Electric pickup trucks beat diesel, Chevrolet sells 70 times more than Tesla

In the executive car category, this happened two years ago: The Tesla Model 3, XPeng P7, and BYD Seal took over a category long dominated by cars like the Mazda 6, Skoda Superb, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry.

This year, it happened in one of the most polluting categories on the market: Large pickup trucks, those weighing 3.5 tons or more, which require a C license. In the first seven months of the year, electric pickups accounted for 53% of sales in the category, almost entirely dominated by General Motors products: The Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and the electric Hummer pickup version.

The electric Silverado alone delivered 802 units, ahead of its twin, the Sierra (189), and the Hummer (85), all of which share common components. Another uniqueness: These vehicles arrived through small-scale parallel imports, although recently UMI, the GM brands importer, also began selling them, still via parallel imports until its regular import begins. Only 12 Tesla Cybertrucks and 4 Ford F-150 Lightnings were delivered.

The demand for diesel pickups has not disappeared: The diesel Silverado delivered 490 units, even recording a 10% increase. The newly launched Ram 2,500 sold 276 units, and the Ford F-250 added 210 pickups.

"The entry of electric pickups dramatically expanded the category and brought in new customers," says a commercial vehicle market source. "The Silverado, Sierra, and Hummer have large batteries and long range; the electric Silverado is shorter than the gasoline version and competitive in price. Along with VAT exemption and low running costs for those who can charge the vehicle at home or at work, this is a deal that attracts many."

What happened in the large pickup category may serve as a preview for the main segment of this market, the medium pickups, dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max. A Chinese Foton electric pickup, the eTunland, imported by Delhum, has already been sold in Israel, but it still lacks active safety features, and less than 100 units have been delivered since the start of the year, compared with 1,700 Hilux units and 1,250 D-Max units.

Next month, Auto Chen, the Maxus importer, will launch the eTERRON 9, a modern electric pickup with a 102.2 kWh battery, an official range of 432 km, and all-wheel drive. Performance stands at 5.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 170 km/h. With active safety systems, it received the maximum 5-star rating in the European crash test. Its price is expected to be similar to diesel pickups, around NIS 300,000. It can tow a braked trailer weighing 3.5 tons, and its load capacity is 620 kg—not as high as diesel pickups, but still suitable for most customers’ needs.

After the holidays, the KGM Musso electric will also arrive in Telcar showrooms. Despite the name, the first electric model from the Korean manufacturer (formerly SsangYong) in Israel is essentially based on the electric Torres, equipped with an 80.6 kWh battery and an official range of 400 km. It is rear-wheel drive and based on a monocoque chassis, which is expected to improve road handling and ride comfort. Like the eTERRON 9, the Musso is intended to appeal to those looking for a pickup for leisure purposes, to carry bicycles, motorcycles, or outdoor equipment, without the vibrations and noise of a diesel engine. It is expected to be cheaper than diesel pickups on the market.

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