Chevy Bolt EV Now Leads Volt Sales, Again Hitting All-Time Sales High

Chevrolet’s 238-mile range Bolt EV has again moved the bar upwards with 2,781 sales in October and taken the lead against its sibling, the Chevy Volt.

The front-wheel-drive compact crossover that zips to 60 mph in around 6.5 seconds like a sports car while offering outsized interior space and competent handling is now selling in the 2,000-range like Teslas often have, a positive sign.

Launched in December 2016, the car rolled out to all 50 states by the summer this year, and has consistently risen. In September it saw 2,632 sales, so 2,781 is not a big leap, but August had seen 2,052, and July had seen 1,971, and June was 1,642.

The all-time high-water mark yet belongs to Teslas which has run into the 3,000-4,000 range for the Model X and S sales in the U.S. respectively, but the Nissan Leaf has not gone above middle 3,000s in its hay day, and 2,000-some sales is otherwise respectable at this stage.

As EVs are yet minority products, the Bolt has been the country’s best seller at certain points of this year, and yet ranks up in the top three.

Other EVs sell in far-fewer numbers, and so despite more-modest advertising, the Bolt is doing alright as Nissan awaits its 2018 all-new Leaf with smaller 40-kWh battery for year one.

The Bolt has also stepped ahead of the plug-in hybrid Volt, which was down 37.8 percent year over year with 1,362 sales compared to 2,191 sales in October 2016.

The tally for the Bolt now is 17,083 sales, and the Volt rests at 16,710.

Not hurting things is GM reported its third straight month of crossover sales above 17 percent market share. The last time it delivered three consecutive months at or above a 17 percent retail share was July-September 2011.

The Bolt crossover otherwise appears to be cannibalizing some Volt sales. The Volt’s claim to fame was all-electric when you need it, and no range anxiety.

With its range capable of 250 on an easy drive cycle, the Bolt has little anxiety for a lot of people too, while never having its gas engine come on – because it doesn’t have one!

Pricing is a couple thousand above the Volt, but GM has otherwise thrown its marketing more heavily toward the Bolt, and media are also reporting it more as it’s a newer car.