parent = General Motors
| subsid =
| website = {{URL|https://www.gmenvolve.com/fleet/electric-vehicles/brightdrop-zevo|gmenvolve.com/brightdrop}}
}}
BrightDrop was a subsidiary{{cite press release |url=https://www.gobrightdrop.com/newsroom/brightdrop-acquires-marains-ai-software |title=BrightDrop Acquires Tech Startup Marain's AI Software to Help Fleet Owners Lower Operational Costs |publisher=Brightdrop |location=US |date=10 June 2022 |access-date=1 August 2022}} business created by the American manufacturer General Motors in 2021.{{cite web |title=GM Launches 'BrightDrop' Brand For Electric Commercial Vehicles |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2021/01/12/general-motors-launches-brightdrop-new-electric-commercial-vehicle-brand/?sh=7dd567a26f4d |website=Forbes |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=12 January 2021}} The business offered a system of connected products targeting first- and last-mile delivery customers, including light commercial electric vehicles, {{Proper name|ePallets}}, and cloud-based software.{{cite news |last1=Korosec |first1=Kirsten |title=GM targets delivery companies with new EV business unit BrightDrop |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/12/gm-targets-delivery-companies-with-new-ev-business-unit-brightdrop/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=TechCrunch |date=12 January 2021}}
Its first products, the BrightDrop Zevo delivery van and Trace electric cart, were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on 12 January 2021.{{cite web |title=GM creating new EV business to speed delivery, logistics — BrightDrop |url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2021/01/12/gm-creating-new-ev-business-speed-delivery-logistics/6631884002/ |website=Detroit News |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=12 January 2021}} General Motors invested $800 million to produce the Zevo 600 in the CAMI Assembly manufacturing facility in Ingersoll, Ontario.{{cite web|last=Szymkowski|first=Sean|title=GM's Brightdrop electric delivery van production slated for Canada|url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gms-brightdrop-electric-delivery-van-production-slated-for-canada/|access-date=5 April 2021|website=Roadshow|language=en}} In 2022, CEO Travis Katz shared as part of GM's Investor day that the company was on track to generate $1 billion in revenue in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Trop |first=Jaclyn |date=2022-11-17 |title=BrightDrop is tracking $1 billion revenue in 2023 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/17/brightdrop-is-tracking-1-billion-revenue-in-2023/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=Frank |date=2022-11-17 |title=GM EV unit BrightDrop expects $1 billion in 2023 revenue, mass production of all-electric delivery vans to start in December |language=en |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/17/gm-ev-unit-brightdrop-forecasts-1-billion-in-2023-revenue.html |access-date=2022-11-18}}
In 2024, the BrightDrop division was merged into Chevrolet, with the Zevo being renamed the Chevrolet BrightDrop beginning with the 2025 model year.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2024 |title=BrightDropped: General Motors Moves Its EV Delivery Van Unit to Chevrolet |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/a62010266/general-motors-moves-brightdrop-ev-van-unit-to-chevrolet/}}
History
BrightDrop was one of the first successful businesses started in GM's Global Innovation incubator, headed at the time by engineer Pam Fletcher.{{cite news |last1=Lutz |first1=Hannah |title=GM launches commercial EV brand, with FedEx as first customer |url=https://www.autonews.com/future-product/gm-launches-commercial-ev-brand-fedex-first-customer |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Automotive News |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} Study of potential concepts for urban delivery began in September 2019 under the code name Smart Cargo. By February 2020, the Smart Cargo concept had evolved to include a potential electric delivery van and an electrically propelled container for delivery businesses. Later that year, GM appointed technology entrepreneur and investor Travis Katz to become president and CEO of BrightDrop.{{cite news |last1=Lienert |first1=Paul |last2=Klayman |first2=Ben |last3=White |first3=Joseph |title=CEO Mary Barra bets GM can grow beyond cars and trucks |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-general-motors-redesign-insight/ceo-mary-barra-bets-gm-can-grow-beyond-cars-and-trucks-idUSKBN2BU1A1 |access-date=21 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=7 April 2021 |language=en}} Previously, Katz had held executive roles at Redpoint Ventures, Skyscanner, and MySpace; he was also CEO and co-founder of Trip.com.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Chris |title=How GM's New BrightDrop EV Business Will Work with Fleets |url=https://www.fleetforward.com/10135810/how-gms-new-brightdrop-ev-business-will-work-with-fleets |access-date=21 April 2021 |work=Fleet Forward |date=1 February 2021}}
GM CEO Mary Barra introduced the BrightDrop brand as part of her address at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2021. After the announcement, GM's stock reached its highest price since its initial public offering in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Foldy |first1=Ben |last2=Colias |first2=Mike |title=New GM Electric-Truck Business Targets Delivery Market |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-gm-electric-truck-business-targets-delivery-market-11610467968 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=12 January 2021}}
In 2021, FedEx was announced as the first commercial customer for BrightDrop vehicles, which placed an initial order for 500 Zevo 600 vehicles.{{cite news |last1=Klayman |first1=Ben |last2=Lienert |first2=Paul |title=GM shares jump on plans for electric delivery vehicle business |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-launch-brightdrop-electric-delivery-vehicle-business-2021-01-12/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=12 January 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Wayland |first1=Michael |title=General Motors unveils EV van as part of new commercial business unit |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/12/gm-unveils-ev-van-as-part-of-new-commercial-unit-fedex-first-customer.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=CNBC |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} Merchants Fleet, a fleet management company, is slated to purchase an additional 12,600 Zevo 600s starting in 2023.{{cite news |title=Merchants Fleet to purchase over 12,000 EV600s from BrightDrop |url=https://www.fleetowner.com/fleet-management/press-release/21154331/merchants-fleet-to-purchase-over-12000-ev600s-from-brightdrop |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=FleetOwner |date=5 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Mark |title=Merchants Fleet To Procure 12,600 BrightDrop EV600s |url=https://insideevs.com/news/485714/merchants-fleet-12600-brightdrop-ev600/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=InsideEVs |date=4 February 2021 |language=en}}
BrightDrop changed the names of its entire lineup of products in April 2022. The EV600 was renamed to Zevo inclusive of two variants, the Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 (previously known as EV600 and EV410 respectively) and the BrightDrop Trace (previously known as EP1.){{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Kalea |title=GM's BrightDrop announces new names for its EV products |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2022/04/01/brightdrop-announces-new-names-ev-products/7247490001/ |access-date=2 April 2022 |work=The Detroit News |date=1 April 2022}}
In 2022, GM retooled the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Canada to the BrightDrop platform, to become General Motors Canada's first commercial electric vehicle manufacturing plant. GM stated that it invested $2 billion converting the plant to a state of the art EV manufacturing facility.{{Cite news |last=Baertlein |first=Lisa |date=2022-12-05 |title=GM's BrightDrop signs first customer in Canada, unveils country's first large EV factory |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gms-brightdrop-signs-first-customer-canada-unveils-countrys-first-large-ev-2022-12-05/ |access-date=2022-12-08}} Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford attended the opening of the plant in December, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-05 |title=A van from GM's brand-new Ontario electric vehicle plant could soon be bringing a package to your door |url=https://www.therecord.com/ts/news/canada/2022/12/05/a-van-from-gms-brand-new-ontario-electric-vehicle-plant-could-soon-be-bringing-a-package-to-your-door.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=therecord.com |language=en}}
In March 2023, BrightDrop shipped the first 500+ Zevo 600s built at the CAMI Assembly facility.
{{As of|April 2023}}, BrightDrop had more than 30 commercial customers, including Walmart, Hertz, DHL Express, Purolator Inc., American Tire Distributors, WasteNot Compost and Rexel USA.{{Cite web |title=Order Update: Your BrightDrop EV is on the Way |url=https://www.gobrightdrop.com/newsroom/first-canadian-built-zevos-shipped |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=BrightDrop |language=EN}} Ryder plans to purchase 4,000 BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans for its lease and rental fleet through 2025, with the first 200 arriving in 2023.{{Cite web |title=GM's BrightDrop ships first 500 electric delivery vans out of Ontario plant |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2023/04/03/gms-brightdrop-ships-500-electric-delivery-vans-out-of-cami-assembly/70075071007/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
On November 16, 2023, GM integrated BrightDrop more closely into GM's Envolve commercial business to provide fleet customers with an "efficient single point of contact."{{Cite web |title=Electric Delivery Startup BrightDrop Becomes Part of General Motors |url=https://news.gm.com/newsroom.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2023/nov/1116-brightdrop.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=news.gm.com}} CEO Travis Katz stepped down from the CEO role.{{cite web |last1=Korosec |first1=Kirsten |title=GM absorbs commercial EV unit BrightDrop, CEO is out |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/16/gm-absorbs-commercial-ev-unit-brightdrop-ceo-is-out/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=17 November 2023 |date=16 November 2023}}
Products
{{further|Chevrolet BrightDrop}}
File:2022 BrightDrop EV600.jpg
File:BrightDrop Trace e-Cart.jpg
BrightDrop's first two products are the Zevo 600 electric van and Trace electric pallet. The Zevo 600 is powered by GM's Ultium battery platform{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=Craig |title=GM's BrightDrop EV600 all-electric van looks ready to deliver at CES 2021 |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gm-brightdrop-ev600-electric-van-ev-ces-fedex/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=Roadshow |publisher=CNET |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} and is purpose-built for the delivery of goods and services over long distances.{{cite news |title=GM Unveils New Electric Delivery Van & EV Business Unit |url=https://www.automotive-fleet.com/10134542/gm-unveils-new-electric-delivery-van-ev-business-unit |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Automotive Fleet |date=12 January 2021}} It has a built-in security system{{cite news |last1=Gitlin |first1=Jonathan M. |title=FedEx will be the first customer for GM's new electric delivery van |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/01/fedex-will-be-the-first-customer-for-gms-new-electric-delivery-van/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Ars Technica |date=12 January 2021 |language=en-us}} and a range of 250 miles per charge. Its name is a play on its 600 cubic feet of cargo space.
The BrightDrop Trace can carry up to 23 cubic feet{{cite news |last1=Levin |first1=Tim |title=GM announces new electric delivery van with its own motorized pallet as part of new move into logistics |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gm-launches-ev-delivery-van-brightdrop-logistics-business-2021-1 |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=12 January 2021}} and 200 pounds.{{cite news |last1=Welch |first1=David |title=GM Expands Plug-In Push to Delivery Vans, Ultra-Luxury Cars |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-12/gm-to-sell-electric-delivery-vans-to-fedex-other-fleet-buyers |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Bloomberg |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} It has a built-in electric motor to move at a speed of up to 3 miles per hour, adjusting to the walking speed of its operator.{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=Craig |title=GM debuts BrightDrop EP1, a motorized delivery box at CES 2021 |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gm-brightdrop-ep1-electric-pallet-delivery-fedex-ces/ |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Roadshow by CNET |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} It helps delivery workers move goods over short distances, like from a van to a customer's front door. It has adjustable shelves and doors that can be remotely locked and unlocked. In a pilot program with FedEx, couriers were able to handle 25% more packages per day with the Trace and experienced less physical strain.
The company also has a cloud-based software platform accessible by web or mobile app. Its software can monitor vehicle locations and battery charges,{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Andrew J. |title=GM unveils electric delivery van with 250 miles of range as part of new spinoff business |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22225394/gm-brightdrop-electric-delivery-ep1-ev600-ces-2021 |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=The Verge |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}} manage vehicles remotely, predict maintenance needs,{{cite news |last1=Lutz |first1=Hannah |title=Q&A with BrightDrop CEO Travis Katz |url=https://www.autonews.com/shift/qa-brightdrop-ceo-travis-katz |access-date=21 April 2021 |work=Automotive News |date=28 February 2021 |language=en}} and optimize routes.{{cite news |last1=Geman |first1=Ben |last2=Muller |first2=Joann |title=General Motors and FedEx join the race to electrify package delivery |url=https://www.axios.com/general-motors-fedex-electrify-package-food-delivery-5d87c6cc-25d5-4ec2-9be3-bce811380874.html |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=Axios |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}}
A smaller version of BrightDrop's van, to be called the Zevo 400, will be built at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Canada from 2023, with the first models going to the fleet of Verizon.{{cite web |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2021/09/gms-brightdrop-starts-ev600-production-and-unveils-smaller-ev410-for-verizon/ |title=GM's BrightDrop Starts EV600 Production And Unveils Smaller EV410 For Verizon |publisher=Carscoops |date=2021-09-29 |accessdate=2022-08-12}}
Operations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website}}
{{General Motors}}
Category:Battery electric vehicle manufacturers
Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States