The Chevrolet Bolt battery-electric hatchback is on track to be launched late this year, Chevrolet confirmed Monday, countering recent reports on various media and enthusiast websites that the car would be delayed for six months. Chevrolet spokesman Fred Ligouri says the Bolt program remains on schedule, with U.S. sales slated to begin by year end.
“We’re on the same timeline we’ve always communicated. … Retail production of the 2017 Bolt EV begins later this year, and it will be in dealer showrooms shortly thereafter.”
General Motors engineers have been spotted testing early build cars around the Detroit area. Over the weekend, a blue Bolt, which an engineer described as “production intent,” turned up in the parking lot near a cars and coffee event just north of Detroit. Production intent means the car has all the proper parts with the correct finishes and colors. A laptop computer was connected to the dash of the test vehicle. Chevrolet says the Bolt can go more than 200 miles on a single charge and will be priced as low as $30,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.
