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GM Authority

2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Is Now In Production

Production of the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV started at the GM Lake Orion plant in Orion Township, Michigan on December 8th, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with the matter.

Production of the Bolt EV, now in the fifth model year of its first generation, began behind schedule, though not by much. Chevrolet‘s originally-planned start date to begin production was November 16th.

General Motors was initially planning to give the 2021 Bolt EV a midcycle enhancement (MCE) consisting of updates to the exterior and interior. However, delays created by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the automaker to push these changes back to the 2022 model year. The 2022 Bolt EV will go into production in the summer of 2021, at around the same time as its larger platform mate, the Bolt EUV.

Both cars will be built, as the Bolt EV has been since its introduction, on an EV-specific derivative of the GM Gamma 2 platform known as GM BEV2.

As a result of the delays, the 2021 Bolt EV will be very similar to the 2020 Bolt EV. One notable change to the 2021 Bolt EV is that Premier models will now be fitted with DC fast charging as standard. The Keypass smartphone entry/start function has also been deleted, along with the Light Ash Grey with Ceramic White interior colorway, which was formerly available with all exterior colors on both LT and Premier trims.

Another change is that the Comfort and Convenience Package is now available only with the fast charging charging. Equipment contained in the package includes:

  • Heated driver and front passenger seats
  • Automatic heated steering wheel
  • Three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror

We’ll continue bringing you the latest about the Bolt EV, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Bolt EV news, Chevrolet news and obsessive GM news coverage.

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David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

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Comments

  1. Ugly turd, not worth the price. Hey GM, where’s the lower prices for batteries that you continually claim is coming?

    Reply
    1. 2025 … the answer to everything.

      Reply
  2. I have a 2019 bought new. Love 💘 the car. Already have 58k on it. Zero problems. But no reason for me to get a 2021. Offers less amenities. Will wait for 2022. See if the offer more. Happy with this one. Wife drives a lot with her job and wouldn’t give it up unless it’s another one.

    Reply
  3. Shop Tesla, and you’ll find that the Bolt isn’t even close in overall performance, room, or value. Come on GM you can do better!

    Reply
    1. Hi Bert, But with the current Bolt discount of $6,250 (not tax credit) on a 2020 Bolt, brings it’s cost to around $31,995 with fast charging option included and you get 259 miles of range, it’s a lot less expensive than the Standard Range Model 3 which costs $37,990 at 263 miles of range, only 4 miles more. That is a savings of over $6,000 when you include taxes. Plus the Model 3 is a sedan with seats that are not as high as the Bolt’s, which helps people like me with ankylosing spondylitis get in and out easier. Plus I don’t need all the speed, bells and whistles that the Tesla has. FYI – The Bolt seems just as roomy inside than the Tesla Model 3, I’ve tried it. The difference is very small, however, the Bolt holds more cargo. For all those reasons, that’s why I have a Chevy Bolt EV and I’m loving it!!!

      Reply
      1. Those car are way to expensive to buy…a Toyota Corolla is way cheaper and doesn’t cost much money on gas

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    2. Performance is clearly not a priority for someone shopping for a Bolt. I have a Vette and the Bolt is very high on my list for a year-round commuter. Performance is simply not a concern.

      As for value, it all depends on what someone is after. As I keep vehicles until they go to the scrap yard, resale value is moot for me. Tesla’s games surrounding pricing (deducting fuel savings to show a lower sale price) and nonexistent model availability is a turn off. I can walk into almost any Chevy dealer today and drive off in a Bolt for about $28k, although I have to acknowledge I do find that to be a bit expensive for a sub-compact. You’re not driving off in any Tesla for under $50k.

      Summary: Virtually no one is cross-shopping a Bolt with a Tesla

      Reply
      1. Hi SteveQ, Well, after looking at the performance data, the Bolt’s performance is actually above average. Let’s look at the performance data. The 2020 Bolt’s 0-60 performance is 6.7 seconds, which is better or the same as most ICE and BEVs including the 2021 Kia Niro EV SUV (6.7 sec), 2020 Hyundai Kona electric SUV (9.2 Sec), Volkswagen ID.4 Electric SUV (around 8 sec), Nissan Leaf (8.4 sec), Cadillac XT4 (7.2 sec), Buick Encore (9 Sec), BMW i3 electric (6.7 Sec). My sources were various websites like carindigo and Car And Driver, etc. So, the Bolt actually does have pretty good performance when comparing to most other BEVs and ICE cars. It’s just that Tesla’s Standard Range Plus Model 3 0-60 performance of 5.3 sec and top speed of 140 mph is totally unnecessary. In many states you’d go to jail if caught going over 100 mph on the highway in the US and get a hefty ticket going 90mph in a 75mph zone. So the Chevy Bolt’s top speed of 92mph and 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds is MORE than adequate. The Bolt is considered a “hot” hatchback.

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        1. Yea, friends of ours have one and they’ve said it’s pretty snappy. I’ve not been in it due to covid… maybe next year.

          But my point was that performance is not a huge factor for Bolt buyers, where it very often is for Tesla buyers. Not criticizing that at all, as I said, I have a Vette, so I like performance as well, just that the Bolt serves a different purpose.

          I was pretty much set on a Bolt until Chevy announced their upcoming electric pickup, so will probably hold off for now.

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    3. I laugh at people when they that talk about the Bolt’s performance. It does 0-60 mph in less than 6.5s. That’s faster than most “family” cars that aren’t luxury.

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      1. Dear theflew, Excellent point. The Bolt is considered a “Hot” Hatchback. It’s even faster than the luxury ICE Cadillac XT4 at 7.2 seconds.

        Reply
  4. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Personally, I am very happy with my 2020 Chevy Bolt. Not sure though why any amenity would be deleted.

    Reply
  5. Sure, if you want to emphasize style and prefer the sedan format, then there’s Tesla Model 3. If you want a mini CUV format, you can opt for a Chevy Bolt. Not all consumers have the same priorities.

    Something to consider is GM seems to have finally figured out how and is willing to make cars that don’t corrode to pieces in a couple years in areas where ice melting chemicals are used. Tesla doesn’t have enough history yet here in the Midwest US to know how well Model 3 is going to fare against ice melting chemicals.

    Reply
  6. Tesla model S has been out 8 years and I haven’t seen a rust bucket version yet. Maybe because Tesla uses aluminum for the body panels on all their vehicles ?

    Reply
    1. The Model S and X were aluminum. The 3 and Y are mixed materials.

      Reply
    2. The Tesla Model S is not comparable to the Chevy Bolt. The first Tesla Model 3 was produced July 7,2017. Where I live, there were very few of the Model 3 on the road until 2019. That gives two Midwest winters worth of experience. Indeed, there have been corrosion issues with the Model 3 which an Internet search for, “Tesla Model 3 corrosion problems,” will show have been reported by credible news sources.

      Sandy Munro’s consulting firm did an engineering analysis for the Model 3 which you can find on the Autoline After Hours site. There were some what I consider some questionable design details that seem like they would be corrosion traps. On the other hand, Munro says that other manufacturers should be worried because Tesla’s electronics are so advanced relative to others’.

      I’m not giving GM a free pass either. GM made of despicably rust prone vehicles in the 1970s and 1980s and followed that with some unbelievably shoddy paint in the 1990s and even 2000s. That’s why I wrote , “willing to make,” assuming GM probably could have but didn’t bother to make better vehicles.

      I have a 2017 Bolt and the assembly, paint finish and materials are as good as any Toyota or Honda product I have owned. There are complaints about the type of materials chosen or the shape of the seats for example, but the quality of the parts is not in question. The only other car I’ve owned that has been as problem free as the Bolt was a 1989 Mazda MX-6 which was assembled at Ford’s Flat Rock plant.

      Reply
  7. My only problem with this announcement is why is DCFC still an option? To me, there’s no excuse for that.

    Reply
    1. Does it really matter if it’s standard or an option? I assume they don’t make it standard because people order it without DCFC. I’ve owned 2 Bolts a 2017 and a 2020 and I can count on my hands how many times I’ve used the DCFC.

      Reply
      1. Perhaps you have used it infrequently, but you have used it, so it must’ve come in handy otherwise you wouldn’t use it all.

        Please correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know, level 3 charging is standard on every other 2021 BEV sold in the US.

        Reply
    2. It depends on where you live and how much you drive how important DC fast charging is. If you live in an Apartment without access to a plug and charge once or twice a week, then, of course. If you have a very long commute every day, then a home level 2 charger might not be able to keep up.

      I bought the 2017 Bolt I have from stock on a dealer’s lot and took the DCFC so that I didn’t have to wait for a special order. In the last three years I used the DCFC once at an Electrify America site in Mansfield, Ohio. I could have made a return home on the charge I had left; I just wanted to see how it worked. Something to keep in mind is that you don’t have to change an EV 100% full every time you charge the car. People typically fill gas tanks 100% full every time because of the in convenience of dealing with gas stations. If you have a plug, you just plug in when you park, if you want to. I have taken a few 200+ mile weekend trips and yes, title took a few days to get back to full, but I had enough charge to do what I wanted in the mean time.

      Reply
  8. Great discussion! Probably the biggest decision is to go with an all electric vehicle. Surveys have shown that over 90% of BEV owners would never go back to gas.
    I realize it’s apples to oranges comparing a sedan to a CUV. The best thing any buyer can do is to research extensively and do their homework. They should look at the total cost of ownership of the vehicle and take each for a test drive. I hope GM truly and fully commits to electrification!

    Reply
  9. I bought a 2017 Bolt in early 2018 and absolutely love it. I was on the waiting list for 2 years for a Model 3. When it became obvious that $35K model would cost $45k- $50k…..I switched to the Bolt. Zero regrets. As previous posters have stated….the lack of the Super Charger equivalent (in terms of locations/numbers) doesn’t impact me as I charge in my driveway. With that said….I do think that is a sizeable advantage for Tesla. Bigger advantages for Tesla though are software updates (I got one update in the first year and Chevy has moved on) and the biggest of all…..direct sales. The legacy dealership model is a big drag on the legacy companys’ ability to sell EVs. Dealers have to invest in the EV infrastructure, need to educate their sales people, and (the biggest prob) need to fix the disincentive that dealers have to selling EVs. Other than a recall, I have not been back to the dealer and have no need for the first 100k miles. EVs are financially not good for dealers which will hurt legacy automakers until that is solved. The only way I see that being solved is direct to consumers…..like just about everything else these days.

    Reply
  10. Are we trying to get rig of gas all together? I dont see it happening. How much will gas cost for my riding mower and my barbecue grill? You know you only get half the truth with any new technology. Why you think China is building all the cars, solar panels. Batteries, wind mills ect.

    Reply

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