GM Diesel Development Center sold to European Interests

One good solar flare overloading the electric grid with CME and a lot of stranded people in their electric vehicles.

Look up the Carrington event. Has happened recently but not as destructive. March 13 2009 Eastern Seaboard and Canada, And in 1989.

CME is similar to EMP.

Of coarse large enough burst and the electronics of a modern vehicle would be toast as well along with all other electronics.