Chevrolet Boosts Bolt EV Production By 20 Per Cent To Satisfy Demand

General Motors will increase production of the popular Chevrolet Bolt EV by 20 per cent during the fourth quarter thanks to burgeoning demand for the model.

During a press release focusing on its most recent earnings, the automaker said it has been enjoying rising demand for the Bolt, despite its key rival, the Tesla Model 3, now actually arriving in the hands of customers.

GM estimates that global sales were up by more than 35 per cent throughout the second quarter and more than 40 per cent during the first six months of the year.

“The extra production coming on line should be enough to help us keep growing global Bolt EV sales, rebuild our U.S. dealer inventory and bring us another step closer to our vision of a world with zero emissions,” U.S. vice president of sales operations for GM, Kurt McNeil said.

Not everything is rosy

Although the Bolt has been selling well globally, the same can’t be said for its home market. In fact, sales in the United States dropped by a steep 22.6 per cent in the second quarter to 3483 units. For the first half of the year, however, sales are up by 3.5 per cent and sit at 7858 vehicles.

The Bolt launched to much fanfare in 2016 and deliveries started soon after. Despite Chevrolet’s confidence that the vehicle would bring EVs to the masses, though, the car hasn’t sold in the numbers many were expecting.

One reason for this is the Nissan Leaf. Not only did the Japanese automaker unveil a new-generation of the world’s best-selling EV shortly after the Bolt’s premiere, but the previous-gen Leaf was actually out-selling the Bolt in the U.S. throughout part of 2017.