It seems the world was taken by storm with the reveal of a pre-production Tesla Model 3, as thousands lined up to punker down cold, hard cash. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has, arguably, not received that kind of attention.
But, General Motors isn’t worried in the slightest. According to Autoblog, the automaker has also had its own following with the 2017 Bolt EV. GM spokesman, Fred Ligouri, addressed the pre-order chaos at a recent battery backgrounder and stated GM doesn’t need to open up lines for pre-orders.
We haven’t taken any [pre-orders]. We don’t need to to begin building our products. We’re really excited to offer it when it goes into retail production at the end of this year to those that have expressed interest and we’ll work through our great network of dealerships to get them to customers.”
Ligouri wouldn’t divulge how much interest, or how many customers, have approached the automaker over the 2017 Bolt EV, but we doubt this is GM putting on its best poker face.
Kevin Kelley, Chevrolet spokesman, spoke with a more optimistic tone surrounding Tesla, stating a pique in interest for any kind of EV is good for the Bolt EV.
“Any interest you see from people in this type of technology, it helps everybody,” Kelly said. “We are very excited to see high demand for the technology in a vehicle like this and I think it will bode well for the Bolt EV.”
The EV war is only heating up now. Chevrolet will bring the 2017 Bolt EV with a 200-plus mile range by the end of this year, while Tesla states first deliveries of its Model 3 will begin late next year.
Comments
I want to see the General’s Chevy Bolt and Tesla’s Model 3 succeed.
It seems like so far that the Bolt will be available first.
The Bolt will be the less expensive car (realistically the Model 3 will be need to be purchased with some options to be comparable-you’ll see) .
On a side note- I find it strange how much General Motors hatred I find in comments in articles about the 200 range affordable EV battle.
I know many of the ppl posting (this is on other sites-not on GMA) are beyond uninformed and do not know much about automobiles. It’s funny because much hatred is geared towards GM being junk or a backwards company with Neanderthals working in the factories (yet the same American workers at Toyota are never ripped on) , lacking quality or technology.
GM is about to put out an affordable EV with 200 mile range. Where is Honda or Toyota in this? It looks like GM and Tesla are first to the show.
GM has brought out Magnetic Ride Control and the 200 range EV and many ppl still think this is the GM from 1985. I seen some guy ripping on GM about the Corvair still when he was saying GM is an incompetent company….ppl are hilarious.
Well thanks for listening to me vent!
GM will sell their 30-40k of the Chevy Bolt….Honda, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai will have sold how many of their 200 mile EV priced around $35k????
Many reviews of GM cars/CUVs/SUVs/Trucks show that the General is the real deal…it’s the bulk of the consumers that are not updated on info.
Another GM victory.
“It’s funny because much hatred is geared towards GM being junk or a backwards company with Neanderthals working in the factories (yet the same American workers at Toyota are never ripped on) , lacking quality or technology.”
Let’s reduce the rhetoric tone of these examples and simply state that many people don’t trust GM as a reliable brand. When you put it that way there are numbers to back it up. Only Buick cracks the top ten most reliable car brands in CR. Chevy comes in under Ford at #20. GMC and Cadillac further below.
That matters. This isn’t about people being stupid. It’s about GM under Barra thinking (and delivering) different.
Consumer Reports is the be all end all- got it.
Funny how CR can take say like the GMC and equal Chevy build on the same line with the same parts, by the same people and yet come out with two totally different results.
The fact is CR quality ratings are by the owners and only subscribers which leaves this not being all that scientific, balanced or accurate. That has been the issue with CR over the years.
It is like a car show were the participants vote for the winners vs being based on a equal and balance judging system. The guy with the most buddies wins.
The truth is all companies have good and bad cars. Most new version generally are better as should be expected. Recalls are even hard to judge by anymore as often they are based on a small number of issues and companies not willing to take a risk anymore on leaving it as a Service Bulletin.
As for someone who has wrenched on them all I can point good and bad on most and the trends of many companies.
Seriously? American cars are more reliable than Asian since —
— never
Pool Man, are you talking to anyone specific? My comment basically said that GM has made some advances and yet there is massive hatred for the company.
I never spoke of any car company having superior reliability over any other…I did say that GM has an EV with 200 mile range (at $37Kish) and I don’t see Toyota, Honda or Ford with one.
I also mentioned Magnetic Ride control which the General has been the first auto maker to use.
But here is a car and driver review putting the Malibu ahead of the Camry & Accord…The Mazda 6 places first. Malibu 2nd.
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2016-chevrolet-malibu-vs-2016-honda-accord-2016-mazda-6-2016-toyota-camry-comparison-test
John Hart, D-man’s post is saying that GM is doing a lot of good things and yet the stuff he hears is the same old insults. He also is not discounting the other automotive brands as being “junk”.
He is right, some of those ppl must be mindless, cause they should be all about the general now, – GM is about to drop a $37,500 EV with 200 mile range and tesla is also…where the hell is the almighty Toyota??? Just askin’?
“GM is about to drop a $37,500 EV with 200 mile range and tesla is also…where the hell is the almighty Toyota??? Just askin’?”
Tied up in their HSD powertrains. There is some leeway with their plug-in Prius, however.
GM is not worried as they will be fine.
What most do not like to be honest about is that Teala has had to pre sale cars to raise money to help get them built.
Tesla spent a lot of money on the x model but has seen little income while also spending much on the 3.
Reports are Tesla was down to the last billion and needed cash. Now they can take the money down and try to get more x models out. Why else would take orders for an incomplete car one to two years ahead.
As for GM hate it is that illogical thinking that drives some. If you want EV cars it is in your best interest they all are successful.
GM here is just trying to establish a market for thes cars in numbers that will drive down cost. Right now they do not have to be profitable as they are supported by so many other products. tesla on the other hand needs money for future product as that is their only income.
What I feel are those on both sides with hate. The almost religion like passion of some does more harm than good. They scare people off at times.
There is still a lot of work to be done with ev cars and you need to cheer them all if you want to see gains as one loss sets them all back.
Naive once again for the giant to act superior with their far less desirable product. That thinking has proved well for pontiac saturn hummer saab, the malibu, cobalt, volt, now bolt…..psh
All ordering Teslas.
I own a 2014 Volt. It IS built with junk parts. In less than two years the Volt has had many reliability issues from failing door locks, chargers, radios, to a shorting charging plug. The Bolt will be built with the same junk, I have no doubt. Sorry, I don’t have the time to wait for warranty repairs month in, month out . I will wait another three years if needed for the Tesla 3.
Yes, I am one of the first 115,000 ppl who put $1,000.00 to help Elon succeed!
I like the idea of Tesla and GM merging. The technology that Tesla would bring to the table would be huge. Tesla would benefit from Brand acknowledgement and International sales network.