GM is pulling the plug on the Chevrolet Bolt so they can use the production plant to make electric Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in 2024.
The Chevy Bolt is an electric sedan and sub-compact SUV to be discontinued in late 2023. The Chevy Bolt uses a 65 kWh 350 V lithium-ion battery, takes 7.5 hours at 220V to get a full charge, and is worth buying, according to consumer reports. The Bolt had hoped to rival other EVs such as the Ford Mach-E, the Tesla, and the Hyundai Ioniq, but after falling behind in the races, GM has decided to pull the plug on the Bolt. In hopes to make efficient changes, Bolt production plants will now be responsible for building electric Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups starting in 2024. GM believes that its trucks will do better than the Bolt, even though the car was doing decently well before its discontinuation.
Looking for a new EV? This is your last chance to get a Chevy Bolt before they are gone forever. Keep reading to learn more.
An Interesting Decision
GM CEO, Mary Barra, spoke on behalf of GM’s decision to cut ties with the Chevy Bolt. She told investors that the Orion Assembly plant used to make the Bolt EVs will now be used to make their EV trucks, which is assumed to be the future of the electrified focuses.
The decision to discontinue the Bolt came at a very strange time. For the third quarter in a row, the Bolt has seen record-breaking deliveries for consumers. Why would GM decide to pull the plug on such a successful EV? It shows they are dedicated to their move toward electric trucks. Maybe they don’t want to compete with Tesla and Hyundai.
That said, America just lost one of the most affordable EVs you can get. And maybe that is another reason why GM decided to do this. It’s possible they were seeing diminishing returns from the Bolt.
Battery Fires and Recalls
A big part of the reason GM is taking the Bolt away is that they had to pause production for 6 months and recall a bunch of batteries. Many consumers were experiencing their batteries catching on fire, and GM had to deal with the problem immediately. This was probably a big reason to end the Bolt altogether. That, and GM saw an opportunity to expand its focus toward EV trucks.
Out of Battery
The Chevy Bolt was not known for being the fastest, coolest, or most technological EV, but it was easily one of the most affordable. People who wanted one but didn’t want to spend a lot of money were able to get one. It’s a bummer, so if you want one last grab at a Chevy Bolt, you better get to your Chevrolet dealer quickly.
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