Update: All sections of the story have been revised to contain the latest info.
On July 25, 2023, during GM’s Q2 2023 earnings conference call, Chair and CEO Mary Barra announced a next-gen Chevrolet Bolt. The company was initially believed to be working only on a next-gen Chevrolet Bolt EUV, skipping the hatchback version. While that’s how the new chapter begins, a recent announcement has indicated there could be two models like in the first generation.
In this story, we’ll summarize everything that’s known and our expectations for the subcompact crossover which is confirmed as the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt.
Design & Features
The next-gen Chevrolet Bolt would be a refreshed Bolt EUV featuring a new front and rear design, and not a vehicle conceived from the ground up. We saw this coming, as GM will launch “a new Bolt” and “execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program,” Barra had said during the company’s Q2 2023 earnings conference call. This approach significantly reduces engineering cost and development time, she added.
Inside, expect a layout influenced by the Equinox EV, with a large digital display and a new Android-based infotainment system. GM has dropped Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as it moves customers to its in-house connected services. Features like Super Cruise, a panoramic roof, and heated/ventilated seats should remain available as options.
At GM’s 2024 Investor Day on October 8, 2024, Reuss dropped a hint for a second next-gen Bolt model, possibly a hatchback version. However, what’s certain is that the crossover is coming first.
It (the upcoming Bolt crossover) will just be one member of a family on the Bolt, including an even lower-cost option.
Mark Reuss, President, General Motors (2024 Investor Day on October 8, 2024)
LFP Battery
The 2027 Bolt introduces LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells, reportedly supplied by CATL. These packs are less expensive, last longer, and tolerate temperature swings better than traditional lithium-ion cells. While GM hasn’t announced the specification, we expect around 260 miles of EPA range, with 100 miles added in about 30 minutes of DC fast charging. Faster charging and improved energy management are part of GM’s promise to address feedback from first-gen Bolt customers.
LFP cells make perfect sense for urban EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt, which doesn’t need to deliver a long driving range or offer exceptional driving dynamics. That said, we’re expecting GM to continue improving the charging times and the kWh/mile consumption over the lifecycle of the relaunched Bolt.
In fact, at GM’s 2024 Investor Day, Reuss promised improvement, saying the next-gen Bolt “will have the latest technology and faster charging.” Further, he took a dig at Ford while trying to show GM’s prowess in developing low-cost EVs and instill confidence in investors:
We don’t need to create a skunkworks team to create affordable electric vehicles. We know how to do this.
Mark Reuss, President, General Motors (2024 Investor Day on October 8, 2024)
In February 2024, GM hired Kurt Kelty as its Vice President of Batteries, a new role. Kelty was a vice president at Sila, and prior to that, he headed the battery development team at Tesla for 11 years. He is responsible for the company’s battery cell strategy and a new end-to-end approach. He will oversee the use of raw materials, R&D and investments in new technology, the commercialization of cells and packs, recycling, etc.
Heat Pump
One common piece of feedback from Bolt EUV customers is that the lack of a heat pump hurts the range during winter. We expect GM to include a version of the ‘Ultium energy recovery’ in the next-gen Bolt to address this issue.
NACS Charging Port
The 2027 Bolt will be Chevrolet’s first EV equipped with the NACS charging port. This allows access to Tesla’s Supercharger network of more than 23,500 stalls in North America. GM confirmed the port will be standard, significantly improving convenience over the CCS-only Bolt EUV.
Chevrolet Bolt Robotaxi
Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary, will develop its new autonomous model based on the next-gen Bolt EV.
During GM’s Q2 2024 earnings call on July 23, 2024, Barra stated this shift from the Origin will streamline scaling efforts by addressing regulatory challenges and reducing costs. The move also leverages GM’s investment in the Bolt EV, creating a significant new customer for the product. This strategy is aimed at quickly delivering autonomous vehicle technology at scale and attracting supporters of Cruise’s mission and the long-term potential of autonomous driving.
Manufacturing
GM has confirmed that the new Bolt will be built at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Fairfax is being retooled in 2025, with Bolt production scheduled to begin by year-end. GM has also committed future investments in Fairfax for its “next generation of affordable EVs.” The first-generation Bolt was manufactured at Orion Township, Michigan.
Release Date
It’s the fun car you know and love, but just better all around, and at a compelling MSRP, positioned below the Equinox EV. They’ll be in production by the end of the year with the first sales occurring early next.
Scott Bell, Vice President of Global Chevrolet, in an internal GM Q&A on August 8, 2025
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt will enter production in late 2025, with the first customer deliveries set for early 2026. GM executives, including Scott Bell, VP of Global Chevrolet, have reaffirmed this timeline, highlighting strong anticipation from previous Bolt owners.
Price & Competitors
“The 2026 Bolt (now MY27) will offer the same value as the original Bolt and much more, and it will be a money maker for us,” Reuss said at GM’s 2024 Investor Day. “The price isn’t final yet, but it will be only slightly higher than the 2023 Bolt, which started at USD 28,795,” he added, indicating a sub-USD 30,000 tag for the base configuration.
The 2027 Bolt will primarily compete with the 2026 Nissan Leaf which begins at USD 29,990 (MSRP) as well as lower variants of the Kia EV3 and the Toyota C-HR Electric.
Also Read: 8 Affordable Electric Cars expected in the U.S. (2025-2027)
Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s rendering
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
