GM significantly scales back Chevrolet Bolt production

General Motors will produce significantly fewer units of the new Chevrolet Bolt than originally planned. According to a union representative, production is expected to reach only around 35,000 vehicles by the time the model is phased out in the first quarter of 2027 - down from the 50,000 or so originally planned.

The new Chevrolet Bolt is expected to be built only around 35,000 times.

Image: General Motors

Since the beginning of the year, it’s been known that the new Bolt’s market presence would be brief. GM positioned the model from the outset as a limited run and announced that production would end again in 2027. What is new, however, is the significantly reduced production volume.

As reported by _Reuters_, the planned production volume of the Chevrolet Bolt has now been cut by around 75 per cent. The estimate comes from Dontay Wilson, president of the local United Auto Workers union branch, and is based on the current daily production volume at the Kansas City plant. GM itself declined to specify a concrete production figure, stating only that it continuously evaluates market conditions and demand.

The Bolt entered the market in early 2026 with a starting price of $27,600, making it one of the more affordable electric cars in the USA. According to Reuters, GM had sold 4,224 units by the end of August.

Technically, the model has been significantly updated compared with the first generation. Its range is around 410 km, with DC fast-charging capability of up to 150 kW. It features a 65-kWh battery with LFP cells. As a 2027 model year, the Bolt will also have a native NACS charging port, allowing it to charge at compatible fast chargers without an adapter.

The production cut aligns with a broader reorganisation of GM’s electric vehicle strategy. Following the elimination of the US purchase incentive of 7,500 dollars in September 2025, sales of battery-electric vehicles dropped significantly. At the same time, GM has realigned several plants to focus more on internal combustion engine vehicles.

A brief comeback for the Chevy Bolt

Since Q2 of 2025, the company has recorded a total of $10.9 billion in charges related to its electric vehicle business. While GM continues to produce around a dozen electric vehicle models, it has repeatedly adjusted its original expansion plans in recent times.

Replacement models are already planned for the Kansas City plant. In the future, it will produce the Chevrolet Equinox, previously manufactured in Mexico, and the Buick Envision, currently built in China. Both models are equipped with internal combustion engines.

The reduced Bolt production is also affecting employment. The planned resumption of a second shift has been postponed. According to the union representative, nearly 1,000 employees are currently on indefinite furlough.

With a total production of around 35,000 units, the Bolt’s comeback would thus be significantly smaller than initially planned. For comparison: Tesla sells approximately the same number of Model Y vehicles in a single quarter, according to Reuters, while Ford sold 51,620 Mustang Mach-E units last year.