The reintroduced Chevrolet Bolt was already expected to have limited production, but now it may be even more limited. According to documents from the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union cited by Reuters, Chevy may manufacture just 35,000 Bolts.
The Nuts and Bolts
Chevrolet ended production of the Bolt electric vehicle (EV) and EUV in 2023. At the time, it was the third-best-selling electric car in the U.S. The original Bolt EV was a small electric hatchback, and the Bolt EUV was slightly bigger with more legroom. The term “EUV” was used as a play on SUV, to denote the slightly bigger Bolt as a “utility” vehicle. Both models were priced under $30,000 to start.
The Bolt met its demise in 2023 due in large measure to its battery technology. Bolt batteries were recalled due to the risk of fire in 2021 — the recall included every Bolt and Bolt EUV ever manufactured.
Parent company General Motors was prepared to launch several new EV models on a platform it then called Ultium, which used a different battery chemistry. The company opted to retire the Bolt EV and EUV, leaving the then-new Equinox EV as its least-expensive electric car. But that ceded the “inexpensive” EV space almost entirely to Nissan’s Leaf.
A Bolt Return
However, the Bolt’s banishment didn’t last forever. Last October, Chevrolet announced the Bolt would return for 2027, and it would be assembled at GM’s Fairfax Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, coming back for “a limited time.”
How limited? While Chevy didn’t share the anticipated production volumes, it was estimated that the Fairfax Plant could produce 150,000 Bolts annually.
So, why the drastic reduction? Chevy told multiple outlets, “We continuously evaluate market dynamics and customer demand to make decisions regarding our operations.”
If Chevy has decided to significantly reduce the number of Bolts produced, there are a couple of possible explanations. The Department of Transportation’s new fuel economy rules reduce incentives for building EVs. EV sales are also down overall since Chevy decided on a resurrection. The company has sold 4,224 through the first six months of this year. EV sales did climb in August, but were down from 2025 levels — just before the end of the $7,500 tax cut, thus making them a harder sell in the U.S.
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is now available with a starting price of $28,995, including the destination charge. If you’ve been searching for an affordable new EV and like what Chevy has to offer, you might want to get it while you can.
