Industry briefing: hybrid three row SUVs from GM, cheaper home backup power from Ford, and a busy October for car sales

GM will build hybrid SUVs in Lansing, Michigan

GM confirmed it will prepare its Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan for hybrid production, as part of more than $2 billion it is spending across the Lansing region, Automotive World reports. That total includes $1.25 billion already announced for the nearby Grand River plant. Delta Township builds GM’s three row SUVs and made a record 291,000 of them in 2025.

Reuters, citing people familiar with the plans, reported that hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia are planned there. GM has not confirmed the models or a start date. The US Department of Energy is also restructuring a $500 million grant awarded in 2024 to convert Grand River to electric vehicles, so that the money would go to hybrids at Delta Township instead.

What it means for owners: this follows CEO Mary Barra’s promise on October 20 to offer hybrids across GM’s key segments, which we covered in our October 26 briefing. If you want a three row family SUV with lower fuel bills, a hybrid Traverse, Enclave or Acadia looks likely, but GM has not said when, so do not hold off a purchase you need now.

Ford Fathom: a sub $30,000 EV pickup that can power your house

Ford’s new Fathom electric pickup starts at $28,350 before destination and dealer fees, according to Ford, with preorders beginning in early 2027. The truck has bidirectional power capability with the inverter built into the vehicle, so it can send more than 10 kW of AC power to a home without the separate converter most EVs need, Electrek and Canary Media report.

That matters for the cost of the home setup. Canary Media reports that a separate DC to AC inverter usually costs from just under $7,000 to more than $10,000, and GM’s DC vehicle to home bundle sells for $6,748. Ford says the Fathom’s Home Power Station will cost about half the $1,300 of its Charge Station Pro for the F-150 Lightning, and that the full backup kit (charger plus Home Backup Panel) will cost at least 60% less than the $5,200 Lightning setup. Final prices and installation costs are not published yet.

What it means for owners: if you live where outages are common, an EV that doubles as home backup could replace a generator, and the hardware is getting much cheaper. Utility rules for this kind of AC home charging are still limited; Canary Media notes only California and Maryland have set them outside pilot projects, so ask your utility first. See what charging costs in our EV charging cost guide.

Cox expects October new car sales up 7.2%

Cox Automotive forecasts about 1.38 million new vehicle sales in the US in October, up 7.2% from a year earlier, CBT News reports. The seasonally adjusted annual rate is expected at about 16.1 million, up from 16.0 million in September. October has 28 selling days, three more than September, which explains much of the jump. Cox’s Jonathan Gregory said fleet sales, wealthier buyers and wider access to credit are keeping the market strong despite high gas prices and low consumer confidence.

What it means for owners: small SUVs and compact cars are selling fastest, so you may find less room to bargain on them. Mid-size sedans are the one segment Cox expects to shrink, down 2.1%. Whatever you buy, the sticker is only part of the bill; see the true cost of owning a car.