The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV have had it rough lately. Both are excellent fully-electric vehicles, but there's been a problem. Their LG Chem-supplied battery packs are defective and currently subject to a major $2 billion recall. The battery supplier is picking up a majority of the tab to replace these batteries but the damage has been done. New examples of neither vehicle have rolled off the Orion Assembly Plant's line for months. Even if production cranks up again, it may not last for long.
Following GM's major announcement this week of its $7 billion investment plan for four manufacturing sites in its home state of Michigan, one thing was left off the menu: the Bolt. Why is that?
Probably because there'll no longer be space for it at Orion. The Orion Assembly Plant will soon begin cranking out the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. It's unlikely Bolt production will be shifted elsewhere because the general design and technology dates back to 2017.
Unlike those EV trucks, including the GMC Hummer EV, the Bolt does not utilize the Ultium architecture and battery technology. It's no longer state-of-the-art and there's only so much an automaker can do to update older tech. For the time being, GM isn't saying anything about the Bolt's likely retirement. A company spokesperson confirmed the following:
"Production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will continue during the plant's conversion activities to prepare the facility for production of the Silverado EV and Sierra EV pickups. We are not disclosing any additional information at this time about Bolt EV or Bolt EUV production."
Another key piece of vital information is that the Bolt, due to its production stoppage, isn't selling well. In the last three months of 2021, a grand total of just 25 examples were sold in this country. The Orion plant will remain idled through February. The last time new Bolts came off the line was in late August. Assuming LG gets things fixed according to the latest schedule, Bolt production will resume but for how long remains very uncertain.