….today……


Why GM is reviving the Bolt, the best-selling EV it almost discontinued

.....General Motors surprised investors — and electric vehicle fans — when it said in July that the little Chevrolet Bolt EV will be revamped, rather than killed off entirely at the end of 2023 as originally planned.

During GM's earnings call Tuesday, CEO Mary Barra shared more details on the thinking behind the decision to keep the Bolt around while giving some hints as to what Bolt fans can expect when the revamped EV goes on sale.

Barra said GM had originally planned to launch a series of newly designed EVs in entry-level segments at a total cost of around $5 billion. But given the popularity of the current Bolt — 2023 is already the model's best year ever for sales — it made sense to revamp the existing car instead.

"By leveraging the best attributes of today's Bolt EV as well as Ultium, our latest software, and NACS, we will deliver an even better driving charging and ownership experience with a vehicle we know customers love," Barra said. "In the process, we are saving billions in capital and engineering expense, delivering a significantly cost improved battery pack using purchased LFP cells."

Launched in late 2016 and originally aimed at the ride-sharing market, the Bolt had never sold as well as GM had originally hoped. But a series of price cuts, the addition of a roomier crossover-like "EUV" variant in 2021 and American consumers' steadily growing interest in EVs combined to give the Bolt a sales surge in what was supposed to be its final years.

That sales surge is a big part of why GM decided to keep the Bolt around. Sales were up more than 50% in 2022, to just over 38,000 Bolts. This year's sales have already topped that number, with almost 50,000 Bolts sold through the end of September.

To be clear, the Bolt will be on hiatus for a while. GM still plans to end production of the current Bolt at its Michigan factory at the end of this year, and it hasn't yet said when the revamped model will go on sale — or where it'll be made. The Bolt's current factory in Michigan will be retooled to make electric versions of GM's Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

But with durable and relatively inexpensive lithium-iron phosphate battery cells, GM's improved Ultium platform and latest software and NACS charging ports that will allow it to use Tesla's Supercharger network, the new Bolt looks set to continue to win new buyers.

"We're getting to market at least two years faster, and our unit costs will be substantially lower," Barra said......



…….why they brought the Bolt…..back…..?!

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2023 04:31PM by NewtonMP2100.

This was a smart decision from GM.

Now if they would bring back CarPlay compatibility rather than their OEM solution that will be designed to milk maximum amount of subscription services from owners.

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

Now if they could make larger bolt "max" and "super max" models... maybe even more sales.

Totally missed a huge opportunity with the Blazer by not making it "retro" ala the Ford Bronco, so just rebadge it. and something larger, with a bit more room for 4 person families and and all the stuff they require....

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Not that many have fond memories of the K5 Blazer and those even those memories are tempered by the passing of time. They were large, crude and loud. The novelty of a top down suv wore off quickly but the poor weather sealing remained for the life of the truck.

Barra said that GM had originally planned to launch a series of newly designed EVs in entry-level segments at a total cost of around $5 billion. But given the popularity of the current Bolt – 2023 is already the model's best year ever for sales – it made sense to revamp the existing car instead.

In other words: This was a cheap and easy way to stir up some interest in their products again. They haven't stripped or re-tooled those plants yet, and they're worried that the strike will mess with ship-dates for new EVs.

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PeterW
Not that many have fond memories of the K5 Blazer and those even those memories are tempered by the passing of time. They were large, crude and loud. The novelty of a top down suv wore off quickly but the poor weather sealing remained for the life of the truck.

those people are dead, or long past car buying demographics of the peeps buying broncos

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Now if they would only bring back the Volt!

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Tiangou
Barra said that GM had originally planned to launch a series of newly designed EVs in entry-level segments at a total cost of around $5 billion. But given the popularity of the current Bolt – 2023 is already the model's best year ever for sales – it made sense to revamp the existing car instead.

In other words: This was a cheap and easy way to stir up some interest in their products again. They haven't stripped or re-tooled those plants yet, and they're worried that the strike will mess with ship-dates for new EVs.

Indeed. It's almost certain that GM's announcement regarding the cancellation drove sales higher this year - people "gettin' while the gettin' was good."

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It is what it is.

What a surprise... Not an SUV electric car that is lower priced than any similar sized ICE GM vehicle gets awesome sales.

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sekker
Now if they would only bring back the Volt!

"They" did.
It's called the Lexus RX Plug in Hybrid

Maybe if Chevy advertised like this...

Dave

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Welcome to Dave's BBQ!

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Few have died

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N-OS X-tasy!

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Tiangou
Barra said that GM had originally planned to launch a series of newly designed EVs in entry-level segments at a total cost of around $5 billion. But given the popularity of the current Bolt – 2023 is already the model's best year ever for sales – it made sense to revamp the existing car instead.

In other words: This was a cheap and easy way to stir up some interest in their products again. They haven't stripped or re-tooled those plants yet, and they're worried that the strike will mess with ship-dates for new EVs.

Indeed. It's almost certain that GM's announcement regarding the cancellation drove sales higher this year - people "gettin' while the gettin' was good."

Near impossible to find any in Western Mass right now.

Dave

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Welcome to Dave's BBQ!

Many have eaten here....

Few have died

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PeterW
Not that many have fond memories of the K5 Blazer and those even those memories are tempered by the passing of time. They were large, crude and loud. The novelty of a top down suv wore off quickly but the poor weather sealing remained for the life of the truck.

But the form factor was perfect. My buddy had one. He never took the top off because he knew it would never seal properly again. He ended up with the last year of production GMC version and it was nice. We played with the transmission to get the full throttle overdrive function that the Corvettes had. He could tow in overdrive at 100. (just a 1 time test)

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"Defending your own life when in immediate danger to me is a basic right of each person. " Lemon Drop 11/17/2023 03:10 pm

Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) Private citizens have the right under the Second Amendment to possess an ordinary type of weapon and use it for lawful, historically established situations such as self-defense in a home, even when there is no relationship to a local militia.

"The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half-century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner." Right to Keep and Bear Arms: Report of the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1982. Digitized September 30, 2008.

From the NYSRPA v Bruen "Today, we decline to adopt that two-part approach. . . . Despite the popularity of this two-step approach, it is one step too many. Step one of the predominant framework is broadly consistent with Heller, which demands a test rooted in the Second Amendment's text, as informed by history."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2023 08:26PM by Smote.

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DinerDave

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sekker
Now if they would only bring back the Volt!

"They" did.
It's called the Lexus RX Plug in Hybrid

Maybe if Chevy advertised like this...

Dave

Not sure if you are serious. Or saying this Lexus PHEV is the spiritual successor to the Volt. Either way, the 2023 model is not in North America AFAIK. Second, the price STARTS at $70k. Right now, most Toyota PHEVs run above sticker price.

I think the closest thing to a Volt, if you can find it, it the Prius Prime.

A 2023 Volt would be expected to run $35-45k range new, and would not be in the 'luxury SUV' car lot.

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jdc

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PeterW
Not that many have fond memories of the K5 Blazer and those even those memories are tempered by the passing of time. They were large, crude and loud. The novelty of a top down suv wore off quickly but the poor weather sealing remained for the life of the truck.

those people are dead, or long past car buying demographics of the peeps buying broncos

oh, and the new Toyota LandCrusier. retro.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2023 10:52PM by jdc.

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jdc

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PeterW
Not that many have fond memories of the K5 Blazer and those even those memories are tempered by the passing of time. They were large, crude and loud. The novelty of a top down suv wore off quickly but the poor weather sealing remained for the life of the truck.

those people are dead, or long past car buying demographics of the peeps buying broncos

I'm not dead. There an entire mini culture of enthusiasts who are devoted to that model.

There were CA people who never put the top on and DNGAF if it leaked.

Also

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Markintosh
Now if they would bring back CarPlay compatibility rather than their OEM solution that will be designed to milk maximum amount of subscription services from owners.

Let's see if that does not come back to bite them!
[www.autoevolution.com]
McKinsey: Nearly 50% of Car Buyers Will Not Consider a Vehicle That Lacks Apple CarPlay
Published: 19 Sep 2023, 08:56 UTC • By: Cristian Agatie Cristian Agatie profile photo
Some carmakers are moving away from offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, but this doesn't look like a smart move. A recent McKinsey study shows that almost half of new car buyers would not even consider a vehicle without these connectivity features.

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Rolando

Quote
Markintosh
Now if they would bring back CarPlay compatibility rather than their OEM solution that will be designed to milk maximum amount of subscription services from owners.

Let's see if that does not come back to bite them!
[www.autoevolution.com]
McKinsey: Nearly 50% of Car Buyers Will Not Consider a Vehicle That Lacks Apple CarPlay[/i]

I was one of those people... until I got over myself and bought a Tesla. I do wish it had CarPlay, but the Tesla software is more than good enough. At the end of the day, I was in the market to purchase the best vehicle I could, not the best interface.

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It is what it is.

I'm still not ready for an eV.

Maybe an PHEV.

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sekker

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DinerDave

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sekker
Now if they would only bring back the Volt!

"They" did.
It's called the Lexus RX Plug in Hybrid

Maybe if Chevy advertised like this...

Dave

Not sure if you are serious. Or saying this Lexus PHEV is the spiritual successor to the Volt. Either way, the 2023 model is not in North America AFAIK. Second, the price STARTS at $70k. Right now, most Toyota PHEVs run above sticker price.

I think the closest thing to a Volt, if you can find it, it the Prius Prime.

A 2023 Volt would be expected to run $35-45k range new, and would not be in the 'luxury SUV' car lot.

My comment comes from the TV ad I'm seeing for it.
Lexus says it's "An EV when you want it, a hybrid when you need it." As in ICE does not run until XX miles like the Volt.

Dave

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Welcome to Dave's BBQ!

Many have eaten here....

Few have died

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DinerDave
Lexus says it's "An EV when you want it, a hybrid when you need it." As in ICE does not run until XX miles like the Volt.

There are quite a few PHEV's now, ranging from a ridiculous 9 mile EV range for a supercar like RAMd®d posted up to a more usable 30-40 mile EV range, but the Prius Prime would be the closest to the Volt in terms of size and price.

[www.caranddriver.com]

The 1st gen Volt was unusual in that it used the ICE motor more to charge the battery and run the electric motor than to provide actual power to the wheels (although it still could in certain situations). As I understand it, the 2nd gen Volt ran more like the other PHEV's out there, where it ran in a more typical hybrid mode after the EV range ran out (ICE motor providing direct power to the wheels).

I wish we could get PHEV's up to 100 mile EV range. I think that would really tip the scales to get people into some sort of EV, and then they might realize, hey, I don't really need that ICE motor after all. Maybe when solid state batteries become a reality, of course, when that happens, it'll probably revolutionize range and charging times anyway, so we might not need the stepping stone of PHEV's.