GM partners with Nikola to build Badger electric pick-up
General Motors (GM) has been revealed as Nikola’s strategic partner to engineer and manufacture the electrified Badger pick-up truck.
In return for its “in-kind contributions,” GM receives a US$2 billion (11%) equity stake in electrified automotive start-up Nikola Motor and the right to nominate one director. GM – which owns the Holden brand that was recently killed off – said the partnership would enable it to “boldly move into broader markets with Hydrotec fuel cell and Ultium battery systems.”
In a joint statement, General Motors and Nikola Motor said GM would engineer, validate, homologate and build both the battery-electric (BEV) and fuel cell (FCEV) Badger variants.
Tapping into GM’s expertise here, Nikola said it “anticipates saving over US$4 billion ($5.5 billion) in battery and powertrain costs over 10 years, and over US$1 billion ($1.4 billion) in engineering and validation costs.”
Having just killed off local brand Holden, legacy auto maker General Motors – founded in 1908 – will be delighted to boost its future-thinking profile by aligning with market disruptor Nikola.
Arizona-based Nikola currently has a market capitalisation of around US$19 billion ($26 billion) despite never having brought a vehicle to market. By comparison, GM – which produced nearly 8 million vehicles in 2019 – has a market cap of US$46 billion ($64 billion).
Where the dual-cab 4×4 Badger will be produced wasn’t revealed, but the statement said it was “anticipated to enter production by year-end 2022.” Australia will be the first overseas market to receive the Badger according to Nikola’s Twitter account.
Pre-order books opened this June for the battery electric and fuel-cell Tesla Cybertruck rival, with Nikola Motor’s founder and executive chairman Trevor Milton tweeting on June 26th that cost would be “US$60-$90K” ($83,000-$125,000); Australian taxes will likely send those numbers higher, making the Badger a premium ute.
The 5890mm-long five-seat Badger claims to have 675kW/1330Nm and completes the 0-100km/h sprint in around three seconds. It will use a 160kWh battery pack or 120kWh hydrogen fuel cell, have independent torque control at each wheel, tow 3600kg and boast a range of around 480km (BEV) or 965km (FCEV).
General Motors has already revealed its drive towards electric technology with development underway for an all-electric Chevrolet Silverado pick-up and Cadillac SUVs and limousine.
Most exciting is the planned all-EV Hummer rebirth for later this year, which will use GM’s Ultium battery system destined for Nikola’s Badger. It has promised truck and wagon-bodied Hummers with 745kW and 15,592Nm (not a typo, although it’s wheel torque rather than motor torque, so cannot be compared with other quoted torque outputs) with 0-100km/h times of just over three seconds (also not a typo).
Nikola will utilise the Ultium battery system (which uses less cobalt and apparently cost about one-third less than current lithium-ion batteries) and Hydrotec fuel cell technology, which the Detroit powerhouse said represented “a key commercialisation milestone for General Motors.”
General Motors will also be exclusive supplier of fuel cells globally (except Europe) to Nikola for its Class 7/8 commercial trucks – including the Nikola Tre, Nikola One and Nikola Two – plus its NZT electric off-road buggy.
“Nikola is one of the most innovative companies in the world,” said Trevor Milton. “General Motors is one of the top engineering and manufacturing companies in the world. You couldn’t dream of a better partnership than this.”
“Nikola immediately gets decades of supplier and manufacturing knowledge, validated and tested production-ready EV propulsion, world-class engineering and investor confidence. Most importantly, General Motors has a vested interest to see Nikola succeed.”
Nikola said it will remain an independent company, and would be responsible for the sales and marketing of the Badger, while retaining the Nikola Badger brand.
The Badger is due to make its public debut on December 3 at Nikola World 2020 in Arizona.
