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The Bolt has been one of the most popular electric cars since Chevrolet introduced it in 2016. Although this EV hasn’t been around long, it has earned a reputation for reliability. However, General Motors recently announced it’s discontinuing the Bolt at the end of 2023. There’s still time to order a Chevy Bolt before it’s gone. But should you?

Why is Chevy discontinuing the Bolt?

Silver Chevy Bolt EV Parked in front of a house - GM is deleting the Bolt EV and EUV in favor of the new Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV
Chevy Bolt EV | Chevrolet

General Motors, Chevrolet’s parent company, picked an odd time to kill the Bolt. CEO Mary Barra said it has been GM’s best-selling electric vehicle and one of the reasons why the brand is a leader in the EV market.

“We delivered more than 20,000 EVs in the U.S. in the quarter, on the strength of record Bolt EV and Bolt EUV sales and rising Cadillac Lyriq deliveries,” Barra added. “This moves us up to the second market position and increased our EV market share by 800 basis points.” 

The Bolt has been a consumer favorite thanks partly to its dependability and affordable price. However, the automaker believes it’s time to move on to making other EVs.

“We have progressed so far that it’s now time to plan to end the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV production, which will happen at the very end of the year,” Barra explained. “When Orion EV assembly reopens in 2024 and reaches full production, employment will nearly triple, and we’ll have a company-wide capacity to build 600,000 electric trucks annually.” 

Ordering a 2023 Chevy Bolt might make sense

GM Authority reports that Chevy has promised to produce 70,000 Bolt units this year, so customers who still want to order one can do so. The last order cycle for the Chevy Bolt EV hatchback and Bolt EUV crossover SUV begins on August 17, and dealers will have a few days to submit orders.

Ordering a new Bolt before the chance ends makes sense if you’ve had your heart set on owning one. However, there is a downside: You won’t be driving your new car off the lot immediately. Indeed, you might have to wait a while before getting your new Bolt. Some customers have still not received the new models they ordered. So there’s no telling how long it will take for Chevrolet to fulfill the orders. 

What will car shoppers be better off doing?

Consumers might be asking themselves if they should order a Chevy Bolt EV or Bolt EUV before they’re gone for good and wait as long as needed for the vehicle to arrive. That might work for shoppers who aren’t in a hurry or have another car to rely on.

However, everyone has a different situation, and some might love the idea of owning a new Chevy Bolt, but time is not on their side. In this case, searching for an EV with a higher supply might be better, ensuring the new car can be delivered immediately.