The pint-sized EVs aren’t long for this world.
The Chevy Bolt and the later introduced Bolt EUV crossover sister model may have had a rocky start, but in general, they’ve been plucky, inexpensive EV runabouts. Not-so-expensive to buy, and managably sized, the Bolt was one of the first EVs on sale that could realistically better more than 220 miles of range, real world. Sure, there were some battery fire issues, and the seats in the Bolt EV weren’t ever all that comfortable, but it still was an admirable little thing. Unfortunately, GM is killing off the two, and retooling its manufacturing line to produce more EV trucks, according to Automotive News.
Announced during GM’s earnings call, CEO Mary Barra said that the Orion Township, MI plant will gain a $4 billion dollar investment to produce the GMC Sierra EV and Chevy Silverado EV. These trucks use GM’s Ultium platform, the modular EV platform base that will underpin nearly all GM-affiliated EVs. The Bolt EV and EUV use an older design and older batteries, so they just don’t fit into the Ultium scheme.
Is this a smart move for GM? We aren’t sure; although the Bolt EV and EUV weren’t exactly lighting the sales charts on fire compared to other high-dollar crossover kin, their relatively low price and strong range made it a great entry for budget buyers wanting to make the switch to an EV. Unless GM has plans for a smaller and cheaper EV, those buyers will now have to buy an Equinox EV. The Equinox EV is bigger and is planned to have more range (250 miles minimum), but its expected (but not confirmed) base price of around $30,000 is pricier than the Bolt EV’s $26,500.
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The post The Chevrolet Bolt EV And Bolt EUV Will Go Out Of Production By The End Of 2023 appeared first on AutoGuide.com.
