Money is flowing into more electric trucking companies as the industry still grapples with a years-long slump in freight demand and slow electric vehicle (EV) adoption. FedEx is co-leading a $160 million funding round into medium-duty electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer Harbinger, placing an initial order for 53 of its EVs. More from Sourcing Journal At the same time, Swedish-based autonomous trucking technology company Einride is preparing to go public via a SPAC at a valuation of $1.8 billion, foll ...

Core Points - General Motors (GM) has donated 59 BrightDrop electric vans to the American Red Cross to enhance disaster preparedness and relief efforts [1][4] - The donation is part of GM's long-standing commitment to disaster relief, having supported such initiatives for over 20 years [3][6] - The Red Cross responds to over 65,000 disasters annually, and GM's support is crucial for building response capacity [6] Group 1: GM's Contribution - GM's donation of 59 BrightDrop electric vans will aid the Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) partners in delivering essential services before and after disasters [1][4] - The BrightDrop vans are designed for efficiency, with an estimated range of 296 miles per charge and a cargo capacity of 614 cubic feet [5][10] - GM has been a member of the Annual Disaster Giving Program since 2010, pledging donations in advance of disasters [3] Group 2: Red Cross Initiatives - The Red Cross CAP initiative collaborates with local organizations to enhance community resilience and mitigate disaster impacts [2][4] - The Red Cross provides critical services such as shelter, food, and emotional support during disasters, mobilizing a team every eight minutes [6][8] - The organization relies heavily on donations and volunteer support to fulfill its mission [8]

Group 1 - Amazon.com, Inc. is testing GM's BrightDrop electric vans as part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate goals [2] - The company aims to have 100,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road by 2030 and plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across operations by 2040 [2] - Currently, about a dozen BrightDrop vans are being tested alongside vehicles from other manufacturers such as Ford, Mercedes, Stellantis, and Rivian [2] Group 2 - Amazon holds a 16% stake in Rivian and has over 25,000 of its vehicles in its fleet, indicating a diversified approach to its electric vehicle strategy [3]

Group 1 - General Motors is laying off 500 workers at a factory in Canada due to weak demand for its all-electric BrightDrop vans [1] - The company is cutting one of the two shifts at the CAMI plant in Ontario and will idle the facility for 20 weeks starting in May [1] - GM stated that the layoffs are not related to the ongoing trade war initiated by President Donald Trump [1] Group 2 - BrightDrop was created as a separate entity within GM in 2021 but was absorbed back into GM in 2023 [2] - In 2024, BrightDrop's vans experienced a recall due to several battery fires [2] - Later in the previous year, GM moved BrightDrop under the Chevy brand [2]