Chevrolet Confirms Bolt EV And Bolt EUV Are Being Discontinued: What You Should Know
The Chevy Bolt and its taller brother, the Bolt EUV, are officially getting the axe and will cease production by the end of this year, according to a General Motors email to potential customers. The Bolt has been GM's best selling-electric vehicle by far, and has made up the majority of the company's electric vehicle sales — selling over 19,700 Bolts so far this year.
The Bolt was, at an MSRP of $26,500, one of the least expensive EVs on the market. That was before the $7,500 tax rebate that was included as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The next-least expensive is the Nissan Leaf, which starts at $28,040, and is capable of a much shorter range at an estimated 212 miles — compared to the Bolt's estimated 259 miles.
There are a few main reasons why GM is discontinuing the compact EV, the chief reason being the platform it's based on. Newer EVs, like the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV, are based on GM's Ultium platform. The Bolt is not as lucky, and according to GM, there was no way it could make the Bolt support a switch to a new platform.
Requiescat in pace, Chevy Bolt
Phasing out old EV architecture makes sense, as the Bolt's platform was too old to support even full-fledged Super Cruise, GM's Level 2 autonomous technology. However, GM's current Ultium offerings aren't exactly doorbusters: GM sold a single-digit number of GMC Hummer EVs this quarter, and the Lyriq barely broke three digits last year — and have still come in under a thousand units sold for the first quarter.
The Bolt is the entry level for EVs, and it's not fair to compare its amenities with a veritable luxury EV like the $58,590 Cadillac Lyriq, or the well-over-six-figures GMC Hummer EV that's capable of 1000 horsepower.
However, GM has essentially eliminated its best option for budget-minded EV fans; allowing cars from other brands like the more expensive and less capable Nissan Leaf, or the Tesla Model 3, to fill that role. GM will now have to rely on upcoming models like the EV Equinox to attract customers back into the Ultium-based fold.