General Motors has announced that it will be discontinuing production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV as it reconfigures its Orion, Michigan plant to focus on producing large electric trucks. The move is part of GM's strategy to sell 1 million electric vehicles by 2025.
The Bolt and Bolt EUV have been in production for seven years and were among the first fully electric vehicles produced by GM. However, the decision to end production of the Bolt is not entirely unexpected, as GM has been focusing on its Ultium battery technology and larger electric vehicles.
CEO Mary Barra made the announcement during the company's first-quarter earnings call, stating that "it's now time to plan the end of Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV production, which will happen at the end of the year." The Orion plant will begin producing battery-powered versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups instead.
The Bolt and Bolt EUV were originally produced to meet regulatory requirements, and their discontinuation marks a shift towards a fully electric lineup for GM. The move echoes the company's decision to kill off the two-seater EV1 in the late 1990s.
While the Bolt has been a popular electric vehicle for GM, it has had its share of issues. In 2020, the company had to recall all 142,000 vehicles due to a rare battery defect that led to fires. The recall forced owners to limit the charge on their batteries, which affected their driving range.
Despite these issues, Bolt owners have remained loyal to GM. The company plans to introduce a low-priced electric SUV, the Chevy Equinox, later this year, with a starting price of around $30,000. This move is part of GM's plan to offer more affordable electric vehicles to consumers.
Overall, the discontinuation of the Bolt EV and EUV marks a significant shift in GM's focus towards larger electric vehicles, but the company remains committed to meeting its goal of selling 1 million electric vehicles by 2025.