Jobs: With Low Gas Prices, GM Reveals Decision on Bolt Electric Car

General Motors said Thursday it would build its Bolt electric car at the Orion Assembly plant. (Photo courtesy of General Motors)

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After weeks of speculation, General Motors said Thursday it’s putting the new Chevrolet Bolt EV on a fast-track production schedule at the big Orion Assembly Plant, The Oakland Press reports.

Alan Batey, president of GM’s North American Operations, made the announcement at the Chicago Auto Show. GM is showing off its Chevrolet Equinox and a custom-edition Silverado pickup as lower gas prices juice sales of some of the automaker’s larger, less fuel efficient models.

But GM isn’t giving up on its affordable, long-range, all-electric Bolt, unveiled last month at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. Priced at around $30,000, the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles on a single charge, and is an evolution of Chevrolet’s Volt hybrid and the Spark EV.

“The message from consumers about the Bolt EV concept was clear and unequivocal: Build it,” Batey said. “We are moving quickly because of its potential to completely shake up the status quo for electric vehicles.”

It’s unclear when production will begin or whether new jobs will be added, but GM hopes to be the first out of the gate to offer an affordable, long-range electric vehicle, the Detroit Free Press reports. The expectation is the Bolt will be available to consumers in 2017.

The Bolt will compete with Tesla’s Model 3, also expected on the market in 2017. Tesla’s Model X is expected on the market in the third quarter.

CEO Mary Barra said at the time the Bolt was unveiled that it helps GM diversify its customer base.

“The Bolt EV concept is a game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity,” Barra said. “Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers.”

The automaker said late last year that it would spend $200 million to upgrade both the Orion Township and Pontiac Metal Center plants. The Orion plant, where the Buick Verano and subcompact Chevrolet Sonic are assembled, employs about 1,750 workers.

Last month, the automaker announced plans to idle workers for two weeks at the Orion Assembly Plant as the company adjusts its production schedule to meet market demand. Saes of the Verano and subcompact Sonic were falling, GM said.

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