GM to End Production of Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle Again

General Motors will cease production of the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle for the second time, with the final units rolling off the line in the first quarter of 2027. The model's production volume has been significantly cut from initial plans due to a lack of consumer demand.

Production of the Bolt has been reduced by an estimated 75 percent from the original target of 150,000 vehicles. The reintroduced Bolt is now expected to reach a total production run of only approximately 35,000 units. In the first half of this year, Chevrolet sold just 4,224 Bolts, and full-year sales are projected to fall short of 9,500.

The Bolt's return to production has been marked by strategic missteps for the automaker. Initially, GM planned to repurpose the Orion Assembly plant for full-size electric pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. However, market reception for these electric trucks was lukewarm, prompting GM to retool the plant for internal combustion engine vehicle production instead.

Despite substantial research and development investment in the revised Bolt, which saw its production relocated to Kansas, the vehicle has failed to recapture its earlier success. GM had previously confirmed the "refreshed" Bolt would be a "limited production model." The company declined to comment on specific production figures, stating only that it "continues to evaluate market conditions and consumer demand."

Several factors likely contributed to the second-generation Bolt's underperformance. The discontinuation of U.S. federal electric vehicle tax credits may have played a role. Additionally, the new model's close visual resemblance to its predecessor and a lack of significant marketing efforts are also believed to have hampered sales. In contrast, GM's Equinox EV crossover has seen a more positive market reception.