The Bolt Is Back: GM Reverses Plans to Discontinue Its Top-Selling EV

pcmag.com:

General Motors now says it will keep the Chevrolet Bolt EV in its lineup, after announcing in April that it would discontinue its most affordable and top-selling electric model.

"We understand your love for the Bolt, so Chevrolet is bringing the Bolt back," reads an email GM sent to Bolt drivers today. "We hope you are as excited as we are, and we will share more information in the future."

Starting at just $26,500 with an impressive 259-mile range, the Bolt is the highest-value electric vehicle available, not only within GM's lineup but also within the wider US market. "We can’t build enough Bolts right now,” CEO Mary Barra said on today's Q2 earnings call, as reported(Opens in a new window) by The Washington Post.

The decision to discontinue the Bolt EV and its slightly larger counterpart, the Bolt EUV, came down to its dated battery. The Bolt debuted in 2017, and since then GM has developed its cheaper, more sophisticated Ultium platform, which will power its next-generation EVs.

In the months since GM decided to discontinue the Bolt, its competitors have swooped in to decrease prices and offer more affordable models. In May, Ford dropped the price on the Mustang Mach-E, and did the same this month for the F-150 Lightning. In June, Volvo unveiled a brand-new, Bolt-sized, $35,000 electric vehicle. Tesla has also continually dropped its prices this year, bringing the Model 3 to just $40,000. This industry-wide price compression is good news for consumers and a sign of a maturing EV market with an eye toward mass adoption.

GM was light on details for the new-and-improved Bolt. Barra did not commit to a launch date or price, and did not specify if it will continue to be offered in both the EV and EUV versions. However,