Chevy Bolt EV Sales Fall While Growing Segment Share In Q2 2020
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Chevy Bolt EV sales decreased in the United States, Canada, South Korea and Mexico during the second quarter of 2020. The Bolt EV also tallied 34 deliveries in Brazil during Q2 2020 compared to just 1 unit delivered in Q1 2020.
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q2 2020 - United States
In the United States, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 2,498 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 37 percent compared to 3,965 units sold in Q2 2019.In the first six months of the year, Bolt EV sales increased about 1 percent to 8,371 units.
| MODEL | Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 | Q2 2020 | Q2 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -37.00% | 2,498 | 3,965 | +1.09% | 8,371 | 8,281 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q2 2020 - Canada
In Canada, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 700 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 46 percent compared to 1,290 units sold in Q2 2019.In the first six months of the year, Bolt EV sales decreased about 3 percent to 1,669 units.
| MODEL | Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 | Q2 2020 | Q2 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -45.74% | 700 | 1,290 | -2.74% | 1,669 | 1,716 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q2 2020 - South Korea
In South Korea, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 519 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 50 percent compared to 1,029 units sold in Q2 2019.In the first six months of the year, Bolt EV sales decreased about 23 percent to 1,285 units.
| MODEL | Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 | Q2 2020 | Q2 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -49.56% | 519 | 1,029 | -23.47% | 1,285 | 1,679 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q2 2020 - Mexico
In Mexico, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 2 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 67 percent compared to 6 units sold in Q2 2019.In the first six months of the year, Bolt EV sales decreased about 6 percent to 15 units.
| MODEL | Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 | Q2 2020 | Q2 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -66.67% | 2 | 6 | -6.25% | 15 | 16 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q2 2020 - Brazil
In Brazil, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 34 units in Q2 2020, an increase of about 3,300 percent compared to 1 units sold in Q2 2019.In the first six months of the year, Bolt EV sales increased about 8,100 percent to 82 units.
| MODEL | Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 | Q2 2020 | Q2 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +3,300.00% | 34 | 1 | +8,100.00% | 82 | 1 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
Though Chevy Bolt EV sales suffered a significant decline during the second quarter of 2020, the small EV managed to grow its segment share from 11 to 16 percent. And while all models in the segment reported a decrease in sales during the second quarter of 2020, Chevy’s battery-electric car/crossover posted the smallest loss in the segment.
The results keep the Bolt EV in second place in the mainstream dedicated electric and electrified vehicle segment, behind the segment-leading Toyota Prius, which commanded 59 percent of the segment share despite a 48 percent decrease in sales volume. The Bolt EV outsold the rest of the segment, including the Hyundai Ioniq in third place, the Nissan Leaf – the Bolt EV’s most direct rival, which saw sales decrease 68 percent, and the Honda Clarity. The rest of the competition was behind by quite a notable margin, including the Volkswagen E-Golf, Toyota Mirai and the discontinued Chevy Volt (see Chevy Volt sales).
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Small Battery Electric & Electrified Cars - Q2 2020 - USA
| MODEL | Q2 20 / Q2 19 | Q2 20 | Q2 19 | Q2 20 SHARE | Q2 19 SHARE | YTD 20 / YTD 19 | YTD 20 | YTD 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA PRIUS | -47.62% | 9,000 | 17,183 | 59% | 50% | -29.95% | 20,483 | 29,241 |
| CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -37.00% | 2,498 | 3,965 | 16% | 11% | +1.09% | 8,371 | 8,281 |
| HYUNDAI IONIQ | -55.33% | 1,916 | 4,289 | 13% | 12% | -28.44% | 5,438 | 7,599 |
| NISSAN LEAF | -68.43% | 1,049 | 3,323 | 7% | 10% | -49.95% | 3,007 | 6,008 |
| HONDA CLARITY | -82.94% | 525 | 3,077 | 3% | 9% | -74.73% | 1,780 | 7,045 |
| VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF | -87.96% | 124 | 1,030 | 1% | 3% | -74.38% | 485 | 1,893 |
| TOYOTA MIRAI | -89.94% | 62 | 616 | 0% | 2% | -78.30% | 209 | 963 |
| CHEVROLET VOLT | -96.60% | 39 | 1,146 | 0% | 3% | -98.31% | 62 | 3,666 |
| TOTAL | -56.07% | 15,213 | 34,629 | -38.43% | 39,835 | 64,696 |
We should note that Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq sales figures do not exclusively represent battery-electric vehicles, since those models also include Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants. The case is similar for the Honda Clarity, which is available in Plug-In Hybrid, Electric and Fuel Cell variants.
The mainstream dedicated new energy vehicle segment contracted 56 percent to 15,213 units in Q2 2020.
The GM Authority Take
Chevy Bolt EV sales volume has always been an area of concern, especially given GM’s strategy to boldly dive headfirst into the electric vehicle space by planning to roll out 20 electric vehicles by the year 2023. The vehicle’s sales performance during Q2 2020 was not ideal, but it’s possible for sales to rebound after the effects of COVID-19 start to subside. However, the Bolt’s EV’s sales volume is still very low, about 6,500 units less than the 9,000 units seen by the Toyota Prius delivered this quarter.
The Bolt EV posted an increase in sales during Q1 2020, which was welcomed movement given the model’s lackluster performance throughout 2018 and even worse performance in 2019. In fact, the Bolt EV was one of only a few vehicles industry-wide to see sales grow during the first quarter of 2020, a timeframe marred by COVID-19 and its various effects.
Over the next year, the Bolt EV will be joined by a larger brother called the Bolt EUV at dealer showrooms. The duo will share the same platform and battery tech, but the Bolt EUV will be larger and more spacious.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Bolt sales for Q2 2019, unless noted otherwise
- In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q2 2020 and 77 selling days in Q2 2019
- 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
- GM Q2 2020 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- GM Canada sales Q2 2020
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q2 2020
- Cadillac Canada sales Q2 2020
- Buick Canada sales Q2 2020
- GMC Canada sales Q2 2020
- GM Mexico sales Q2 2020
- GM Mexico sales April 2020
- Chevrolet Mexico April 2020 sales
- Buick Mexico April 2020 sales
- GMC Mexico April 2020 sales
- Cadillac Mexico April 2020 sales
- GM Mexico sales May 2020 sales
- Chevrolet Mexico May 2020 sales
- Buick Mexico May 2020 sales
- GMC Mexico May 2020 sales
- Cadillac Mexico May 2020 sales
- GM Mexico sales June 2020
- Chevrolet Mexico June 2020 sales
- Buick Mexico June 2020 sales
- GMC Mexico June 2020 sales
- Cadillac Mexico June 2020 sales
- GM Mexico sales April 2020
- GM China sales Q2 2020
- Chevrolet China Q2 2020 sales
- Buick China Q2 2020 sales
- Cadillac China Q2 2020 sales
- GM Brazil sales Q2 2020
- GM Argentina sales Q2 2020
- GM South Korea sales Q2 2020
- GM South Korea April 2020 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea April 2020 sales
- Cadillac South Korea April 2020 sales
- GM South Korea May 2020 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea May 2020 sales
- Cadillac South Korea May 2020 sales
- GM South Korea June 2020 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea June 2020 sales
- Cadillac South Korea June 2020 sales
- GM South Korea April 2020 sales
- GM Russia sales Q2 2020
- GM Russia sales April 2020
- GM Russia sales May 2020
- GM Russia sales June 2020
Bolt EV News
-
Chevy Bolt Family Gains Massive Market Share During Q1 2023
Earning a combined 40 percent segment share.
Last Month To Order A 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV With Super Cruise
Supply is extremely limited.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
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My (more saleable?) new-model Brochure.
Model: 2024 GMC/Wuling “Yumin” Electric retro-style mini SUV Truck
2 Door with.removable rear ABS hard top
Features:
Rapid charging. Recharging brakes
Passive linear generators recover jounce energy
Centrally canted long travel suspension
Part-time 4 wheel drive with in-cabin selector
Traction Control with modes: rain, snow, hill, river & rock
Integrated safety cell and anti-tip warning light w/defeatable active assistance
110/240 volt rear bed outlet for lights, tools and camping
Front child-seat anchors
General Specifications:
L : 150 in
WB: 95 in
W: 72 in
H: 66 in
Wt: 2950 lbs
Ground Clearance 9.5 in
Suspension travel 7.9 in
Tires wheel: 215/75 R16
Motor 75 kW electric
Battery: 52 kWh
Top speed limited 85 mph
Range: 185 + miles.
MSRP: $21 000 USD
Sales goal 2024: 80 000 China, India (Umin), South America
2 500 Canada etc. (Gundermin)
***
Pattern here? GM plants in Mexico build hundreds of thousands of vehicles, but Mexican market buys a few thousand, maybe? Can these workers not afford to buy what they build or don’t like them? BTW, as few BOLTEV’s being sold to date, GM going all electric could be a disaster. California can’t provide enough electricity right now, green or whatever to keep The lights on in some areas.
Why are you comparing the Bolt to the Prius? The Prius is a hybrid car, and therefore significantly more practical for the average person.
You should compare it to a model 3, which is also pure electric.
Where are the Ford numbers? Ford still sells hybrids and plug-ins. Soon you will add the Mustang Mach-E electric into the count.
The reason that Chevy doesn’t sell many Bolts is because GM barely even lets anybody know the Bolt exists. A little advertising would probably help. So far GM has been selling Bolts to EV aficionados who would buy Bolts anyway without advertising. I have only seen one generic Chevy TV commercial that even showed a Bolt without mentioning it by name and precisely one web banner ad for the Bolt in three years.
A big problem with prospective purchasers is that they believe it is a lot harder to own an electric car than it is. Even GM is complicit in the myth with dealers pushing Level-2 EVSE charger hook-ups that would probably cost more than an additional $1,000 to install … probably something that would not be an option for renters.
The truth is that with a 60 KWH battery and around 250 miles of driving range, there is no need to charge up the Bolt to 100% every single night. I have a Bolt and I charged it from the ordinary 120 Volt outlet in my garage for the first two years I had the car. I never found myself without enough charge to go where I needed.
The reason the Bolt doesn’t sell is that it’s an expensive, goofy looking little hatchback, limited by its range and recharge time.
It is not an appealing vehicle.
Bill is an owner and he says the range is plenty. Charging with household garage plug was adequate. I haven’t read anywhere of complaint about the range.
The gen 1 was an unappealing design I agree. I see an unnecessary “dork factor” that could be ironed out of GM’s current design language.
I’ll give Nate the nod that appearance is a matter of personal choice. On the other hand the performance data are objective facts. The 120/220 Volt Clipper creek power cord supplied as a standard part of the Bolt can add up to 8 miles of range per hour while the car is plugged in to 120 Volts. It is minimally, if at all, inconvenient to plug in the Bolt when the driver parks. If the Bolt sits idle plugged in 12 hours a day, the owner can drive almost 100 miles every day and still have additional 150 miles of reserve power. To me that is much more convenient than having to deal with gas stations … ever. EVs also offer the advantage of close to zero maintenance. Tires and brakes are the main wearing items. Even brakes last a long time because the car is primarily slowed by regeneration. GM appears to have solved the battery wear issue that was a problem for Honda and Nissan. Having used the Bolt for three years, I have not seen any fall off in its available driving range.
The Bolt has pretty competent handling. The low center of gravity due to the battery location helps cornering. The Bolt beam rear axle has been criticized by the press for not being as high tech as a multilink suspension, but on real roads it makes virtually no difference. The factory high efficiency tires hold back spirited driving, and driving range would be cut if the tires were swapped for stickier performance tires. Trust me, I’ve had performance tires on a Olds with a 455 V8 and MPG goes down there too, but is less noticeable because MPG starts out low.
For people that want to get around and aren’t trying to make a styling statement, they could do a lot worse than a Chevy Bolt. Perhaps some day in the future GM will actually get around to producing some the raft of EVs GM says will be coming. I hope so.
The fact remains that people aren’t buying them. I merely pointed out why, based on some obvious reasons. Someone that DID buy one wouldn’t have a problem with the styling or how inconvenient the range and charging times are.
For the general public, an expensive and inconvenient car hasn’t been a particularly popular choice. This shouldn’t be surprising.