Chevrolet Bumps Up Bolt Production Before First Customer Deliveries

#Chevrolet is increasing production of the all-electric Bolt at its factory just north of Detroit, reports Automotive News.

Company officials revealed late last week that the first customer deliveries will start before the end of the year, as promised. This means the automaker will be the first to sell a sub-$40,000 electric car offering more than 200 miles of driving range.

Power for the Bolt comes courtesy of a high capacity electric motor delivering 200 hp and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. When combined with a 60 kWh battery package developed by LG and mounted in the floor, the Bolt has an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles (383 km), well up on the 82 mile range offered by GM's last all-electric vehicle, the Spark EV.

U.S. prices for the Bolt start at $37,495, a figure which can drop to as low as $29,995 when the federal tax credit of $7,500 is applied.

By the end of next year, the Bolt will have its first rival, in the shape of the Tesla Model 3.