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Chevrolet Bolt Could Arrive Quicker than Thought as Production Kicks Off in October 2016

As it happens with all new niches, competition in the electric neighbourhood of the city we know as car industry hots up constantly which means manufacturers have to up the ante and speed up production.
2017 Chevy Bolt Test Mule 1 photo
Photo: Chevrolet
It goes the same for Chevrolet and their upcoming EV, the 2017 Bolt. You see, Nissan is on the brink of launching the second-generation Nissan Leaf, which vows to offer fierce competition for Detroit's all-electric car.

Despite having the ongoing Volt to strengthen their green lineup, Toyota is almost ready to launch the new Prius, and that's a pretty legit reason for Chevy to speed things up. Tesla Model 3 could pose another threat to Chevy, but since Elon Musk keeps delaying the EV's launch, nothing is certain here.

According to Autonews, two analysts monitoring GM's production plans and launch schedule claim the Chevrolet Bolt will enter production in October 2016, as Chevy wants to become the first mainstream carmaker with a long-range electric vehicle on the market.

The same source claims GM is conducting testing on over 50 hand-built Bolt prototypes, probably similar to the ones we saw last week covered with thick camo skin and wearing bogus taillights and headlights.

In any case, when the Chevrolet Bolt finally hits the market, those interested in having one will have to pay around $30,000 for one, with incentives and tax breaks.

For this kind of money, the Bolt will offer a maximum electric range anywhere around 200 miles (321 km) on a single charge, which is double the range offered by the 2016 Leaf, in case rumors are right and Nissan fits the EV with a larger battery offering a 105-mile (169 km) range.
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