Competition in the commercial electric van market is heating up. Kia has presented configurable cargo vans (though still in concept form), and Rivian has begun taking van orders from non-Amazon customers. In response, and perhaps in an effort to gain a stronger foothold in the market, General Motors (GM) is offering a series of substantial rebates on the Chevrolet BrightDrop EV van, potentially reducing the price by nearly 40%.
BrightDrop launched in 2022, conceived by GM as a standalone brand focusing on the Zevo, an electric commercial van. The company secured large fleet orders from businesses such as FedEx, Walmart, and Verizon. However, it hasn’t achieved the same level of recognition as the Rivian or the functional appeal of the Ford E-Transit or the Mercedes eSprinter. Consequently, GM integrated the project under the Chevrolet brand last year, renamed it the Chevrolet BrightDrop, and gave it the iconic golden bowtie emblem.
This move places the BrightDrop within Chevy’s extensive dealer network and commercial sales infrastructure. More importantly, it has resulted in some impressive incentives. According to CarsDirect, buyers—including single entrepreneurs, with no fleet order required—can receive a $25,500 discount (confirmed in a recent dealer notice), plus an additional $5,500 through dealer cash and Costco rebates, reducing the price of the $78,625 Chevy BrightDrop 400 by $31,000. It is important to note that these rebates are associated with the 2025 BrightDrop models only. The $25,500 discount is set to expire on June 30, while the Costco bonus ends on May 31.
Furthermore, other GM discount programs may be applicable, specifically for first responders, educators, and military personnel (active and veterans), possibly including the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. When combined, these incentives could potentially allow buyers to acquire a base Chevy EV van at almost half the original price.
The 2025 BrightDrop comes in two models. The BrightDrop 400 starts at $78,625 (including the $3,325 destination charge), with 412.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The BrightDrop 600 offers up to 614.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Greater space, however, means payload capacity is affected. The 600 has a maximum payload of 3,350 pounds compared to the 400 which can manage up to 3,710 pounds. Both models have front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain options. Opting for AWD provides access to a maximum Ultium battery pack that increases the driving range from approximately 180 miles to 303 miles, although these figures are according to GM’s estimations, not those of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Although primarily designed for business owners and last-mile fleets, these vehicles are available for purchase by anyone. Chevy describes its BrightDrop vehicles as an “all-purpose, all-electric walk-in van.” Since these vans are essentially a blank slate, you can customize them as you desire: as a food truck, a beach van, a tiny house on wheels, or anything else you can imagine.
