Which US automaker introduced the EV1 electric car?

General Motors introduced the EV1 electric car.

The EV1 was developed by GM in response to growing interest in zero-emission vehicles, including California’s emissions regulations. It evolved from the Impact concept car, which GM displayed in 1990. The production EV1 was a purpose-built battery-electric two-seater rather than a gasoline car converted to electric power.

GM announced the vehicle in the mid-1990s, and the first customers received cars through leases beginning in 1996–1997, depending on how the launch is dated. GM produced 1,117 EV1s from 1996 to 1999, with most made available through three-year leases. Early cars used lead-acid batteries; later versions offered improved nickel-metal-hydride batteries and greater range.

The EV1 was never sold outright. GM ended the program and recalled most vehicles, many of which were crushed, making surviving examples historically valuable. Tesla later became famous for bringing long-range electric cars to a broad market, but it did not introduce the EV1. Chrysler and Ford also pursued electric-vehicle experiments, but neither created this GM model.