Chevrolet Bolt EV sales decreased in the United States and increased in Mexico and South Korea during the first quarter of 2019.
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q1 2019 - United States
In the United States, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 4,316 units in Q1 2019, a decrease of about 1 percent compared to 4,375 units sold in Q1 2018.| MODEL | Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 | Q1 2019 | Q1 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -1.35% | 4,316 | 4,375 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q1 2019 - Canada
In Canada, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 426 units in Q1 2019, a decrease of about 31 percent compared to 615 units sold in Q1 2018.| MODEL | Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 | Q1 2019 | Q1 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -30.73% | 426 | 615 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q1 2019 - Mexico
In Mexico, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 10 units in Q1 2019, an increase of about 900 percent compared to 1 units sold in Q1 2018.| MODEL | Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 | Q1 2019 | Q1 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +900.00% | 10 | 1 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q1 2019 - South Korea
In South Korea, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 650 units in Q1 2019, an increase of about 12,900 percent compared to 5 units sold in Q1 2018.| MODEL | Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 | Q1 2019 | Q1 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +12,900.00% | 650 | 5 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
Chevrolet Bolt EV sales were still in the red in the first quarter of 2019, but the small EV managed to increase its segment share from 10 to 14 percent. In addition, Chevy’s battery electric car-turned-crossover had a relatively decent sales performance compared to most of its rivals during Q1 2019. For instance, BMW i3 sales dropped nearly 52 percent, while Toyota Prius sales fell 46 percent.
The circumstance puts the Bolt EV in second place in the dedicated electric and electrified vehicle segments, behind the dominant Toyota Prius, which still commanded 39 percent of the segment share. The Bolt EV outsold the rest of the segment, including the Honda Clarity, Hyundai Ioniq, the Nissan Leaf – the Bolt EV’s most direct rival, which saw sales increase nearly 6 percent – followed by GM’s own Chevy Volt (see Chevy Volt sales), which has been discontinued. The Bolt EV and Volt outsold the BMW i3, the now-discontinued Volkswagen e-Golf, and the Toyota Mirai.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Small Battery Electric Cars - Q1 2019 - USA
| MODEL | Q1 19 / Q1 18 | Q1 19 | Q1 18 | Q1 19 SHARE | Q1 18 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA PRIUS | -45.77% | 12,058 | 22,235 | 39% | 52% |
| CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -1.35% | 4,316 | 4,375 | 14% | 10% |
| HONDA CLARITY | +19.63% | 3,968 | 3,317 | 13% | 8% |
| HYUNDAI IONIQ | -12.85% | 3,310 | 3,798 | 11% | 9% |
| NISSAN LEAF | +5.50% | 2,685 | 2,545 | 9% | 6% |
| CHEVROLET VOLT | -27.54% | 2,520 | 3,478 | 8% | 8% |
| BMW I3 | -51.73% | 964 | 1,997 | 3% | 5% |
| VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF | +59.81% | 863 | 540 | 3% | 1% |
| TOYOTA MIRAI | -24.89% | 347 | 462 | 1% | 1% |
| TOTAL | -27.41% | 31,031 | 42,747 |
We should note that Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq sales figures are not exclusive to completely electric models, but also include Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants of each vehicle. The case is similar for the Honda Clarity, which is available as Plug-In Hybrid, Electric and Fuel Cell flavors.
The mainstream new energy vehicle segment contracted 25 percent to 31,031 units in Q1 2019.
The GM Authority Take
Chevrolet Bolt EV sales volume has always been an area of concern, especially given GM’s strategy of delving into to dive head first into the electric vehicle space by introducing a planned 20 electric vehicles by the year 2023. In that regard, it can be said that this quarter was a move in the right direction compared to the model’s performance throughout 2018.
We sincerely hope that this is the beginning of a Chevrolet Bolt EV sales climb, or that GM knows something we don’t as it relates to the vehicle’s disappointing overall sales performance.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Bolt Q1 2018 sales, except as noted
- In the United States, there were 76 selling days in Q1 2019 and 76 selling days in Q1 2018
- South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
- China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales
- Toyota Prius sales include Prius, Prius Prime, Prius C and Prius V
- Toyota Mirai sales include Mirai fuel cell vehicle
- Hyundai Ioniq sales include Ioniq Electric, Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
- Honda Clarity sales include Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, Clarity Electric and Clarity Fuel Cell
The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from General Motors’ Chevrolet brand. Officially positioned as a crossover by Chevrolet, the five-door subcompact hatchback offers over 200 miles of range on a full charge while also featuring advanced connectivity technologies designed to enhance and personalize the driving experience. The 2017 Bolt was first shown as the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It is based on GM's BEV2 platform (a derivative of G2 platform) The Chevy Bolt EV received a few minor updates and changes for the 2019 model year, which is its third model year of the first-generation Bolt EV in the United States market. In addition to three new colors, the Bolt EV also received the following: The Bolt EV is assembled at the following plants:
About Chevrolet Bolt EV
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Comments
Need a higher quality interior for the price. And make the safety stuff std.
I see similarities between the explosion of the minivan market and the electrivication market. Remember when Chrysler exploded when they brought their minivans to the market, and it took almost a decade for other automakers to get the right product and not these warmed over awkward products to market. I feel like the EV market is experiencing the similar things. Not everyone in my opinion has the right product for the market. They are adequate for now and they aren’t bad products, but I think it would be a little while before we do get the products that bet Tesla at their own game.
but gm loses thousands on each bolt it sells. so does gm really want to increase sales or do they want to sell them are these sales concentrated in states like california that have an EV sales quota?
I’ve only seen one in Sarasota this year.
Regarding the Honda Clarity sales numbers. The Clarity Electric and the Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles are LEASE ONLY; but are included in the total sales numbers in the chart. Do the Bolt sales numbers include only wholesales to dealer networks? Do the Bolt sales numbers include only dealer/wholesale sales or do they also include LEASES? Thanks to anyone who has the answers!
Glaring omission is Tesla Model 3 in quarterly sales figures.. We all know GM is afraid of the Tesla value proposition, is it really your job to protect GM’s fragile world view? The BMW i3 isn’t exactly a direct competitor but the M3 is.
As a Gen1 Volt owner I can see GM making the same mistakes, dumbing down the platform so they can have something new to add next year. Always assuming next year will come.. I didn’t get a Gen2, I waited and went straight to Tesla for about the same money. The Bolt seems like a fine car until you compare it to all the competitors… Then it is just another Chevy.
The other glaring omission is that Canada is not included. We have way more Bolt EV sales than Mexico.