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“Well, duh!”
That may not have been the most frequent response to GM’s announcement it will build a new version of the affordable and popular little Chevy Bolt electric vehicle, but I’ll bet it was in the top two, along with “Yes!!”
Still, GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra’s revelation that the Bolt’s absence will be short-lived was welcome. It was just three months ago General Motors said the little car would die when the suburban Detroit plant that builds it converts to make more profitable electric pickups late this year.
The Bolt will ride again, Barra assured the award-winning EV’s owners, investors and consumers dismayed by the high prices of other EVs.
“Our customers love today’s Bolt,” Barra said Tuesday. “It has been delivering record sales and some of the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores in the industry. It’s also an important source of conquest sales for the company and for Chevrolet.”
The Bolt swept the major car of the year awards when it debuted in 2016. It survived an embarrassing recall due to defective batteries, but the addition of the SUV-style EUV model, appealing new features and a price cut fueled a late-life sales surge. Chevy sold 64,322 Bolts and EUVs in 2022.
Saving time and money on Bolt No. 2
The Bolt and Bolt EUV’s 33,659 sales in the first half of this year represent more than 90% of GM’s EV sales so far this year. Those numbers surprised everybody, after the recall halted sales for months. GM probably decided to drop the Bolt before the revival.
The about-face is a smart reaction to changing circumstances. Past regimes at GM would’ve stayed the course; Barra’s team listened to the customer.
Now, the rest of the organization has to deliver it, not an easy task for a vehicle that survived a reported 19 battery fires to become a customer favorite.
More:GM changes direction, says it plans to make a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV
Barra promised to deliver the new Bolt using an accelerated development process: “We will execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program with significantly lower engineering expense and capital investment by updating the vehicle” with the automaker’s new Ultium batteries and motors and Ultifi software.
Why did GM cancel the Bolt?
Simple:
- The plant that built it is switching to electric pickups, each of which should make several times as much money as a Bolt.
- GM was 100% focused on its upcoming Chevy Silverado, Blazer and Equinox and GMC Sierra electric vehicles. Their batteries, motors and software should be superior to the Bolt’s technology, offering more range and additional features.
Engineers love advanced new technology. Finance departments love profit margin. The Bolt lost on both counts, and likely had few internal champions during the long production shutdown.
By the time the Bolt demonstrated itself to be a favorite with customers, the decision to drop it had been made. Reversing it was CEO-level stuff.
More:GM reports $2.5B in net income, boosts guidance, but takes hit from Bolt recall
You play product planner
That’s all we know, for now. So tell me: What do you want the new Bolt to be?
Things to consider:
- Prices for the 2023 Bolt start at $26,500. The EUV starts at $27,800. Both prices exclude destination charges.
- Assume it’s the same size as today: subcompact exterior dimensions, an interior at least a class up.
- It better qualify for the top federal tax credit for assembly, battery production and sourcing.
- Even working fast, don’t expect it tomorrow, or the day after. Calendar year 2026 as a 2027 model is probably the earliest sales can begin.
- We don’t know if the current Bolt’s chassis will accommodate the new Ultium gear. It may make more sense to use a new architecture. Possibly the one GM and Honda are working on together for small, inexpensive EVs. They’ll probably be built in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
- The new batteries, motors and software should allow for a longer range, faster charging and new features. The EPA rates the 2023 Bolt at 259 miles on a charge, the EUV 247.
What do you want from the next Chevy Bolt?
- How far should it go on a charge? Remember, longer range means more expensive batteries.
- How fast should it charge, at home using 240v and with DC fast chargers on the highway?
- Should it look like the current Bolt and EUV?
- Should GM continue with two models or drop either the standard Bolt or the larger, but more expensive EUV?
- Is there a third body style you’d like to see?
- What features do you want it to offer?
- What do you expect it to cost?
I’m looking forward to reading your ideas.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
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