Chevy Bolt sales amount to 7,592 in first six months of 2017
General Motors is extending the shutdown of its plant in Michigan that builds the Chevy Bolt electric car. The company says the move is part of a broader effort to take control of growing inventories of unsold vehicles in the US.
In June, GM’s vehicle inventory in the US hit a 10-year high at 105 days supply. In the first six months of 2017, GM has sold 7,592 Bolts and from June 1 to July 1, supplies of the EV rose to 111 days from 104 days.
The car was initially launched in California, and GM says it will be available country-wide by August. The Chevy Bolt is the first EV in the US market to offer more than 200 miles of driving range per charge at a starting price of around $35,000.
Some other GM North American assembly plants have also had their summer vacation shutdowns extended. The Lordstown, Ohio plant that makes the Chevy Cruze and a plant near Kansas City Missouri that produces the Malibu sedan have had three additional weeks of downtime.
As well, an assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario will be idled for an additional two weeks to help reduce inventories of the Chevy Impala.
The shutdowns will impact over 9,400 workers.
