Any Takers? Chevrolet Previews Rear-Wheel Steering on Silverado EV

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

With Ford currently enjoying the brunt of the all-electric pickup coverage, General Motors needed to something to help highlight its Silverado EV and come up with rear-wheel steering. It’s something the upcoming electric F-150 will lack and could give the Chevy some advantages when moseying around a cluttered construction site or tight urban landscape.

In addition to a tighter turning radius, rear-wheel steering should also help the Silverado EV tackle trailers with a more ease. There are few things more terrifying than feeling the load you’re pulling start trying to have its way with the back half of your vehicle. Having the back wheels pivot to account for sway could be another big advantage Chevrolet could lean on once its electric pickup is going head-to-head with Ford’s.

There are some downsides. The system introduces complexity that could lead to loftier repair bills and more general maintenance. But it shouldn’t be too bad considering rear-wheel steering has been around for a few decades and has been fairly common among higher-spec automobiles since the 1990s.

It’s likely to be a selling point for some shoppers and something you’re likely to see come as standard on more pickups (though not yet). Rivian’s quad-motor layout allows its pickup to perform full rotations by turning the front tires and driving them ahead while the rear pair are put in reverse. While not technically rear-wheel steering, it should still offer impressive levels of maneuverability in tight quarters.

Meanwhile, the Hummer EV could help provide clues some of the additional features Chevy’s plotting for the electric Silverado. As platform mates, they’re already sharing rear-wheel steering and there’s a chance the pickup could adopt the Hummer’s adjustable suspension (which can raise or lower the vehicle by over a foot) and much-touted crab mode (allowing it to scuttle sideways). However neither of those are guarantees because the Silverado has been intentionally designed to be less off-road focused than the SUV.

GM is attempting to prioritize practicality with the pickup and opted to nix some of the unnecessary hardware to make additional room for batteries. This has allowed the upcoming pickup to offer an estimated 400 miles of range vs the Hummer’s 350 miles. Though those figures are temporary as the range for both vehicles are subject to change after the EPA certifies launch models, additional trims are introduced, and battery technology improves.

For now, Chevrolet said rear-wheel steering will be an optional upgrade to be accompanied by 24-inch wheels. You’ll have to check the box whenever the Silverado EV goes on sale. But we haven’t the faintest idea when that will be other than sometime in 2023 or perhaps even 2024.

[Image: General Motors]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Crosley Crosley on Aug 11, 2021

    Something that will probably cost $4,000 to fix when it goes out and was only useful a handful of times in the truck's life.

  • Mike63 Mike63 on Aug 12, 2021

    Just another thing to go wrong!

  • Master Baiter "That said, the Inflation Reduction Act apparently does run afoul of WTO rules..."Pfft. The Biden administration doesn't care about rules. The Supreme Court said they couldn't forgive student load debt; they did it anyway. Decorum and tradition says you don't prosecute former presidents; they are doing it anyway. They made the CDC suspend evictions though they had no constitutional authority to do so.
  • 1995 SC Good. To misquote Sheryl Crow "If it makes them unhappy, it can't be that bad"
  • 1995 SC The letters on the hatch aren't big enough. hard pass
  • Ajla Those letters look like they are from AutoZone.
  • Analoggrotto Kia EV9 was voted the best vehicle in the world and this is the best TOYOTA can do? Nice try, next.
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