GM Says First Chevrolet Bolts Are On Their Way To California

General Motors has announced that the first shipments of the 2017 #Chevrolet Bolt are headed to California, confirming once and for all that the first deliveries will indeed take place this year, if only just.

Alongside California, the state of Oregan will be the only other to receive the Bolt EV this year meaning all other U.S. states will have to wait until 2017.

It is thought that production of the Bolt started at the brand’s Orion Assembly Plant a few weeks ago and that one Bolt is being built for about every three of four Chevrolet Sonics, also produced on the same assembly line. The Detroit News reports that it takes three days for one Bolt to be made.

The manager at the Orion plant, Yves Dontigny said that some of the Bolts already produced have been trucked to the brand’s proving ground to ensure they are absolutely perfect being reaching dealerships and the driveways of customers.

Power for the 2017 Bolt comes courtesy of a high capacity electric motor with 200 hp and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. Joining this motor is a 60 kWh battery pack developed by LG and allowing the small hatchback to return an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles.