Here’s Why You Can’t Find a Chevy Bolt At Dealerships
Out with the old, in with the new. Currently, finding the latest versions of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models is extremely difficult at US dealerships. A few thousand of these models remain, but most are strategically located along the West Coast, where EVs are welcome and celebrated more than anywhere else in the country. Why don’t we see many Chevy Bolt models at dealerships any longer?
Production ended, stopping the product flow
The Bolt and Bolt EUV utilize the previous generation EV technology, not the Ultium platform. The Ultium platform has supported all GM electric vehicles since the Hummer EV arrived. The next-generation Bolt EUV will ride on this platform and should be a more capable electric vehicle.
The outdated Chevy Bolt electric platform caused GM to end production of this original EV in December. The Orion Assembly plant is retooling to build the future Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup trucks. The assembly line for this truck should be up and running by late 2025.
Where will GM build the new Bolt EV?
According to the Detroit Free Press, GM CEO Mary Barra didn’t provide details or said where the GM will build the 2025 Bolt EV. She did say the nameplate would continue and return in 2025 using the Ultium platform. Until then, we’ll have to crive the Chevy Blazer EV and Equinox EV to satisfy the desire for GM-branded electric vehicles.
Chevy Bolt sales nearly outpaced production
The Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV are sold in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Sales averaged a little more than 4,000 units per month at the end of 2023, which nearly equaled production. At the end of the year, nearly 10,000 Bolt EV models were still in inventory across the United States. A Chevrolet spokesperson, Chad Lyons, said the sell-down is going as planned.
The original Chevy Bolt EV served its purpose
When the Chevy Bolt EV arrived in 2017, it was the winner in the race with Tesla to build an affordable electric vehicle for the masses. This small and active electric car became an instant hit despite a few bumps in the road. During its time, the Bolt served as an entry vehicle for Chevrolet, with more than 70% of buyers trading non-GM products for the Bolt.
In some areas, the Bolt EV qualifies for significant tax credits and incentives, effectively reducing this EVs price. These credits make owning this small electric vehicle much more affordable than other EVs, often thousands of dollars more than traditional vehicles.
The original Chevy Bolt EV is nearly gone. Since production ended, GM’s plan has been to employ the “out with the old, in with the new” adage.
