Europe is the second largest electric vehicle market in the world, analysts say. On Monday, Barra confirmed the automaker’s plan to increase its presence on the continent as GM heads toward an all-electric lineup by 2035.

In December 2021, more than 20% of new cars sold in Europe and Britain were electric, according to a New York Times article that cited data compiled by analyst Matthias Schmidt, who tracks EV sales.

GM left Europe in 2017 — after nearly 90 years there — when it sold its German Opel and UK Vauxhall brands for about $2.2 billion. The sale freed GM to focus and invest in vehicles for North America and China, markets where GM has historically made profits. 

In November 2021, GM announced its plans to reestablish its presence in Europe with a mobility startup business. It named Mahmoud Samara as president and managing director of GM Europe. Samara had been Cadillac’s vice president of North America sales, services and marketing where he led the transition to EVs.

GM’s mobility business will include its EV and autonomous vehicle portfolio of vehicles along with software, autonomous driving technology and freight and logistics services.

GM plans for Cadillac to offer an all-electric lineup by 2030. There is no timeline, however, of when GM’s EVs will be sold in Europe.