- General Motors will start the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt on one production shift instead of two, Bloomberg reports.
- The automaker blamed the move on uncertain electric vehicle demand when the EV tax credits disappear at the end of this month.
- Shifts for the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq EVs will also see downtime.
There's a lot to be excited about in the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. From what we know so far, it will have a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack and a familiar design packed with the latest software and safety features—all for a price around or below $30,000.
Like the last Bolt EV and EUV, it could be a big hit. But General Motors seems to be hedging its bets.
Bloomberg reported today that GM is already planning for one shift of Bolt production at its plant in Kansas instead of two. Similarly, the Tennessee plant that builds the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq EVs will see some downtime in December, followed by a cut from two shifts to one starting in January.
“General Motors is making strategic production adjustments in alignment with expected slower EV industry growth and customer demand,” the company told Bloomberg in a statement. (InsideEVs is also reaching out for comment.)
What that means in non-industry jargon is that at least at the outset, GM is planning to build and sell fewer 2027 Bolts than initially expected, at least until it can see what EV demand looks like after this month when the federal $7,500 tax credits expire. It's unclear what tax credits the Bolt would have qualified for, but that's ultimately an irrelevant question since production won't even start until December.
Even as GM saw record EV sales in August as buyers and dealers anticipate the end of the tax credit, the automaker is getting ready to wait and see what's next. "There’s no doubt we’ll see lower EV sales next quarter after tax credits end Sept. 30, and it may take several months for the market to normalize," GM President of North America Duncan Aldred said this week. "We will almost certainly see a smaller EV market for a while, and we won’t overproduce."
Cutting back on Lyriq production is an interesting move for GM, considering the luxury crossover has been a major hit for Cadillac and a big part of the brand's modern comeback. It has, however, benefited from the EV tax credits, as well as discounts and deals from both GM and dealers.
The Bolt, however, could buck any downturn trends if it's priced well enough at the outset. More mainstream buyers are looking for affordability in their electric cars, and the last Bolt was highly successful for this reason—especially at the end of its run. If it comes in at or around $30,000 and offers solid specs, range and charging speeds, it may stand on its own merits without the tax credit.
The question, however, is how profitable GM can be selling such a car; the last Bolt was a loss-leader for GM for much of its production run. The automaker has said the new one will be profitable, though certainly not as much as a more expensive EV might be.
GM is not the only automaker tempering expectations as the tax credit winds down. The 2027 Bolt's potential biggest competitor, the all-new $29,900 Nissan Leaf, will see a launch that is "conservative and targeted," as Nissan put it. The Leaf may be more focused on EV-friendly states like California or Colorado, some of which will see state EV incentives survive as the federal ones go away.
Expect a rocky few months on the EV front in America. But if these cars get good enough to stand on their own merits, they may do just fine.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
