General Motors CEO Mary Barra has officially declared that the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV will hit the streets in 2025, following the model’s temporary cancellation and a successor question. Building upon its reputation of affordability, the new generation will be equipped with cheaper LFP batteries.

While Barra did not delve into the nitty gritty about the upcoming electric vehicle (EV), her announcement aligns with a Reuters report from last month, which hinted at a tentative agreement between GM and the United Auto Workers union.

The deal suggested a $391 million (€362 million) investment for a “future electric vehicle” at the Fairfax Assembly in Kansas, with factory sources pointing toward the next Chevrolet Bolt.

Building upon a strong point

Barra confirmed the rumor at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, where she acknowledged the continued popularity and strong sales of the existing Bolt despite its aging design. She also emphasized that using a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack for the next version and the preparatory work of the first generation contribute to bringing the car to market as fast as in 2025.

LFP batteries are also more cost-effective, offering potential advantages in the broader adoption of electric vehicles, which was already a strong point of the Bolt.

According to the GM boss, “the next-gen Chevy Bolt will leverage the features of the current Bolt EUV, integrate Ultium, the latest software, and incorporate NACS”. The latter is Tesla’s charging standard, which is being adopted by competitor brands in North America. The new Bolt will be capable of charging at Tesla’s Supercharger network.

Significantly, the new Bolt will mark GM’s first use of LFP technology in the Ultium platform. Barra highlighted the cost benefits, stating that GM will save “billions in capital and engineering expense” by utilizing purchased LFP cells, resulting in a “substantially lower” unit cost. Specific details such as range and price estimates were not provided.

Don’t park under deck!

Swapping to new battery technology is also a positive sign from a marketing point of view. The first generation Bolt suffered from fire risk, attributed to its lithium-ion battery pack from LG Chem.

The expenses of the subsequent massive recall, worth $1,9 billion (€1,5 billion) and involving pack replacement, were transferred to the supplier under a mutual agreement to avoid a lawsuit. GM was forced to halt production temporarily.

So, for GM, trailblazing the EV category wasn’t a walk in the park. At a given point, Chevrolet even asked all Bolt owners to always park on the top level of parking decks, at least 1,5 meters away from all other cars, to reduce potential damage to nearby vehicles or structures.

It’s not your usual disclaimer when buying a new car. Despite these drawbacks, the $26 500 (€24 600) Bolt was widely popular in the US and reached the highest conquest rate of all Chevrolet models (70%).

Barra also discussed GM’s broader electric vehicle plans, emphasizing that the company is not retreating but optimizing its electric line-up. 2023 was a rough year for her company’s electrification strategy, with delays for the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, GMC Sierra EV, and a cut on EV product investment. Barra noted that progress involves navigating ups and downs in the pursuit of electrification.