GM Delays Chevy Bolt EV Production - January Update

Chevrolet Bolt EV Production Further Delayed

General Motors has announced a continued postponement of new Chevrolet Bolt EV production at its Orion assembly plant in Michigan. This delay will extend through January 24, 2022, as communicated in a statement to TechCrunch on Thursday.

Instead of initiating new vehicle assembly, GM will prioritize the ongoing replacement of battery modules. This action addresses a widespread recall affecting tens of thousands of Chevy Bolts, stemming from identified fire risks associated with the vehicle’s batteries.

Plant Shutdown and Recall Efforts

The Orion plant has been inactive since August 23rd. GM has consistently revised the timeline for resuming production of new Bolt EVs.

Replacement battery modules for the recalled Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles began distribution to dealerships in October. However, the company has refrained from publicly disclosing specific figures regarding the number of modules shipped or successfully installed.

Focus on Repair Completion

“We are actively increasing the pace of repairs and remain dedicated to completing them as swiftly as feasible,” a company spokesperson stated via email.

“To ensure this prioritization, we have informed personnel at the Orion assembly plant – the facility responsible for BOLT EV assembly – that the plant will remain offline through January.”

Recall History and Software Issues

Initially, in May, GM intended to deploy software updates to mitigate fire hazards in 2017-2019 Bolt models, which were subject to an earlier recall following reported incidents.

However, when the software proved ineffective, a broader recall was issued in July. This was followed by a comprehensive recall encompassing all Bolt EVs in August, triggered by a fire in a more recent model year vehicle.

LG Chem's Financial Responsibility

LG Chem, the supplier of batteries for the Chevy Bolt, has accepted responsibility for the nearly $2 billion cost associated with the recall.

GM's Future EV Plans

During its investor day in October, General Motors outlined ambitions to double its revenue by the end of the decade and surpass Tesla in EV market share.

The company had previously committed to launching 30 new EVs by 2025. Currently, confirmed release schedules exist for only a select few models:

• The GMC Hummer EV pickup, slated for delivery by the end of 2021.
• The Hummer EV SUV, planned for release in 2023.
• The Cadillac Lyric, expected to enter the market in early next year.