Chevrolet Bolt EV Slowly Disappearing

Once the reigning champion of low-priced EVs, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is slowly disappearing from dealer lots as buyers snap up the last of the 2023 models.

Among EV used cars, the Bolt will likely stay in demand for some time since Chevrolet discontinued it. However, some new 2023 Bolts remain, but they’re not easy to come by.

Largest EV Market Sees Bolts Vanish Rapidly

Los Angeles is one of the largest EV markets in the country, and the last of the new 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV models are quickly disappearing from dealer lots in the city. Most dealers only have a few units on the lot, and salespeople expect them to go fast. The Bolt EV remains an incredible deal with a tax credit of $7,500 at the point of sale.

The base Bolt model is only $26,500 to start, but it goes down to about $19,000 after the tax credit and before any other taxes and fees. This makes it incredibly affordable to many buyers who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford an EV.

The 1LT is the base Bolt model and has unsurprisingly sold the fastest thanks to the low price. The 2LT is the higher trim and began to go quickly as the 1LT models became more scarce. The 2LT starts at $32,180.

Mostly Bolt 2LT Models Left

Large Chevrolet dealers in California tend to stand out from the rest of the country due to selling a disproportionate amount of electric vehicles. As many dealers ran out of the cheaper 1LT Bolt models, the 2LT models were left behind in higher numbers. Dealer discounts bring the price closer to $30,000 before any point-of-sale tax credits or additional taxes and fees.

The credit is subtracted from the price after taxes and fees are added. Even though the 2LT models went more slowly, they’re selling faster now with many dealers reporting only half a dozen or so left on their lots.

Alongside the 1LT and 2LT Bolt models, a few 2023 Bolt EUV models are left. This is the slightly larger Bolt variant with a higher price tag. By Bolt standards, these models are fairly pricey, starting at about $35,000.

Why GM Discontinued the Bolt

Soon, you’ll only find Bolt models as used cars. Despite its affordable price, the Bolt EV was always the subject of mixed reviews. It suffered recalls in 2020 and 2021 due to defective batteries that might catch fire. These problems were part of GM’s decision to lower prices for later models. The Bolt was also a very small car, which was another reason for its budget pricing.

However, GM claims that the Bolt drew many customers to the brand who were previously driving vehicles from other brands. The affordable price of the Bolt also drew in those who would not otherwise be able to afford an EV. The Bolt had its place and carved a niche during its run, but GM finally decided to move on.

General Motors halted Bolt production late last year. The automaker is now pushing the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV as replacements for the Bolt.