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GM Authority

Some Dealers Think Their New 2023 Chevy Bolt Is Worth A Fortune

We never price or sell our new Chevrolets over MSRP – not even C8 Corvettes or Z06s! Every other vehicle on our website is priced correctly except the 4 Chevy Bolts – which were all sold many months ago at or under MSRP. Somehow CDK mistakenly restocked in these four EV vehicles (none of our ICE vehicles) and assigned a sale price that was tens of thousands of dollars higher than the MSRP??? At this point we cannot determine the reason why only these four vehicles were stocked back in a second and third time by our CDK system. Thank you…we have corrected the error right after reading your (Trey Hawkins) article.

As GM Authority has extensively covered in the past, customers purchasing a new 2022 Chevy Bolt EV, 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV, 2023 Chevy Bolt EV, 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV, or 2023 Cadillac Lyriq are currently eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credit. However, the window to qualify for this credit is closing fast, and now, some dealers are attempting to capitalize on this opportunity by tacking on massive markups to Bolt EV and Bolt EUV units.

As just a sample of the dealer markups across the U.S., here’s Van Chevrolet in Arizona posting a 2023 Bolt EUV for $57,190, while McCluskey Chevrolet in Ohio has another 2023 Bolt EUV listed for sale for $54,670. In addition, one undisclosed dealer sent a detailed pricing sheet to a prospective Bolt EUV buyer, which had the EV priced at $45,039 – which comically includes an extra $899 for catalytic converter protection.

Editor’s note: The CEO of McCluskey Chevrolet, Keith P. McCluskey, has reached out to explain that the pricing was an error, and that the vehicle in question was sold months ago, but restocked due to a systems error. Mr. McCluskey also made it a point to add that the dealer will “price or sell our new Chevrolets over MSRP – not even C8 Corvettes or Z06s!”

2023 Chevy Bolt EUV pricing sheet.

For reference, here’s a quick refresher on the all-electric vehicles’ pricing info. A 2023 Bolt EV in the base 1LT has a starting price of $27,495, while a 2023 Bolt EUV in LT form boasts a starting price of $28,795. Indeed, these dealer markups are absurd, and are roughly a 100 percent increase over starting prices, even when factoring in the $7,500 EV tax credit.

The General sent out a letter back in early 2022 warning dealers of such markups and the possible repercussions. However, despite these warnings, “market adjustment fees” seem to be alive and well. With this unfortunate reality in mind, we recently asked you, our dear reader, what your opinion on the matter was. Looking over the poll results, almost 80 percent of our readers believe that GM has not fixed dealer surcharges.

As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Bolt EV and 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV are both equipped with a 65 kWh battery pack, which supplies energy to the front-mounted electric motor. Output is rated at 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, while both models utilize the GM BEV2 platform for structure.

Production for the 2023 model year began in July 2022.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Bolt EV newsChevy Bolt EUV newsChevy newsGM EV newsGM production newsGM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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As a typical Florida Man, Trey is a certified GM nutjob who's obsessed with anything and everything Corvette-related.

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Comments

  1. And this is why the out of date dealer model is so hated by consumers.

    It only helps to drive people to new manufacturer non dealer models. Even Ford is restructuring dealers to be delivery centers with online sales controlled by Ford. GM is going to loose by sticking to the outdated model so hated by car shoppers.

    Reply
  2. $1495 to protect the catalytic converter…that it doesn’t have?

    Someone better report this dealer to the state AG’s office or consumer enforcement folks.

    Reply
  3. Dear Dealer,
    When Pigs Fly!
    Sincerely
    Former Customer

    Reply
  4. Catalytic Converter Protection?, yeah be sure to eliminate that off of the Price Tag along with other bogus items on the paperwork itself that a customer will have to sign.

    Reply
  5. GM NEEDS A NEW CEO WITH B@//S! That said, anyone falling for this crap is an IDIOT plain and simple! This is ONE reason why people hate dealers! They are always trying to screw you one way or another! It’s be3n like that for ages!

    Reply
    1. All GM can control is the allocation of vehicles to the dealer. They even have limits on how much they can do.

      Reply
    2. a new ceo wont make any difference. just look at the Maroney, dealers always set the final price, has been that way since dealer protections laws were passed.

      Reply
  6. This is why I bought a Tesla !

    Reply
    1. Well Elon has no problem manipulating prices to meet his monthly sales targets. Read the Tesla forums and read the hate about buying a Model 3 and a week later the car’s price dropped by $5k and feeling like a sucker. Then there is the full self driving option that keeps going up in price, but still not ready for prime time. Part of why I bought a Bolt EUV in August last year. Main reason was size as it replaced a BMW i3. Hope GM doesn’t kill it off, as they own the market in that segment.

      Reply
  7. Electric cars will be great in 2040. Not before and I am hanging onto my “Dependable Engines”.
    Climate change is hoax anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    1. Abby, I have a 2023 Bolt EV and it’s great already. Here in Pa. gas has jumped to $3.75 a gallon. I drive mine 500 miles for $20 in electricity. In Pa., we’re allowed to change electric suppliers. I’m changing mine next month and I’ll drive those 500 miles for $18.00. I’ve let several people drive my Bolt and everyone was impressed. If you get a chance to drive one please do, you’ll be very surprised.

      Reply
    2. they seem pretty good now, but then you want to buy is your business. no one else has any say in that. just like f some one wants an EV, that their business,

      Reply
  8. Yes, but it comes with “free gas” for the life of the car. (Ha ha)

    Reply
  9. Plain and simple…pull their dealership franchise with GM.

    You couldn’t give me and EV anyway. I’ll stick with my 2 ICE Cadillac CT6’s.

    Reply
    1. Not that plain and simple. You really don’t understand the dealer/manufacturer relationship and the laws that govern it.

      Reply
  10. Dealers do this only for EVs, but for ICE cars, they discount massively towards year end. Equally gullible are automakers who release EVs only few months later for a given model year.
    No wonder Tesla, Rivian, Lucid wants to sell directly to customers.

    But I want to buy that Bolt for $45,039 with a catalytic converter.

    Reply
  11. I talked to Van Chevrolet just to see if I could SEE a Bolt EUV Premier in person and test drive one. They didn’t have any, but the EUVs they have they tack on a market adjustment with tons of add-ons like was said. Pass.
    I managed to get one yesterday for MSRP from another dealership in AZ, since someone backed out of their order. Seems rare to find one, especially for just sticker, but glad I was able to. It’s a nicer car than I thought, and my wife is impressed. I’ve had a truck for 20 years, but no longer need one. I had just filled up for $105 for the last time.

    Reply
    1. And if you wanted to buy a Honda or Toyota a few decades ago, you think they didn’t do the same? Who are you kidding?! Distributors like Southeast Toyota (Jim Moran) had a regular program to take the cars as they came in off the boat and add air conditioning, radios, floor mats, paint protectant and a laundry list of other add ons. You had no choice but to take it all or you didn’t get the car. This started the day after the first car was sold over 120 years ago.

      Reply
  12. Some bolts even advertised with first oil change free 😮

    Reply
  13. They are useless pieces of crap at any price.

    Reply
    1. I’m sorry, I thought this article was about the Bolt and not Toyota’s.

      Reply
    2. what is dealers?

      Reply
  14. Simple fix to this. Hyundai Kona EV isn’t being marked up AND they’re passing through the full $7500 when you lease the car. MSRP is well below $40k and it compares favorably to a higher trim EUV.
    Take the discount, lease and buy out early if you have the cash, or at end if you want the car at that point.

    Reply
    1. Scott: Not sure where you looked, but you may wish to take a look at the Hyundai and Kia lots in California. What you said is certainly not true out here.

      Reply
  15. The market can determine whether people want to charge crazy prices or not.

    Just take your business somewhere else.

    I bought an EUV 2 months ago for no markup after being told by other dealers I had to pay 2k to play.

    There are honest people out there. You just have to put some effort into it and value your hard earned money enough to try.

    Reply
  16. If I saw an $899 fee for “catalytic converter protection” on an EV, I’d end the discussion and never go back. If the dealer will try to scam you on one point, they can’t be trusted in any other area.

    Reply
    1. Boilerplate.

      Reply
  17. Dealer mark ups are criminal and all buyers need to file complaint with the FTC for false pricing and advertising

    Reply
  18. Over/above-dealer-cost is what leads me to just drive by a GM dealer..too bad. I was a die-hard GM customer for 50+ years.

    Reply
    1. ronj: So…………….Toyota, Lexus, Ford, Honda and the many others are not doing this? Just GM dealers? I know for a fact you are quite wrong in that.

      This isn’t a “GM” issue. This is a greedy dealer issue. I still work at a dealership and I’ve been in the auto business for 23 years in total now. All I can say is that the dealers (owners and higher up managers) are greedy bast**ds that will step on their own mother’s back for a buck.

      Reply
  19. Most dealers around me are horrible. One wanted 3000 up charge just to order an euv. Luckily Anderson Chevrolet ordered me one, and I got it in 5 weeks. I used my supplier discount, and paid under sticker. I will buy from them again, the others never.

    Reply
  20. Should definitely be priced with a Yugo GV. $3990.00 is top dollar for one of these. A penny more is a rip-off.

    Reply
  21. If they can find some idiot willing to pay, good on ‘em.

    Reply
  22. Shameful

    Reply
  23. The base Model 3, which is more car in pretty much every way, is $43,630 and less $7500 credit = $36,130 (plus T/T/T). I bought one last week completely online and it was pretty much seamless.
    I am no Tesla fan boy, but some Chevy dealers seem to be operating in their own reality.

    Reply
    1. Assuming not you’re buying from this crazy dealer and getting the Bolt EUV at MSRP it is about $14k cheaper than the Model 3. So I don’t disagree the Model 3 is a better car. The question is is it $14k better? Most would say it isn’t. Also, there is a big difference between someone that can afford a $23k car and someone that can afford a $36k car. You’re talking another $233/month on a 5-year loan. You’re $6k away from being able to get a Bolt EUV (Bolt EV is even cheaper) and a Chevy Trax for the price of your Model 3.

      Reply
      1. You’re completely missing the point of my comment.
        If a Bolt and Model 3 are the same price because a dealer is greedy/insane, then Model 3 is the choice, every time.
        That’s it.

        Reply
  24. Enough is enough ! Just don’t freaking buy it ! When they’ll be sitting for months outside of the plant, they’ll be more affordable ! Greeeedy assh0les at the dealers are the worse in this situation but buyers are idiots !

    Reply
  25. Just two weeks ago , I bought my Bolt EV 2 LT from ?myrtle Beach Chevrolet , for sticker price and no addons , there are honest dealers out there, ya just have to hunt them down , and do what I always did , when I found a dealer marking them up or adding worthless crap on the car , I reported them here and then texted the dealer and told them what I did

    Reply
  26. I’ve had my Bolt EV 2LT for 3 weeks now and love it , I read that your warranty is void if you use un approved DC chargers,,, so where is the approved list of chargers ???????

    Reply
  27. Yep, my Bolt EV purchase experience one month ago resonates with exactly these tactics.

    I test drove a 2023 Bolt 2LT at Diamond Chevrolet in Banning, CA, which confirmed my decision to purchase one. After a weekend of checking about a dozen other dealerships across SoCal, and realizing that availability was scarce, and markups were common, I called back to inquire on the availability of the one I test drove. I was able to download the window sticker for that model as well as one that was labeled “In Transit.” I was told that they sold the first one, but the one in transit was available. At this point I didn’t see any indication that $5000 in dealer add-ons was going to be a deal breaker.

    I sat with a salesperson who wanted to “run the numbers” with me. He took out a laminated set of images to show all the add-ons that will come on the car (again, about $5,000 worth — or should I say worthless), I explained that I’m not interested in any of the add-ons, but rather I’d pay sticker price for the Bolt EV. After some back and forth on this issue, including the salesperson telling me that the car already has all the add-ons, to which I responded that’s impossible if the car was still “IN TRANSIT”, and I held to my position that I would pay sticker. He disappeared for about 45 minutes to speak with the manager, and re-emerged to tell me that that car I was negotiating to buy was no longer available — that it had already been sold. I called BS on that, spoke to the manager who backed up the story. I told them that I didn’t appreciate their dishonesty, and left the dealership.

    The next day, I got contacted by a salesperson from Diamond Chevrolet in San Bernadino (same dealership, different location), who told me that he had a Bolt LT2 available, and was eager to have me come to “talk numbers” with him. I responded with a text message asking him if the car was actually on site at his location, and I followed with “IMPT Question: Will you sell me the Bolt EV at Sticker price?” — it turned out that the car he said was available had the SAME VIN as the one the Banning location told me was already sold!

    Later that day, I found a 2022 Bolt EV with low miles, and clean that I bought for $25K with no add-ons.

    Sooo… if you want to be jerked around — DIAMOND CHEVROLET in Banning or San Bernardino — take your pick!

    Reply

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