The GMC Hummer EV is huge, there’s no denying that. The Wall Street Journal reported that the automaker was only producing around a dozen Hummer EVs daily. As one of the most popular electric vehicles slated for 2022, what’s the hold-up?

GMC Hummer EV production is slow but steady right now

According to the Wall Street Journal, GM is working on “ramping up production” on the GMC Hummer EV as soon as possible. The list of reservations is lingering somewhere around 77,000, meaning there is a lot to do before some of those potential buyers drive off in a Hummer EV.

GM is building the Hummer EV in a renovated factory in Detroit called Factory Zero. 700 workers have been making the electric pickup truck as fast as possible, but there isn’t much to show for it yet. According to someone familiar with the situation, the factory is only producing about 12 Hummer EVs a day.

Someone familiar with vehicle production said this output is pretty slow and trails behind competitors like Ford and Rivian. A company spokesperson for GM said that production is on schedule, even if it does seem slow. Since the Hummer EV was developed from the ground up, production has been slower than usual. GM is focusing on quality over quantity.

GMC Hummer EV production should speed up with the new battery cells

Output for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV is expected to speed up in the second part of the year. Why the change? GM hopes to be using battery cells produced in its new Ohio factory by then, cutting down on time. As it stands right now, The Hummer is using outsourced LG battery cells. The new factory is a collaboration with South Korean company LG Energy Solution.

“Our ability to satisfy that demand is only going to improve as we bring on vertical integration of battery cell production. You can expect to see hundreds of deliveries grow to thousands later this year.”

GM | WSJ

The spokesperson continued, noting that the wait for the Hummer EV is longer due to its “unique features.” Let’s face it; the Hummer is giant. That means more parts, bigger pieces, and a distinctive vehicle that no one else is building. GM says that accounts for some of the hold-ups.

Production for the Ford F-150 Lightning is speeding along already

The Wall Street Journal says that the Ford F-150 Lightning production is hovering around 150 per day. With more than 200,000 F-150 Lightning reservations to fulfill, the automaker better be moving that quickly. Ford started production in April. Rivian has produced around 2,500 R1T electric trucks in the first quarter, with production beginning in 2021.

The Hummer EV and Hummer EV Pickup both have pretty high prices, around $85,000 to $110,000. Due to the high price, it won’t have as high of a sales target as some of the more mass-market options.

Either way, GMC Hummer EV production seems to be moving along at the intended pace. With so many new parts and technology, some brands have been caught up in recalls already. Hopefully, the slow production pace means fewer issues down the line.