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The all-electric Bolt is a concept car not
currently slated for production, but Chief Executive Officer
Mary Barra said the company is committed to developing an
affordable, long-range EV, and GM said they could develop the
car in as little as 18 months.
"This is a real game changer," Barra told reporters at the media
preview at the Detroit auto show. "Trust me, this is no
stripped-down science experiment."
She didn't give a timetable for when GM would develop the
vehicle, but said it was a natural next step from the Volt. GM
is showing a new version of the Volt on Monday, and the 2016
version will debut this fall.
GM product development chief Mark Reuss said the automaker "has
the technology" to deliver a production version of the Bolt
electric car within 18 to 24 months. Reuss said the four-door,
five-passenger prototype could be profitable, especially if the
value of emissions credits it generates under clean air
regulations is counted.
The current version of the Volt, which has an electric driving
range of about 40 miles before a gasoline engine kicks in,
starts at $34,345, and analysts have said GM loses money on the
car. The new Volt has an electric driving range of 50 miles.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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