Electric GMC Hummer ute confirmed for Australia
The first right-hand-drive electric Hummer EV pick-up has begun testing as part of a global export plan with Australia top of the list – but it is not through GM head office in the US.
The electric 2024 GMC Hummer EV pick-up is set to go on sale in Australia and New Zealand after the first right-hand drive conversion kicked off an export program planned for 77 countries – although it’s not through its original maker, General Motors (GM).
Global Conversions, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), converted the first Hummer EV pick-up from left-hand drive to right-hand drive earlier this month for testing and evaluation ahead of planned global exports.
The company specialises in converting vehicles to right-hand drive – predominantly cars from the United States (US) – where manufacturers do not offer them from the factory.
This has included the Ford Ranger-based Bronco SUV, Ram TRX ute (distinct from the Australian version remanufactured locally) as well as the SUV version of the Hummer EV, which it says are produced to ISO 9001:2015 to meet international quality standards.
Chairman Suresh Edirisinghe confirmed Global Conversion’s plans to produce the Hummer EV Pickup in right-hand drive for export to more than 77 countries, with Australia at the top of the list.
Key rival, the Tesla Cybertruck, is in the midst of a promotional tour of Australia – with no official plans for it to be sold here – making the LDV eT60 dual-cab the only electric pick-up currently in local showrooms.
Global Conversions confirmed it will convert the entry-level two-motor Hummer EV Pickup and more powerful three-motor version – both standard with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering – but there’s no news on timing or the prices for Australian customers.
The ‘2x’ two-motor version starts from $US98,845 ($AU149,879) before on-road-costs in the US with the more powerful ‘3x’ three-motor Pickup priced from $US106,945 ($AU162,062).
GM says the entry-level 2x Hummer EV Pickup makes 466kW with a driving range of 500km and has greater payload of 5443kg against the 3x’s 3401-3856kg ratings.
The ‘3x Pickup’ delivers 745kW, making it more potent than the Ford F-150 Raptor R pick-up’s 5.2-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine.
The 3x also gets the ‘Watts to Freedom’ launch control system as standard for an impressive 3.5 second 0-100km/h sprint and claimed 613km range between recharges when fitted with the standard 22-inch wheels.
Its 800V architecture enables 350kW rapid charging (300kW on the 2x) with a claimed 160km of range achievable after 10 minutes.
The Hummer EV Pickup uses the same General Motors (GM) Ultium battery as the Cadillac Lyriq SUV which – unlike the Hummer – is made in right-hand drive by parent company GM and is scheduled for Australian showrooms in late 2024.
General Motors Australian and New Zealand CEO, Jess Bala, told Drive in May 2024 it is committed long-term to producing right-hand drive vehicles for Australia.
The imported Chevrolet Silverado pick-up – with Chevrolet also owned by GM – is remanufactured to right-hand drive for local GMSV (General Motors Specialty Vehicles) showrooms by Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Automotive Group.
The Silverado competes with the US-built Ford F-150, which is remanufactured by RMA Automotive to right-hand drive for Ford Australia, as well as the fellow Walkinshaw-remanufactured Toyota Tundra and Ram pick-ups – the latter celebrating its 30,000th Australian conversion in May 2024.
