Yahoo Autos Low-cost electric car may return to the United States soon
Last year, before GM was ready to publicly acknowledge the death of the Chevrolet Bolt, the puzzle pieces pointed so clearly to that outcome that we wrote, "Tell me you're killing the Bolt without telling me you're killing the Bolt." The automaker made it official in April of this year, telling dealers they could order the popular electric hatch until this summer, production ending around Q3. But the solution to one puzzle starts another puzzle, and the new pieces allow us to play the same game with GM from the opposite direction. That is, "Tell us you're bringing back the Bolt without telling us you're bringing back the Bolt."
NPR's Marketplace podcast host Kai Ryssdal stopped by GM's Warren Technical Center for a chat with GM CEO Mary Barra about the automaker's EV plans. Nearly ten minutes in, Barra said she's been driving a Bolt and she loves it. When Ryssdal asked why the company is killing the car, Barra replied: "Because it’s our second-generation technology. The difference between our second generation and third generation, which is Ultium, is a 40% reduction in battery costs. And we’re leveraging the names of our vehicles that are well understood and known in industry. People, you know, who drive an Equinox today will understand what an Equinox EV, what that delivers to them. But, you know, Bolt is something that has built up a lot of loyalty and equity. So I can’t say more because I don’t discuss future product programs, but, you know, it was primarily a move from second generation to third generation. But that’s [an] important vehicle in our portfolio."
Ryssdal responded the same way we would have, saying, "Nudge nudge, wink wink, I guess."
