The new affordable EV by GM is expected to use lithium iron phosphate battery cells in order to be more affordable
December 5, 2023 at 13:09
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, has officially announced that the next-generation Bolt will make its debut on the streets in 2025. This announcement follows her previous confirmation of the Bolt’s return, now as an Ultium-based electric vehicle.
In her address at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, the GM CEO discussed the forthcoming successor to the affordable EV, stating, “That’s been a truly positive development this year, and it has influenced our decision to reintroduce it in 2025.”
Earlier statements from Barra had already hinted at the Bolt’s comeback after the current models are phased out. As for the next generation, it will be built upon GM’s Ultium architecture, featuring lithium iron phosphate battery cells. According to Autonews, the Chevrolet Bolt will lead the way as the first North American Ultium-based EV to integrate this battery technology, potentially increasing affordability and streamlining development processes.
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More: GM Plotting Cheaper Chevy Bolt EUV, Could Be Built In Kansas City
Barra recently projected that EV production figures would see a notable increase in 2024, after GM missed its targets in 2023. The strikes and the revised agreement with UAW had caused delays in the launch of various EVs, including the electric trucks produced in Michigan. Nevertheless, GM remains committed to achieving the significant milestone of producing 1 million EVs in North America by 2025.
The CEO said that the “optimization” of their electric lineup doesn’t mean they are “retreating”. Instead, GM will continue with its growth plans and the planned EV roll-out: “We’ll continue to make progress. When you’re making this kind of transformation, I don’t think anybody thought it was going to be just a straight lineup. It’s going to have ups and downs. But that’s the industry that we’re in” said Barra.
Production of the current Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will end in late 2023. The Orion Assembly plant in Michigan will then be retooled, as GM’s upcoming fully electric pickups are scheduled to be manufactured at the premises. As for the next-gen Bolt, the production location has yet to be confirmed but the Fairfax factory in Kansas City is a possible contestant following a recent $391-million investment.
Barra believes that the EV transition will be “the first turn of the first lap of a multi-lap race”, adding that customer demand will determine the volume with the company being focused on EV profitability.
