While Tesla works to officially begin mass producing the Model 3 sedan, General Motors has carefully developed an incredible system to assemble the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. What’s the system? Really, nothing out of the ordinary.
WardsAuto detailed the manufacturing process, which could be the ace up GM’s sleeve. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is built on the exact same assembly line as the traditional Chevrolet Sonic, in both four- and five-door variants. Nowhere at the Orion assembly plant does the Bolt EV have to deviate course, save for a pitstop to fill the high-voltage power-electronics module with coolant.
At the first major stop, workers fasten either a fuel tank or battery pack with the same 1o fasteners. Either car is then on its way. Then, the cars’ drivelines are installed with the exact same 12 fasteners no matter if the all-electric Bolt EV or gasoline-powered Sonic rolls up to the station.
Since the process does not deviate in any major way, GM could conceivably triple Bolt EV output by just saying the word. Right now, the Orion assembly plant builds just over 100 Bolt EVs per day and about 100 Sonics. A small portion of Bolt EV production is alotted for the Opel Ampera-e as well, though the electric hasn’t rolled out in a large scale just yet.
GM could easily adjust the ratio of Bolt EVs to Sonic should the market call for it, it would do so without any additional investment, new tooling or another shift—everything is ready to go.
Comments
This explains why the Bolt EV is a hatchback and Sonic sized. Designed to be assembled on the same line using the same fasteners. So maybe GM does this again with the Trax or Equinox.
The Chevy trax shares no similar equipment with the Equinox. The chevy Trax actually uses the same drive train, (with the differential to provide AWD) and TURBO engine as the chevy Sonic.
Right. I was saying build an Equinox BEV along with the Equinox or a BEV similar to the Trax along with the Trax.
SO even if the demand of the Sonic lower the production still goes on with the Bolt, that’s good.
Have been doing this for years with other vehicles using the same platforms. As long as the proper pieces for a certain vehicle show up at the proper time on the assembly line.
Well they have been building even cars not on the same platform on the same line. The can even do FWD and RWD if needed.
What is different here is this is a EV car that under the skin is much different.
Till now the EV lines have been very specialized and almost custom. But to build these on the same line as a regular ICE volume model is a real gain.
I am sure Tesla is not thrilled to see this as this can and will reduce GM’s cost to build these cars much faster than Tesla could even think about.
No special lines, no special plant, no special tooling, no special employees it just gets better and better.
Tesla took a hit on their numbers this week and Wall St is running out of time wIting on them. Musk is going to run out of excuses.
Porsche just announced a price of $8-$90 k on their coming E car. Under cutting the S. That will hurt Musks Cash Cow. It also will do over 300 miles and is very striking looking.
Still no big deal if the parts for an EV car show up on the assembly line when they are supposed to, and the parts for a gas car show up on the assembly line when they are supposed to.
It’s really nothing new, just that the one is an EV.