When Will the Chevrolet Bolt Glide Into Your State? Find Out Here
Chevrolet has released the state-by-state distribution plan for the Chevrolet Bolt, with the all-electric subcompact gradually trickling inland from the coats from now until the third quarter. Nineteen states will see a preliminary wave of deliveries completed by summer’s end. That’s assuming, of course, that dealerships ordered the EV in a punctual manner and production keeps pace.
The manufacturer was careful to call this an “approximate” timeline.
According to a distribution plan originally snagged by GreenCarReports, every state should have at least one showroom with a 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt in it by September of this year. However, General Motor’s rollout is already underway on the Pacific coast.
The first deliveries of the Bolt began right before 2016 came to a close, with 579 vehicles delivered — primarily in California. Oregon dealerships should receive their remaining cars later this month and a quick inventory search shows that some dealerships have Bolts already.
Following the model’s western launch, the next states to see the rollout are Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia. Those states should have the EV by the end February. By March and April we should see the Bolt cropping up in New York, New Jersey, and Washington.
The above distribution plan shows the rest of the rollout schedule for the United States.
Keep in mind that some of the initial volume could show up as 2018 model year vehicles, since the Bolt plant in Orion Township, Michigan has a model year changeover scheduled near the start of summer. Interestingly, Michigan will be one of the last states to see the new EV go on sale. However, Chevrolet has prioritized Bolt distribution for markets where it perceives the greatest demand for its Volt plug-in hybrid and for electric cars in general.
[Images: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Schedule might be adjusted based on whether anyone in the Blue states actually buys them, and how much GM can afford to lose by ramping up production while losing $9K per unit. Even in "super green" Norway with its big EV subsidies, the EV market is weakening as indicated by ever bigger discounts being offered - 30+% off sticker.
So I may be wrong about the Bolt. I've been calling it a compliance car all this time (and GM would be stupid to not get the credits first) but just maybe I can consider buying one in early '18. That is, if it's not supremely uncomfortable to sit in like most Chevys. Can't wait to meet my knowledgeable Bolt salesman. Maybe he won't believe it's a perpetual motion machine like my Leaf salesman did.