GM is reportedly planning to start building the Chevrolet Bolt EV concept at a small-car plant near Detroit from October 2016.
The information comes from two supplier sources, who also told Reuters that the automaker has a relatively modest production target for the Bolt – about 25,000 – 30,000 cars a year. Still, compared to the 18,800 Chevrolet Volt hybrid electric cars sold last year, the production target for the Bolt doesn’t seem that small.
Sources also said the Chevrolet Bolt will be built alongside an Opel-badged version at GM’s plant in Orion Township.
The facility currently builds the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano, but is operating well below full capacity because of falling sales of small cars. The Chevrolet Bolt will be based on GM’s Gamma global small-car platform, which provides the base for the next-generation Sonic, also due in late 2016, the sources added.
The Bolt EV should go on sale in early 2017 priced at around $30,000, and will have a driving range of more than 200 miles (322 km). The all-electric vehicle will rival Tesla’s Model III, also planned to launch in 2017, and the segment’s leader, the Nissan Leaf.
GM declined to comment on Reuters’ report.
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