[6] The BrightDrop EV600 was unveiled as the marque's first vehicle at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on 12 January 2021 along with the EP1 electric pallet cart; GM announced that FedEx had ordered 500 EV600s.

[10][11] GM partnered with KUKA, a close supplier, to build the first batch of vehicles in Michigan so they could meet their 2021 delivery target.

[20] In September 2022, Hertz announced it would order up to 175,000 electric vehicles from GM, including an unspecified number of BrightDrop Zevo 600 vans.

[22] That October, due to Ultium battery supply issues, production of all BrightDrop Zevo vans was paused for approximately six months until April 2024.

[24][25] It is anticipated the replacements for the Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana, scheduled for the 2026 model year, will also use Ultium battery technology and may use a smaller version of the Zevo platform.

[27] Because the van does not need a drive train axle, engineers were able to lower the step-in height by 2 inches (5.1 cm), improving ergonomics and reducing the physical strain on delivery drivers.

[29] The chassis uses high-strength steel in the rocker panels, door reinforcement beams, floor structure, and side pillars extending forward from the front firewall.

[30] The first vans were equipped with an all-wheel drive system using two traction motors, one each for the front and rear axles, and the combined output is 300 hp (220 kW) and 390 lb⋅ft (530 N⋅m).

[33][34] The regular production option (RPO) ETJ "Max" high voltage traction battery in the Zevo uses 20 Ultium modules; for comparison, the GMC Hummer EV uses 24 Ultium modules and has an usable capacity of 212.7 kW-hr,[35][31] and the Zevo "Max" battery has an estimated capacity of 173 kW-hr.

[1][2] The Zevo 600 has a sliding curbside door that is 3 ft (0.91 m) wide to facilitate moving bulky packages, and the dashboard on that same curb side has a depression that can accommodate two standard United States Postal Service bins.

[37] The cargo area is separated from the driver's compartment with a sliding bulkhead door, and a translucent roof is available along with standard motion-activated LED lights to illuminate the rear,[31] which will accommodate a standing person who is 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall without stooping.