2017 Chevrolet Bolt

Via WRVoltec on Twitter, it seems that production of saleable 2017 Chevrolet Bolts at GM's Orion, Michigan facility started this past Monday.

Production is on the low side for now, with just 9 Bolts rolling off the line per hour and only 1 shift working on producing the Bolt, but the ramp up over time should get that figure to 30 Bolts per hour.

We've known for quite some time now that Bolt production was just around the corner. In fact, dealers began accepting orders some two weeks ago (partial ordering guide here), with allocations beginning for select dealerships just prior.

What's interesting is the 30-per-hour figure. 30 times 8 hours is 240 Bolts per day. Minus weekends, there are 261 work days per year (yes, we know there are plant shutdowns, holidays, etc.). 261 times 240 equals a maximum output of 62,640 units per year (a high-side figure, for sure), or more than twice the Bolt volume that LG Chem expects for 2017.

The point is that the goal of 30 per hour would indicate to us that General Motors is serious when it comes to the Bolt. High volume production is the target and that's what we've been waiting to hear.

Bring on the Bolt...in numbers...we'll buy them up!

via Hybrid Cars