From Camaro to Escalade: Al Oppenheiser Reveals How GM Built the Hummer EV & Escalade IQ

Al Oppenheiser, Chief Engineer behind both the Hummer EV and the Cadillac Escalade IQ, sits down to discuss his journey from muscle cars to leading the charge in General Motors’ electric future. As the only engineer to develop both a Car of the Year and SUV of the Year winner, Oppenheiser shares how his team approached EV design like a startup—pushing speed, innovation, and collaboration to deliver world-class luxury performance. From rethinking aerodynamics to reinventing what luxury means in an electric world, this conversation offers a rare inside look at how iconic American nameplates are being reborn for the EV era. 0:00 – Al Oppenheiser’s legacy at GM 1:30 – How EVs became GM’s top priority 3:00 – Inside the Hummer EV & Escalade IQ teams 6:00 – The design secrets behind Escalade IQ’s range 7:30 – Winning SUV of the Year 9:00 – Why Al still loves coming to work #CadillacEscaladeIQ #HummerEV #GMElectric #EVInnovation #AlOppenheiser #AutomotiveEngineering #CarOfTheYear #SUVOfTheYear #ElectricVehicles MotorTrend is the ultimate destination for gearheads looking for the latest automotive research and news. Find the right car, truck or suv for you. ➡️: https://www.motortrend.com/car-finder Follow MotorTrend for the latest! MotorTrend News: https://www.motortrend.com Facebook: / motortrend Instagram: / motortrend Twitter(X): / motortrend TikTok: / motortrend MotorTrend preferred music partner: Universal Production Music MotorTrend is a subsidiary of Hearst Autos, Inc. and a part of Hearst Digital Media.