It’s Official: Chevrolet to axe its firstborn EV

The Chevrolet Bolt will drop out of production before the end of the year never to return, a General Motors representative revealed at the press conference dedicated to the company’s financial results in Q1 2023.

The hatchback with 200 electric horsepower and 60 kilowatt-hours of power storage came out in the USA seven years ago with a starting price tag of $36,600. The company believed it needed an affordable electric vehicle in the lineup at any cost, even if it meant losing $8,000–$10,000 on every unit sold. In the end, Tesla EVs still came out on top popularity-wise, and the Model 3 alone sold more units than the Bolt.

A couple of years ago, the car underwent a mid-life refresh and received a crossover-like variant named EUV. By that time, it had also received a larger 65-kWh traction battery and improved its range from the original 370 to 416 km (from 230 to 258 miles). The EUV lagged slightly behind with 402 km (250 miles).

In the first quarter of 2023, the Bolt has sold a record-high 19,700 units, largely thanks to state tax incentives letting buyers save up to $7,500 on their purchase. Despite this, the company decided it was time to send its first EV to retirement.