Chevy Bolt Pre-Ordering Begins In California

When it comes to plug-in cars, the West Coast gets preferential treatment every time, and the roll-out of the 2017 Chevy Bolt is no exception. GM-Volt.com reports that a Southern California Chevy dealer has received the go-ahead to start taking pre-orders for the all-electric hatchback, and other dealers are sure to follow.

Keyes Chevrolet general manager Rick Alpern wrote that of the 78 allotted cars, he already has 35 deposits, leaving 43 still up for grabs. The 238-mile Chevy Bolt starts at $37,495, allowing it to squeak just under the $30,000 mark when the $7,500 Federal tax rebate is applied.

Another dealership in Silicon Valley reported similar allocations, though the initial allotment of cars will limited to California and Oregon for now. There’s also no saying when all those cars will actually arrive, as it took 10 weeks between pre-ordering and the first deliveries of the 2011 Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid.

It’s no secret that California and Oregon are two EV hotbeds, with more progressive and wealthy populations that are more inclined towards plug-in vehicles in general. California leads the nation in green car purchases, thanks to local efforts aimed at making EV ownership both accessible and attractive. This includes ample charging stations, financial incentives, and access to free parking and HOV lanes.

The second wave of states to get Bolt allocations will like include a number of liberal Northeast states, such as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as car-hungry places such as Texas and Michigan. GM’s rollout of the 2011 Chevy Volt took about four months for it to be available nationwide, and the Bolt is likely to follow a similar pattern, meaning nationwide ordering should be open by the second quarter of 2017.

Get those wallets ready.