Key facts
- GM is producing 75% fewer Chevrolet Bolt EVs than planned.
- The Kansas City-area plant will produce about 35,000 Bolt EVs before production ends in Q1 next year.
- GM and LG Energy will upgrade their Tennessee plant to make lower-cost LMR battery cells.
- The LMR cells are expected to offer 33% higher energy density than LFP cells.
- GM has incurred $10.9 billion in EV-related charges since Q2 2025.
General Motors is significantly scaling back production of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, with the Kansas City-area plant now slated to produce approximately 35,000 units before the model's end in the first quarter of next year. This represents a 75% decrease from the original plan of around 150,000 vehicles, according to a union official.
Dontay Wilson, president of the United Auto Workers local chapter representing factory workers, told Reuters that the union's estimate is based on daily production volumes and not provided by GM. The automaker declined to comment on specific production numbers, stating it "continuously evaluate[s] market dynamics and customer demand."
The reduced output is seen as a reflection of automakers adjusting their electric vehicle strategies following policy changes that have withdrawn federal subsidies for battery-powered cars. GM has recorded $10.9 billion in EV-related charges since the second quarter of 2025, indicating a broader trend of companies re-evaluating large investments in EVs.
In a separate development, GM and battery partner LG Energy will upgrade their Tennessee plant to make lower-cost lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric vehicles, with construction expected to be completed in 2028. The LMR cells are projected to offer 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and the expansion is expected to create 500 new jobs.