GM Hybrid SUVs Are Coming: What the Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave Hybrid Plan Means for Canada

Answer summary: GM is getting ready to build hybrid SUVs. Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the plan, that the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave will get hybrid versions. GM confirmed hybrid work at its Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan. It gave no models, dates or prices, so nothing changes for Canadian buyers yet.

Key takeaways

• Reuters reports that GM plans hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.
• GM confirmed it will prepare its Lansing Delta Township plant for hybrid production. That plant builds all three SUVs today.
• GM says it will share model names and timing closer to launch. It has not said if these hybrids will come to Canada.
• In Canada, GM's only hybrid today is a Corvette, the ZR1X.
• A regular hybrid does not get the federal EV rebate in Canada. Only electric cars and plug-in hybrids do.
• The gas Traverse, Acadia and Enclave use about 11 L/100 km. Three row hybrid SUVs from other brands use about 7.

Why General Motors Is Trending in Canada: Reuters Says GM Hybrid SUVs Are Coming

Searches for "general motors" jumped in Canada on Google Trends on October 27, 2026. The cause is a Reuters report.

Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the matter, that GM plans hybrid versions of its popular three row SUVs. The report names the Chevrolet Traverse, the Buick Enclave and the GMC Acadia. Reuters calls it a strategic shift for a company that spent heavily on electric vehicles.

This is big news for one reason. GM is one of the largest car companies in North America. Until now, it has sold almost no hybrids at all.

Photo: General Motors

What GM Actually Confirmed About Hybrid Production at Lansing Delta Township

GM did not confirm the model names. Here is what it did say in its own news release on October 27.

• It plans to invest in Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Michigan.
• It will prepare the plant for future hybrid production.
• Details about models and timing will come closer to launch.
• Its spending in the Lansing area will top $2 billion (US) over the next several years.
• GM and the U.S. Department of Energy are changing an older grant so the money goes to hybrid work at this plant.

GM also says the plant builds the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia today. It built more than 291,000 vehicles in 2025, a record for the site.

TechCrunch reports that the grant was first given to GM under the Biden government. It was $500 million (US) to change a different Lansing plant for electric cars. GM says that money was never paid out.

Photo: General Motors

Chevy Traverse Hybrid, GMC Acadia Hybrid and Buick Enclave Hybrid: What We Know and What We Don't

The three SUVs are close cousins. They share most of their parts. In Canada, all three use a 2.5L turbo four cylinder engine and an eight speed automatic, Natural Resources Canada data shows. Chevrolet Canada and GMC Canada rate it at 328 hp.

Here is what is known so far:

• The hybrids are expected to be built at Lansing Delta Township, where the gas models are built now.
• Reuters' sources gave no date for when they will go on sale.
• GM has shared nothing about the hybrid system. There is no word on power, battery size or fuel use.
• There is no price.

So be careful with any story that gives you a launch date or a fuel number for a Traverse hybrid. GM has not released one.

Why GM Is Turning to Hybrids After Betting Big on Electric Vehicles

Reuters lays out the reasons. Hybrid sales have taken off in the U.S. as people look for relief from high gas prices. GM has lost market share this year while hybrid leaders Toyota and Honda gained.

Reuters says GM's U.S. share fell to 16.6% in the first nine months of 2026, down from 17.4% a year earlier. It also says dealers have been asking GM for hybrids. "We've been telling them every chance we get that we need hybrids," one dealer told Reuters.

GM bosses used to say hybrids add too much cost and complexity. They wanted to put the money into EVs instead. That changed after the U.S. ended its federal EV tax credit, Car and Driver and TechCrunch report.

On GM's earnings call on October 20, CEO Mary Barra said hybrids are coming. The Detroit Free Press quotes her: "We will have hybrids in our portfolio in multiple segments, the key segments we participate in." She added that GM will say more closer to launch.

GM has not walked away from EVs. It still sells the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Bolt, among others.

Does GM Sell a Hybrid in Canada Today?

Only at the very top of the price list. Chevrolet Canada lists the 2027 Corvette ZR1X, which pairs a twin turbo V8 with an electric motor on the front wheels. Chevrolet Canada also shows the Corvette Grand Sport X as an upcoming model with the same kind of electric front axle.

Those are sports cars, not family cars. If you want a GM family SUV in Canada today, your choice is gas or fully electric. There is no regular hybrid and no plug-in hybrid.

You can see the current gas models on our pages for the Chevrolet Traverse, the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave.

Chevrolet posted a short official walkaround of the 2027 Traverse High Country. It is the current gas model, not a hybrid.

How Much Fuel Could a GM Hybrid SUV Save? Traverse, Acadia and Enclave vs Three Row Hybrids in Canada

We can't know the fuel numbers for GM's hybrids yet. But we can compare the gas models with the three row hybrids you can buy in Canada today. These are the official 2026 ratings from Natural Resources Canada, all with AWD.

Look at the city column. That is where a hybrid shines. In stop and go traffic, it can use the electric motor and shut the engine off. The gas GM SUVs use about 12 L/100 km in town. The hybrids use about 7.

Here is a simple example. Say you drive 20,000 km a year. A Traverse at 11.1 L/100 km uses about 2,220 litres. A Grand Highlander Hybrid at 7.0 uses about 1,400 litres. That is 820 litres less. At $1.50 a litre, you would save about $1,230 a year.

That is why GM's dealers want a hybrid. Families who drive a lot in town feel that gap every week. For more numbers, see our list of the lowest fuel consumption cars in Canada and our ranking of the most fuel efficient SUVs.

GM Hybrids, EV Rebates and Emissions Rules: What This Means for Canadian Buyers

Rebates. Ottawa's EV rebate does not cover regular hybrids. Transport Canada lists only electric cars, hydrogen cars and plug-in hybrids. In 2026, an electric car can get up to $5,000 and a plug-in hybrid up to $2,500. Those amounts drop on January 1, 2027. GM's Equinox EV and Bolt are on the federal list. See our guide to EV rebates by province.

Emissions rules. In October, Ottawa froze Canada's fleet average emissions standard for new cars at the 2026 level through 2029. The 2035 target of 75% EV car sales stays. Hybrids burn less gas, so they help a brand lower its average. We explain the freeze in our story on the Canada and Ontario auto plan.

Canadian availability. GM has not said if the new hybrids will be sold here. The gas Traverse, Acadia and Enclave are all sold in Canada now. We will update this story when GM Canada says more.

Should You Wait for a GM Hybrid SUV or Buy Now?

If you need a three row SUV in the next few months, don't wait for a GM hybrid. There is no date, no price and no fuel rating. Waiting on a rumour can leave you with no car when you need one.

If you love the Traverse, Acadia or Enclave and drive mostly on the highway, the gas models are fine. The highway gap with a hybrid is smaller than the city gap.

If you drive a lot in town and fuel cost matters most, a three row hybrid you can buy today makes sense. Compare the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe, or browse our best hybrid cars.

If you can wait a year or more, keep an eye on GM. A hybrid Traverse could be a strong choice for big families. We just don't know enough yet to say.

FAQ

Is GM making a Chevy Traverse hybrid?

Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the plan, that GM will build a hybrid Traverse. GM itself has only confirmed hybrid production at the Michigan plant that builds the Traverse. It has not named the models.

When will the GM hybrid SUVs come out?

GM has not said. It says it will share timing closer to launch. Reuters' sources did not give a date either.

Will the Traverse, Acadia and Enclave hybrids be sold in Canada?

GM has not said yet. The gas versions of all three SUVs are sold in Canada today, so a Canadian launch would make sense. It is not confirmed.

Does GM sell a hybrid in Canada right now?

Only the Corvette. Chevrolet Canada lists the 2027 Corvette ZR1X as a hybrid. Other than the Corvette, GM sells no hybrid or plug-in hybrid in Canada.

Do hybrids get the federal EV rebate in Canada?

No. Regular hybrids do not qualify. Transport Canada's program covers electric cars, hydrogen cars and plug-in hybrids. In 2026, plug-in hybrids can get up to $2,500.