by New Chevrolet Bolt to Get Chinese Batteries
General Motors plans to use imported batteries from the Chinese manufacturer CATL for the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt. This is a temporary solution, as the company is working on establishing its own battery production in the USA. The new Bolt is expected to start production this year, with customer deliveries beginning in 2026.
“To remain competitive, GM will temporarily purchase batteries from overseas suppliers for our most affordable electric vehicle,” a company representative stated.
GM’s Future Plans
Of the 13 electric vehicles GM sells in the USA, only the Cadillac Celestiq uses imported batteries. The company plans to switch to local battery production in two years in partnership with LG Energy Solution. However, for now, the choice of Chinese suppliers will help reduce the cost of the Bolt – the base version of the new model will be slightly more expensive than its predecessor, which cost $28,795 in 2023.
Production of the new Bolt will be launched at the Fairfax plant in Kansas. Experts point out that importing batteries from China could lead to additional customs duties, but GM is prepared for these expenses for the sake of its electric model’s affordability. Technical details of the new product remain unknown for now, but the company has already started publishing the first teasers of the future model.
