Tesla is preparing to unveil its mass-market Model 3 on March 31 with production beginning in late 2017. Meanwhile, Chevrolet is already putting it's 200-plus-mile Bolt EV into pre-production.
Chevrolet Bolt EV engineers -- along with assembly plant workers -- began finalizing testing of assembly plant tools and processes at GM’s Orion Township, Michigan, production facility this week. This signals the final phase in preparation for the start of Bolt production, which will commence at the end of 2016.
“We’re at another critical and important point in the development of the Bolt EV,” said Josh Tavel, Bolt EV Chief Engineer. “We’ve moved from working in math and building cars by hand to building Bolt EV’s on the line. We’re now testing the tooling used in the plant so that we deliver a high quality 200-plus mile EV that our customers are eagerly anticipating.”
There have been several carmakers in a frenzied rush to be the first to get a long-range affordable electric vehicle to market. While it seemed Tesla might be first with its Model 3, Chevy came out of left field with its Bolt.
Certainly, the Model 3 might be cheaper after tax deductions than the Bolt, which is expected to cost around $30,000 after a $7,500 tax deduction. However, the Bolt will be entering production a good year ahead of the Model 3.
