2026 Chevy Bolt is a battery-electric vehicle that is on the horizon. The 2026 Bolt EV is expected to debut in the 2026 model year and will be the second incarnation of the Bolt EV nameplate.
A new generation of the Bolt EV, a pioneer of inexpensive tiny electric vehicles and MotorTrend’s 2017 Car of the Year, is currently being developed by Chevrolet officials. The qualities of future Bolt EVs should be maintained, thereby facilitating the effortless and realistic experience of electric transportation.
Its battery capacity, though, must surpass that of its predecessor. Likely for the 2026 model year, the new Bolt EV will compete with low-cost electric vehicles including the Kia EV3, Volvo EX30, and Mini Aceman.
- Longer range, faster charging than ever
- It should stay small, relatively affordable
- Hands-free driving technology may be available
2026 Chevy Bolt Review
The 2026 Bolt EV is anticipated to provide competitive charging options and a range that is comparable to the new Chevy Bolt model, which is built on General Motors’ Ultium electric vehicle platform. For inexpensive entry-level variants, range can be about 200 miles; for premium, long-range cars, it can be over 300 miles.
Ideally, the next-generation 2026 Chevy Bolt would also be able to fast charge at 150 kW or more, cutting the time spent idling on road trips. Level 2 charging at roughly 19 kW adds around 50 miles per hour of range when plugged in at home.
The previous Bolt EV was exclusively FWD, making it suitable for routine daily use. However, it was not ideal for drivers in regions with frequently slippery roads or those who desired a more sporty hatchback-like experience. General Motors’ Ultium EV chassis is adaptable enough to accommodate single-motor FWD or RWD configurations, as well as dual-motor AWD powertrains.
So, the next-generation 2026 Chevy Bolt EV has more possibility to include AWD. Though at a higher price and maybe a shorter total range, the AWD Bolt EV will offer more performance and traction than the standard model, which will probably stay FWD.
Over its brief manufacturing life, the Bolt EUV offered the main advantages of the Bolt EV in a little bigger package. Like the conventional Bolt EV, the Bolt Electric Utility Vehicle is somewhat bigger at 6.3 inches longer and only 0.2 inch higher, taking a hatchback and FWD-only body factor. It also provides more sophisticated technology features.
The following 2026 Chevy Bolt EV will almost probably be sized along the Venn diagram of prior Chevrolet small electric cars: somewhat bigger than the outgoing Bolt EV, but not as enormous as the Bolt EUV. The next Bolt EV will have to be small enough to prevent product overlap given Chevrolet’s Equinox EV inclusion.
| Model Year(s) | 2026 |
| Platform | BEV2 with some BEV3 components |
| Battery | Ultium Batteries (Lithium Iron Phosphate / LFP) |
| Motor(s) | Ultium Drive Motors |
| Drive wheels | Front-wheel-drive (FWD) |
| Vehicle Assembly Location | GM Fairfax Plant, Kansas City, Kansas, USA |
| attery Assembly Location | GM Ultium Cells plant |
| Body Style | Five-door subcompact crossover SUV |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada, select export markets |
2026 Chevy Bolt News
At its Investor Day, General Motors on Tuesday offered some fresh information on the next-generation 2026 Chevrolet Bolt EV. Especially, GM President Mark Reuss stated the new Bolt will be lucrative for the business as well as same price as the retired 2023 model.
The 2026 Bolt will provide more and the same value as the original Bolt. It will also help us financially. Consider it, Reuss remarked.
He stated the next Bolt would be a 2026 model on sale late 2025. Reuss stated the new Bolt will only cost “slightly” more than the 2023 Bolt EUV crossover, which starts at $28,795, even if final pricing has not been set.
Reuss also mentioned the vehicle, which costs about $30,000, will be only one part of the Bolts “family.” There will be less expensive choices for the family. For prospective electric car purchasers who have been patiently waiting for the advent of additional cheap models, this is all positive news.
Reuss seized the chance to question Ford, which said it was forming a scrappy “skunkworks” team in California to create less expensive, next-generation electric car technology.
We don’t have to develop skunkworks to make reasonably priced electric cars. We know how to accomplish this, he remarked.
Legacy carmakers such as GM find it difficult to manufacture lucrative electric cars since they must manage relatively modest manufacturing volumes and large first investments. As GM increases production of the next generation of electric cars, this is changing slowly.
The carmaker claimed on Tuesday that it was on course to manufacture 200,000 electric cars in North America this year. Volume growth will be driven even more by cheap mainstream cars like the new Bolt and the recently launched Chevy Equinox EV.
Eliminating one of the most cheap choices in the US EV market, GM is phasing out its long-running Bolt EV hatchback (and its twin, the Bolt EUV crossover) in 2023. Eventually, they chose to bring back the model.
Reuss said on Tuesday that while it was still too early to detail the new Bolt, vehicle would feature “the latest technology and faster charging.”
New information regarding the forthcoming 2026 Chevy Bolt has been disclosed by General Motors.
This model will be equally affordable as the 2023 model, while also being profitable for General Motors.
It will be a member of the Bolts “family,” as stated by GM President Mark Reuss on Tuesday.
2026 Chevy Bolt EV
Production of the first-generation Chevy Bolt EV and somewhat larger Bolt EUV finishes in December 2023; GM has stated intentions to provide a second-generation Bolt even if a successor is not first guaranteed.
Despite the fact that it will not be a complete redesign, the upcoming second-generation Bolt will still present a significant opportunity for enhancement over the first-generation Bolt when it is introduced for the 2026 model year.
What We Expect
Based on remarks from GM CEO Mary Barra, GM Authority in June 2023 inquired whether GM was developing a second-generation Bolt EV. Barra said in March 2024 that the next-generation Bolt EV would come in “a little over a year” with a debut time range of mid-2025 as a 2026 model year car.
The second generation 2026 model will incorporate both technologies, in contrast to the first generation Bolt EV, which did not incorporate Ultium battery cells or an Ultium Drive motor. Conversely, the 2026 Bolt EV will not be a pristine design.
Rather, it will be mostly based on the first-generation Bolt EUV with an Ultium Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery and Ultium Drive motor, plus revised appearance (see “Rendering” section below).
Given the Bolt EUV is a fairly new car, introduced for the 2022 model year, so it has a modern interior and a “just right” size compared to the too-small size of the first-generation Bolt EV, the choice to keep the Bolt EUV as a second-generation Bolt EV but with an Ultium drivetrain is logical.
2026 Chevy Bolt Rendering
Though with updated front and back fascias and a Bolt EV emblem on the tailgate, the render is based on the first-generation Bolt EUV. The new Bolt EV has a fair probability of supporting Super Cruise, General Motors’ hands-free driving system. Past Bolt EUVs’ ability to be fitted with Super Cruise lends credence to this theory. Super Cruise likely won’t be standard; rather, it will be optional or included based on trim. Still, expect this technology to be the most recent version able to operate on more highways and with improved hands-free capabilities.
Automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams are all features that should be included in the new Bolt EV, regardless of whether Super Cruise is available.
2026 Chevy Bolt Features
Later this year, the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt is anticipated to come as a 2026 model. Here are the main characteristics, qualities, and changes we anticipate from America’s least expensive electric car.
1. Crossover Architecture
The next-generation Bolt will be introduced in a crossover (EUV) body type, a departure from the previous hatchback design. The vehicle is anticipated to take design cues from the Chevrolet Equinox EV, featuring a more SUV-like look and split headlamps, as shown in our illustrations. The upgraded model should have a new style with a reworked back door and brake light positioning.
2. LFP batteries
The inclusion of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery cells is a significant improvement. Though their lower energy density, iron cells are less expensive, last longer, and better handle temperature changes than conventional Lithium-ion batteries. With an extra 100 miles in only 30 minutes of DC fast charging, we anticipate the new Chevy Bolt will have a range of about 260 miles (EPA estimate) and provide better charging times.
3. NACS Charging Port
The North American Charging Standard (NACS) connection will be included in the next-generation Bolt, enabling users to access Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, which spans over 18,000 sites throughout North America. This additional feature is intended to meet the demand for a more concentrated charging infrastructure among consumers.
4. Integration of Heat Pumps
At the moment, one issue for consumers with the Bolt EUV is less range in frigid conditions. GM will probably add a heat pump to its new models to solve this, hence increasing energy efficiency for winter driving. The “Ultium Energy Recovery” system was introduced on new-generation vehicles, including the Blazer and Equinox EV. It is expected that a modified version of this technology will be included in the 2026 Chevrolet Bolt.
5. Version of Autonomous Robotaxi
GM will introduce a robotaxi that is based on the next-generation Bolt. The transfer from the Cruise Origin platform to the Bolt platform utilizes the current design and infrastructure of Bolt in order to facilitate regulatory compliance and scaling.
6. Revised Platform
The new Bolt won’t share its foundations with the Equinox or Blazer EVs. Rather, they will use GM’s most recent EV kit components on a much re-engineered version of the prior BEV2 chassis, thereby including modules from GM’s latest EV kit (formerly called ‘Ultium’). This approach guarantees quicker development periods and cost reductions, hence rapidly bringing EVs to market.
7. Infotainment System New
A customized Android-based infotainment system is anticipated to be included in the next-generation Bolt, marking GM’s departure from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This generational upgrade from the system that was implemented on the first-generation Bolt is demonstrated by models such as the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, which feature this internal infrastructure.
8. Efficient Walking Option
Mary Barra, GM Chair & CEO, introduced the “Winning With Simplicity” plan in 2023 to lower trim levels, selectable choices and construct combinations across vehicle lines. For the Bolt, this translates to a future streamlined version lineup. On the other hand, optional options on the Bolt EUV—including Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving help, panoramic sunroof, heated/ventilated front seats and appearance packages (such as the ‘Redline’ Edition)—are anticipated to persist in the second generation.
9. Embrace Global B Electronic Architecture
Though the next-generation version should be based on GM’s Global B (Vehicle Intelligence Platform) electronic architecture, the initial Bolt EV was not built on it. Over-the-air features, faster and more secure software updates, improved cybersecurity—which are vital in modern electric cars—are made possible by Global B’s notably greater processing power.
2026 Chevy Bolt Exterior
The current Bolt EUV will serve as the foundation for the second-generation Bolt EV, which will mitigate development expenses. This suggests that the new Bolt may employ the same structure and doors as the first-generation EUV. However, we would also like to see a redesigned front and rear fascia, ideally with design cues from the more contemporary Equinox EV, similar to the rendering we previously created.
Look for high-mounted taillights as well; a changed liftgate with smoother curves will remove the pointed, injury-prone edges of the present type.
2026 Chevy Bolt Tech
GM is replacing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its future electrified cars with a Google-based infotainment system as part of its more general technological plan.
Eliminating the smartphone mirror on an entry-level car like the 2026 Chevy Bolt EV could be a major error even though this approach would offer a more direct link between vehicle and user (and help GM’s subscription-based income goals).
After all, consumers on a budget probably won’t value paying for necessary features, so CarPlay and Android Auto are absolutely required.
2026 Chevy Bolt Battery
The initial Bolt, which topped out at 50 kW on a DC fast charger, often lacked charging speed. The 2026 Chevy Bolt EV should allow at least 100 kW charging.
Although it still falls short of the quickest-charging cars in its category, it will greatly cut wait times and more closely match present customer expectations.
2026 Chevy Bolt Price
Chevrolet’s factory in Fairfax, close to Kansas City, will produce the new Bolt EV, which will probably start in 2025. Though still to be set, it will probably price less than the Equinox EV, which starts at approximately $35,000 before any discounts or rebates are offered.
Our best guess is that the 2026 Chevy Bolt will cost about $30,000. Its lithium-ion phosphate battery cells will help to keep prices down. The Bolt EV is also anticipated to be eligible for incentives like a $7,500 federal tax credit, which would help to bring its effective starting price nearer to $25,000. Excluding any extras, high-end, long-range Bolt EV vehicles can reach the mid-$35,000 price range.
2026 Chevy Bolt Release Date
Production of bolts will be moved to GM’s Fairfax Assembly factory in Kansas, now being changed and retooled to fit the new model. GM’s Orion Assembly factory in Orion Township, Michigan built the first generation model.
Verdict
Though tire technology has improved somewhat since then, the 2026 Chevy Bolt is a fascinating vehicle to test with the outgoing Bolt EV and EUV fitted with 17-inch Michelin Selfseal tyres. Thus, especially in wet situations, GM had to outfit the new Bolt with enhanced all-season rubber keeping low rolling resistance without sacrificing grip.
While the bigger 19- and 21-inch wheels on the Equinox EV look great, they are not precisely in line with a budget-oriented offer like the new 2026 Chevy Bolt EV. Offering wheel sizes in the 17- to 18-inch range will also assist to reduce long-term maintenance expenses. So be sure to bookmark the Chevy Models website to get the latest Chevy Bolt news and comprehensive Chevrolet news updates.
FAQs: People also ask about Chevy Bolt 2026
Q: How much is the 2026 Chevy Bolt?
A: While the final price isn't set in stone, Reuss said the new Bolt will cost only "slightly" more than the 2023 Bolt EUV crossover, which started at $28,795. 2026 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Rendering. Moreover, that roughly-$30,000 model will just be one member of a "family" of Bolts, Reuss said.
Q: Will the Chevy Bolt be available in 2025?
A: General Motors will bring the Bolt EV back to production for the 2026 model year. It'll actually arrive at dealers in 2025 should everything stay on track. Expect it to cost a little more than the outgoing version but also offer more range.
Q: Why is the Chevy Bolt being discontinued?
A: They killed it because they were migrating all their EV's to the new ultium platform. The Bolt was not on that. So they decided to kill the old platform and move it to the new one.
