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Chevrolet Bolt-Based EV Crossover To Be Sold As Buick Velite 7 In China

Back in November of 2017, we reported on a leaked image that showed a forthcoming GM electric crossover model. At the time, we speculated it was likely some kind of Chevrolet, or alternatively, some kind of Chevrolet Bolt-based Buick crossover. Now, following a series of new spy photos and the release of new information, we know that what was previously leaked was indeed a Chevrolet Bolt-based EV crossover, specifically the Chinese market-bound Buick Velite 7.

The new Chevrolet Bolt-based EV crossover made a rather informal debut courtesy of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as reported by the Chinese auto website Autohome. New images show the final design, which appears to be almost exactly the same vehicle that was leaked in 2017, save for a few changes to the grille and the addition of new Buick badging.

It’s a good looking crossover, and shows a continuation of the design themes laid out by the Chevrolet Velite 6. In the corners, the Chevrolet Bolt-based Buick Velite 7 rocks a set of 17-inch wheels, while the body is taut with hard creases and sharp lines.

The Velite 7 is also nearly four inches longer than the Chevrolet Bolt EV, with a wheelbase that’s nearly 3 inches longer. According to the recent Autohome report, the Buick Velite 7 produces upwards of 175 horsepower.

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Meanwhile, another Chevrolet Bolt-based electric crossover is headed down the pipeline dubbed the Bolt EUV. Last week, we spotted what we believed to be this new electric utility vehicle, as captured in a series of spy shots. As it turns out, the prototype we spotted was in fact the Buick Velite 7.

There’s still a lot left to know about the new Chevrolet Bolt-based Buick Velite 7, so we’ll do some digging and report back. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Bolt EV news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. I am going to act like a Tesla Short right now that is Blowing Smoke to anyone that will listen on TV.
    The Legacy Auto Makers are coming and Tesla is in Big Trouble. HAHA. Meanwhile Tesla Stock is at $535
    This thing is Ugly as hell from these Grainy images. Hopefully it will look much better when the High Res images come out.
    If GM or any other Legacy Auto Maker thinks that Products such as these will get people in their cars instead of Teslas, GM and others are in Big Trouble. I am Hopeful this is a “Strictly” China Only Vehicle.
    That will not cut it here in the States vs. Tesla and Ford Mach-E.
    Just being honest about my own personal opinion.
    Side Note…Cannot wait to see the EV Hummer

    Reply
    1. Did you notice how Tesla didn’t break out US sales? They are kind of static YTY. Their growth has been in EV friendly countries and through expanding markets. Tesla’s stock price is all about potential not actuals. They still sell a third of the vehicles Mazda does and Mazda isn’t considered a large automaker.

      For GM the thing to look at is the large battery plant they’re building with LG in the US in Ohio. The Mach-e is going to be limited to 50k vehicles a year. With GM’s plant they can make upwards to 300k+ EV’s a year.

      Reply
      1. @theflew
        It isn’t due to Demand in the USA. It is that they cannot keep up with European and China Demand.
        The Shanghai Factory that just opened will help them out a lot. The Main issue is that they are so far behind in their European Deliveries. They simply do not have enough Capacity to keep up with the Demand at the Fremont, CA Facility. Once the German Gigafactory opens up that will help them out a lot but that isn’t for another two years Probably.

        Reply
        1. I don’t disagree with you, but from a business standpoint your first priority would be US sales given they are potentially the most profitable and sale can be realized quicker (shipping within the US/Canada versus oversees).

          I would argue the issue in the US is they are trying to sell a sedan in a market which has pretty much flipped to SUV/CUV except at the sub $25k market. There’s a reason the Model Y is moving through the pipeline so quickly. The Model 3 regardless of its relatively strong sales was a misstep in the product roadmap. And the Model Y will have more competition by the time it arrives (Mach-e, whatever GM has cooking, ID 4, etc…). No one has even announced a sedan in the Model 3’s class.

          Reply
        2. Do a search on “New Tesla registrations in California nearly halves in fourth quarter”. It provides facts behind my statement that US demand for Tesla has softened. Tesla has the wrong product mix right now – 2 sedans and basically a minivan.

          Reply
  2. So this is the expected Buick EV and it is almost identical to the Chevy Bolt EUV spy photos. I wonder why GM allowed the Buick version to be revealed , yet the domestic Bolt EUV has not been revealed. This will compete with the Ford Mustang Mach-E in a positive way, and sell well, since its price will be lesser than the Mach-E or the Tesla Model Y.

    Reply
    1. I think what they are saying is the vehicle they thought was the Bolt EUV is actually the Buick Velite 7 intended for China. They don’t really know what the Bolt EUV looks like. Maybe it looks like the Velite 7 or maybe not.

      Reply
    2. @Raymond Ramirez
      I mean no disrespect but this has a zero Chance to compete with Tesla Model Y or Ford Mach-E
      GM better Hope and pray that Fisker never can get to market and that the US makes it as impossible as they can for Nio and Byton among other Chinese Car Companies to come to the US Market.
      GM in my opinion is not competitive with this one when you look at the Landscape around that Price Range.
      This vehicle if priced in the 40K Plus Segment will be DOA. Do not look at this Product from the lenses of a GM fan, look to see what the Competition has coming.

      Reply
      1. At this point there really isn’t any competition. GM has sold all the Bolts they wanted to sell. Tesla’s sales haven’t hurt GM’s sales at all. Even BMW has had a record number of sales. Tesla is growing, but GM’s battery plant will be larger than the Gigafactory and will be complete by end of 2021. Just in time to line up with their roadmap of vehicle releases. All you’ve seen from GM is the few things they’ve let leak.

        You’re looking at the EV space through a Tesla lens. Everything looks great, but Tesla has had a market to themselves for 8 years. No Model S, X or 3 competition.

        Reply
        1. @theflew
          That is such an inaccurate Statement sorry.
          Tesla has sold more Model 3’s than the Following cars combined….
          BMW 3 Series
          Cadillac ATS
          Mercedes C Class
          Audi A4
          Jaguar XE
          Alfa Romeo Giulia
          Lexus IS
          Acura TLX
          Infinity Q50
          Volvo 60 Series

          Tesla is 100% taking sales from Legacy Auto Makers and they are scrambling trying to figure it out.

          Reply
          1. You just listed a bunch of sedans which were declining with or without Tesla. Tesla’s sales don’t account for the decline in sedan sales. What you don’t mention in that list is the rise of the truck,SUV/CUV in those same classes. Do you think it’s a coincidence that Tesla is releasing a CUV and a truck? To look a manufactures complete sales you have to look at that sedan sales plus their truck and SUV/CUV sales. The BMW 3 Series is a good example of sedan sales declining, but X series has done very well making up for the lost sedan sales. The same can be said for GM, Audi, Jaguar, etc…

            This is just a case of Correlation vs Causation.

            Reply
            1. What are you talking about? Tesla sold over 100K Model 3’s in the US this year.
              Tesla is having ZERO issues selling Sedans. Just imagine what the Model Y will do.

              Reply
  3. I would actually consider a Bolt EUV/Velite 7 if:

    *The starting price was around $30k (no tax credit anymore, so it needs to be this low to compete)
    *Has an interior that’s actually nice
    *Comes with at minimum Adaptive Cruise Control, but really I want Super Cruise

    This vehicle looks good, it’s just not something they’ll be able to charge $45k for.

    Reply
    1. @Ben
      I totally agree.
      The Current Bolt when updated next year needs to start at $25,000 and this upcoming vehicle needs to start at 30K

      Reply
  4. It doesn’t surprise me that GM gives Buick a design that’s already more than three-years-old. Talk about an uncaring parent firm!

    Reply
    1. Serious question: how long do you think it actually takes from initial design to production? A year? A couple months?

      Every new car that comes out has a design that’s roughly 3-5 years old because that’s average amount of time it takes to develop one.

      The only reason we know what this looks like is because it leaked out to the press very early.

      Reply
      1. I think you’re going to see an acceleration of these development cycles. It’s the reason GM and VW are talking about platforms that support 2WD, 4WD, sedans, CUV/SUV, etc… Platforms existed before EV’s, but due to EV components being smaller and portable across vehicle types your going to see vehicles that are little more than a chassis with a different body. I hate to say body on frame, but I think that’s the direction this is going to go. It’s the reason VW normally showed the ID without a body. The body is almost irrelevant.

        Reply
  5. The #1 question, will the electric auto GM or Ford or any other OEM, Will it make MONEY? If it is not going to be profitable, why build the damn thing. Ford can not make money on gearing up to build a totally new electric auto at 50,000 volume. If GM plan to build 300,000 electric autos, they better be profitable, that’s a lot of eggs in a fragile basket. If you lose a little money on each sale, 300,000x a little money= a lot of money.

    Reply
    1. @dwight morgan
      The reason is because they have too. Europe and China have passed Legislation that mandates EV’s going forward. It will not be that far down the Road when we like it or not will have to pass the same legislation. These Legacy Auto Makers cannot support ICE and EV Research and Development when European and Chinese Companies will only be spending on EV’s meaning they will be leapfrogging our Auto Makers.

      Reply
      1. That could be another reason GM left Europe and why have more EV offerings in China. There’s a large percentage of people in the US currently that aren’t even thinking about EV’s. One reason California is leading the way is there gas prices are almost double that of the east coast.

        Reply
        1. @theflew
          Most people in America aren’t thinking about EV’s right now for multiple reasons.
          One is Our Government (Both sides) are not passing any Legislation to move us into EV’s
          Another is Dealerships want nothing to do with them at all for obvious reasons. They do dirty tricks to talk customers out of them. One of the tricks is to not have them charged so customers cannot drive them. They tell potential customers it would take 8 hours to charge so they can drive it. Believe me I have seen it multiple times. From Chevy Dealers all the way up to Audi and Jaguar.
          Another is telling them that Battery Tech is Prone to fires which is completely False.
          Another reason is that besides Tesla, no Legacy Auto Maker has provided a good EV as of yet.
          Some European ones are on the way. We will have Rivian but will be expensive. GM hopefully has some good ones to offer in a year or so.
          The Ford Mach-E looks like a winner (even though I hate the name) and none of the Chinese upstarts are allowed to sell here as of yet.
          All I know is when you explain just how an EV works and how you use it on a Daily Basis and someone gets to drive a Tesla, they either order one right away or have to wait like me lets say for a lease to end.
          EV’s today ARE NOT for everyone yet. The Infrastructure is just not there yet. Big Oil will fight as hard as hell to keep Gas Stations from converting to EV Charging Stations. That will be the tipping point. When you can go to any Gas Station and Charge Fully in 5-10 minutes. And that is not as far away as some think. But if you own a house or have access to overnight charging, EV’s are great for Daily Driving. Now would I personally pass on a Ferrari F8 Tributo for the upcoming Tesla Roadster? Not as of right now. But that Segment is so different.
          If Tesla does indeed succeed with their Cybertruck, I think Ford, Ram, and GM might hit some real rough Patches in the Future. They desperately want to keep churning ICE Trucks and SUV’s to keep pumping profits to keep R&D on EV Tech but if people switch quickly and start to crave Pure TQ EV Trucks, nobody will be able to predict what that might cause. It will be interesting.

          Reply
          1. You are thinking like the classical U. S. businessman, not as the realistic world citizen who wishes to save money. And that post has so many errors that I will just ignore them, and continue to favor domestic EVs from Ford and GM instead of the expensive and unserviceable Tesla models.

            Reply
            1. @Ford Owner
              You mean like the Totally Domestic, made 100% in the Good Old US of A in California Tesla Model 3 or any Tesla for that matter.
              Or the Made in Mexico Ford Mach- E?
              I got very confused by your Post. Please enlighten all of us here.

              Reply
              1. Actually the Monroney sticker for the Model S states 55% US content. And the Model 3 has 50% US content along with 20% from Mexico.

                Reply

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