GM’s China studio created a sporty EV concept for local market appeal.
Sketches show a grille-less SUV with arrow cues and wraparound glass.
The design may inspire future Chevrolet models for Chinese customers.
The world’s largest automotive market has become a linchpin for General Motors, a place where nearly all its brands are striving to secure a stronger presence. To that end, GM’s China Advanced Design studio has unveiled another fresh concept study, a “sporty EV” created specifically with Chinese buyers in mind.
The exploration sketches and renderings were made by GM designer Charles Huang at the company’s Shanghai facilities. They show what looks like a small crossover – some might even see shades of a future Bolt – with oversized wheels and a contrasting bi-tone paint scheme.
At the front, the concept trades a traditional grille for a clean, enclosed surface with split LED headlights and a Chevrolet emblem that may light up. The bodywork is restrained, defined by crisp lines and minimal decorative detailing.
The most striking element is the wraparound glasshouse, framed by a thick C-pillar that seems to clasp the rear of the vehicle. The contrast between the deep blue and black tones amplifies this visual tension.
GM Design / Instagram
According to the designer, the profile is inspired by a “released arrow”, an idea most evident in the early sketches. The later, photorealistic renderings dial the drama back, edging closer to something feasible for production.
In fact, it’s easy to picture this crossover parked in a Chevrolet showroom, fitted with regular mirrors and door handles, of course, assuming those still have a place in modern EV design.
The presentation on the GM Design Instagram profile doesn’t include any sketches of the interior. We don’t have any specs, either, although a rear-mounted electric motor and a medium-sized battery pack would probably do the job.
The EV seems to have a similar length to the Chinese-spec Chevrolet Tracker RS and the US-spec Bolt. That puts it below the Trailblazer, Trax, Equinox EV, and Blazer currently sold in the States.
While the Chevrolet concept is just a design study with no production intent, GM is working on multiple affordable EVs for the future. It is safe to assume that at least some of them will adopt an SUV bodystyle, possibly similar to the “sporty EV” depicted in the sketches.
Though GM describes the project as a design study with no immediate production intent, it arrives at a time when the company is actively developing several affordable EVs for many markets. It’s likely that some of those models will borrow cues from this study, especially the SUV silhouete.
GM is cutting thousands of jobs across Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Factory Zero takes the biggest hit as around 1,200 employees lose jobs.
It is also temporarily halting battery production at two Ultium Cells plants.
General Motors bet big on electric vehicles and now employees are paying the price. We recently saw this play out in Canada, where over a thousand workers lost their jobs when BrightDrop vans were axed last week.
The cuts are now happening stateside as approximately 1,750 workers will be laid off. According to CNBC, the hardest impact will be felt at Factory Zero in Michigan, where around 1,200 jobs will be eliminated. An additional 550 people will be let go at the Ultium Cells plant in Ohio.
On top of the indefinite cuts, there will reportedly be 1,550 temporary layoffs. These are said to be spread across Ultium Cells plants in Ohio and Tennessee, with the latter impacting 700 people.
In a series of statements, the automaker said the changes were “in response to slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment.”
This appears to be a reference to the elimination of the clean vehicle tax credit as well as the relaxing of regulations under the Trump administration.
Factory Zero builds the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ. These models weren’t exactly flying off dealer lots even when there was a $7,500 federal incentive.
Promises and Pauses
The company said they remain committed to U.S. manufacturing and believe their “investments and dedication to flexible operations will make GM more resilient and capable of leading through change.”
That remains to be seen, but GM is pausing battery cell production in Warren, Ohio as well as in Spring Hill, Tennessee this January. Both plants are scheduled to reopen in mid-2026 and the downtime will be used to upgrade the facilities to provide “greater flexibility.”
It’s not entirely clear what that means, but the company said “Impacted employees may be eligible to continue receiving a significant portion of their regular wages or salary, plus benefits.”
Corporate Optimism Meets Reality
The news comes roughly one week after CEO Mary Barra told investors the company “delivered another very good quarter of earnings and free cash flow.”
She added the automaker achieved their highest third-quarter market share since 2017 and were raising their full-year guidance.
Despite being upbeat, Barra warned of cuts by saying “it is now clear that near-term EV adoption will be lower than planned. That is why we are reassessing our EV capacity and manufacturing footprint.” Despite this and new investments in ICE-powered vehicles, she said “electric vehicles remain our North Star.”
A total of 437,487 EVs were sold in the US during Q3 2025.
Topping the charts were the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
Other strong sellers included the Ioniq 5 and the Prologue.
Final sales results for the third quarter are now in, closing one of the most closely watched reporting periods the electric vehicle market has seen in recent years. No doubt, the Trump administration’s move to scrap the federal EV tax credit sparked a final buying spree that sent sales figures sharply upward.
Unsurprisingly, two familiar Tesla models held a commanding lead, but several other notable models experienced significant demand spikes.
How Big Was the Jump?
According to Kelley Blue Book data, U.S. EV sales hit an all-time quarterly high of 438,487 units, up 40.7 percent from Q2 and 29.6 percent higher year over year, surpassing the previous record from Q4 2024 by nearly 20 percent.
Electric vehicles also claimed a record 10.5 percent share of total vehicle sales, up from 8.6 percent in the same period last year.
The Tesla Model Y was still comfortably the most popular EV in the United States, as 114,897 were sold during the period, a 29 percent increase from 89,077 delivered last year. Even so, Tesla’s overall market share slipped to 41 percent from 49 percent a year ago.
In second place was another Tesla, the Model 3, at 53,857 units. That result was actually down 7.8 percent year over year, suggesting some buyers may have shifted their attention toward the updated Model Y.
The first non-Tesla entrant on the best-sellers list was the Chevrolet Equinox EV. A total of 25,085 were sold, a huge 156.7 percent rise from 9,772.
Positioned not far behind it were the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with 21,999 sales, the Honda Prologue with 20,236 sales, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 20,177 sales. The VW ID.4 was also a strong performer for the quarter, with 12,470 units, a 176 percent increase from Q3 2024.
A surprise inclusion among the best-sellers was the Audi Q6 e-tron. A total of 10,299 SUVs were sold during the quarter, an impressive result considering that model’s premium positioning that allowed it to outsell the Ford F-150 Lightning (10,005 units).
Other strong performers included the Rivian R1S with 8,184 sales, the Chevrolet Blazer EV (8,089), the Kia EV9 (7,510), and the Cadillac Lyriq, of which 7,309 found new homes.
Still, fewer than 10 models managed to exceed 10,000 sales in Q3 2025, underscoring how top-heavy the market remains. For most automakers, EV volume remains well below the levels needed for profitability.
The Best Sellers YTD
Year-to-date figures show total U.S. EV sales surpassed 1.04 million units, up 11.7 percent from about 935,000 a year earlier.
Tesla continued to lead with 451,160 units, down 4.3 percent year over year but still holding a 41 percent market share. Chevrolet followed in second place with 87,137 units, a 113 percent jump, while Ford ranked third with 69,600 (+2.8%) and Hyundai came in fourth at 57,167 (+31.1%).
Among individual models, the Tesla Model Y led the way with 265,085 units, down 8 percent year over year, followed by the Model 3 at 155,180, up 18 percent. Chevrolet’s Equinox EV climbed into third place with 52,834 sales, a massive 390 percent surge.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E posted 41,962, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 reached 41,091, and the Honda Prologue recorded 36,553. Tesla’s Cybertruck ranked seventh at 25,973, edging out the Ford F-150 Lightning’s 23,034 and Volkswagen’s ID.4 at 22,125. The Chevrolet Blazer EV closed the top ten with 20,825 units.
What Happens Next
With federal incentives now expired, analysts expect a cooldown. “The training wheels are coming off,” said Cox Automotive’s Director of Industry Insights, Stephanie Valdez Streaty. “The federal tax credit was a key catalyst for EV adoption, and its expiration marks a pivotal moment.”
Cox Automotive projects a temporary dip in EV sales through late 2025 and early 2026 before growth steadies again over the long term.
GM has ended production of BrightDrop electric delivery vans.
The slow-selling vehicles were part of GM’s bad bet on EVs.
Over 1,000 workers are out of a job as CAMI’s future remains unclear.
General Motors has ended production of their slow-selling BrightDrop vans. The models were made at CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, Ontario and the company said the “commercial electric delivery van market developed much slower than expected.”
The automaker began producing the vans in late 2022, but the launch was a mess as BrightDrop was its own brand and had a tiny dealership network.
BrightDrop vans were eventually folded into Chevrolet last year, which promised to significantly expand sales beyond seven locations in the United States.
Things didn’t pan out and unsold vehicles started piling up. GM recently offloaded 59 vans by donating them to the American Red Cross, but that was a drop in the bucket and the company paused production earlier this year.
Production was originally supposed to resume in May, before stopping again to allow for retooling for the 2026 model year. While production did briefly resume in May, BrightDrop is now dead and there will be no 2026 models.
GM blamed the move on a variety of factors including slow sales, a changing regulatory environment, and the elimination of tax credits in the United States.
They added the axing was part of “broader adjustments” being made to electric vehicle capacity in North America.
Needless to say, blue collar employees are getting the shaft for GM’s bad bet on EVs. In this case, the company said “hourly employees will receive six months of salary and the potential for lump sum payments and other benefits.” Furthermore, CAMI Assembly will be “assessed for future opportunities.”
The Unifor union was outraged and claimed the decision was the result of the Trump administration’s “dangerous and destabilizing auto policies.” Of course, that’s glossing over the fact that sales have been terrible for years.
However, this didn’t stop Unifor National President Lana Payne from saying, “The reality is that CAMI was hit from both directions by Trump as he aggressively acted to undo EV supports and hit Canadian auto assembly plants with a 25% tariff. Now more than 1,000 workers and their families are paying the price for Trump’s political interference and GM’s failure to hold the line.”
Other union officials said GM “abandoned” their employees, who “deserve a future at CAMI – not a dead end.” The anger is being further flamed by the decision to eliminate a shift at Oshawa Assembly in January, “heightening concerns about GM’s long-term manufacturing footprint in Canada.”
Given these developments, Unifor said they will meet with GM and the Canadian government to immediately “press for a new product mandate and ensure CAMI remains a pillar of Canadian auto production.”
GM Canada President Kristian Aquilina said, “The decision to end production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van is driven by market demand and in no way reflects the commitment and skill of our workforce at CAMI.” He added, “This continues to be an uncertain time for our workforce at CAMI, and we are committed to working closely with our employees, Unifor, and the Canadian and Ontario governments as we evaluate next steps for the future of CAMI.”
2027 Chevrolet Bolt debuts with 65 kWh LFP battery and 150 kW charging.
Reuss confirms multiple affordable EVs planned under a low-priced lineup.
The long-awaited 2027 Chevrolet Bolt arrived earlier this month, carrying a host of mechanical upgrades while retaining a shape that feels immediately recognizable.
Only time ans sales will tell if this new model proves to be a success, but GM is eager to follow it up with several other affordable EVs. Evidently, it has the confidence that demand for cheap electric cars will rise.
What’s Coming Next?
While recently speaking about the company’s future plans, GM president Mark Reuss said a family of new EVs is on the cards, but he kept many important details close to his chest.
“What comes after this, whether it’s called a Bolt or not, will be a family of things that is low-priced,” Reuss told InsideEVs. “And when I say family, they won’t be adopted. They’ll be in the same vein of size and price.”
What this likely means is that some of these models will probably be Bolt-based, while others will be distinct models, likely similar in size and price to the Bolt. According to Reuss, some of these models will slot into “white spaces” across the industry.
“I also think there’s some white spaces in size, class, of forms—not only the Bolt that we just introduced but also some different things, for different people’s styled tastes,” he noted.
Bolt Tech
The new Bolt is underpinned by a 65 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack, offering up 255 miles (410 km) of driving range in standard guise.
The new battery also supports 150 kW DC fast charging, a big increase from the 50 kW of the old model. Future affordable EVs from GM could be offered with the same battery.
Reuss noted that their new EVs will use different cell technology from old models, potentially indicating the wider adoption of LFP batteries like the Bolt.
GM is also known to be developing lithium manganese-rich batteries that are expected to launch in 2028. These new batteries promise improved range and higher energy density than LFP cells.
GM was forced to adjust its EV capacity to the tune of $1.2 billion.
Its EV sales skyrocketed 105 percent through the first three quarters.
Changes will not affect the current EV lineup of Chevy, GMC and Cadillac.
The removal of the federal electric vehicle tax credit at the end of September is set to cost General Motors as much as $1.6 billion in the next quarter, a direct result of the adjustments it must make to its electric vehicle strategy.
This follows Ford’s recent announcement that it will write down up to $400 million in manufacturing assets and reduce $1.5 billion in EV-related spending, scaling back projects including a three-row electric SUV and a full-size electric pickup.
Industry Recalibration
In its third-quarter report, GM confirmed that its board of directors had approved $1.6 billion in charges tied to what it described as the “strategic realignment of our EV capacity and manufacturing footprint to consumer demand.”
The company specified that $1.2 billion of that amount relates to adjustments in its EV capacity, while the remaining $400 million stems “primarily from contract cancellation fees and commercial settlements associated with EV-related investments, which will have a cash impact.”
GM also noted that “it is reasonably possible that we will recognize additional future material cash and non-cash charges that may adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.”
GM emphasized that the measures it’s taking will not affect its existing range of electric models sold under the Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac brands.
Electric vehicle sales in the United States climbed sharply through the third quarter, yet GM cautioned in its filing that it expects “the adoption rate of EVs to slow” due to “the termination of certain consumer tax incentives for EV purchases and the reduction in the stringency of emissions regulations.”
During the July-September period, GM’s sales of electric vehicles rose 107 percent and have increased 105 percent year-to-date. In Q3, it sold a total of 66,501 EVs, and Chevrolet cemented its position as the second-largest EV brand in the country. In addition, the Equinox EV was the best-selling non-Tesla-branded electric vehicle.
The updated Bolt features a 65 kWh LFP battery with 255-mile range.
Chevy added a NACS port and boosted DC charging speeds to 150 kW.
Power comes from the same 210 hp motor used in the Equinox EV.
In a market where federal tax credits are no longer cushioning electric car prices, the upcoming 2027 Chevrolet Bolt arrives as GM’s latest attempt to keep affordable EVs within reach. Shown off quietly to existing owners, the 2027 model rolls in at $29,990 including destination fees, offering a handful of upgrades over its predecessor rather than any sweeping reinvention.
This represents a modest price increase over the 2023 model that was discontinued two years ago, and although it remains the most affordable EV from an American brand, the new Bolt still sits several thousand dollars above the entry-level 2026 Nissan Leaf, which is due to arrive next spring starting at $25,360.
Production and Core Specs
At a recent event, Chevrolet confirmed that production of the 2027 Bolt will begin early next year at its Kansas City facility. As revealed in recent images, the electric hatch will include a standard NACS charging port, aligning it with the new industry standard.
It has also been confirmed to come standard with a new 65 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack that will provide it with 255 miles (410 km) of driving range, according to GM’s own estimates. That represents a modest improvement over the outgoing model’s 247-mile figure.
Photos Chevrolet
Beyond boasting a better range than the outgoing Bolt, the new one’s DC charging speeds are no longer capped at 50 kW. Instead, it can charge at up to 150 kW, meaning the battery can be topped up from 10-80 percent in 26 minutes. That’s a big improvement over the old model and matches the charging speeds of the new Leaf.
Chevy has also equipped the Bolt with a new motor, borrowing the unit found in the Equinox EV and producing 210 hp. Performance times have yet to be announced, not that Bolt owners are the kinds of buyers that’ll be participating in traffic light races.
Pricing and Trims
The 2027 Bolt will debut first as a Launch Edition, starting at $29,990 with destination and delivery included. A slightly more affordable LT trim will follow next year priced from $28,995.
From a visual standpoint, the alterations made to the Bolt are less significant than many had expected. Indeed, it mostly looks like a facelifted version of the outgoing model. Key changes made include the fitment of new headlights, different taillights, and a unique tailgate with a redesigned bumper.
The interior is also very similar. However, Chevy has added a larger digital instrument cluster and moved away from gear selector buttons on the transmission tunnel, instead opting for an electronic column shifter.
A particularly welcome addition is a set of large physical dials for temperature and fan speed, providing straightforward control without touchscreen fuss. Two new storage compartments now sit within the dashboard, directly in front of the passenger, adding extra practicality to the cabin.
The new Bolt now includes a NACS port for charging at Supercharger stations.
Chevy updated the EV with redesigned front and rear fascias.
GM’s BEV2 platform with a 400V architecture underpins the new EV.
The new 2027 Bolt is set to make its public debut before the end of the year, but the wait has effectively been cut short. A completely undisguised prototype was spotted and photographed by Instagram user chargepozitive, giving us an unhindered view of the updated design. The images confirm what earlier spy shots hinted at, that this is more of a facelift than a full redesign.
Captured in a sharp shade of metallic blue, the Bolt EUV was seen charging at a Tesla Supercharger, where its new NACS port was on full display. Positioned on the driver-side front fender, the port mirrors the layout of the outgoing model while aligning the car with the industry’s growing charging standard.
Evolution Over Revolution
In terms of design, GM has worked to overhaul the front fascia of the Bolt by adding new LED daytime running lights that are now connected to the main headlamps positioned further down on the bumper. It has also added a different black grille with a honeycomb mesh pattern, which we think gives the updated Bolt a cleaner and slightly more premium look.
Viewed from the side, there’s very little to differentiate the new model from the one it replaces. That means it has the same door skins and the same thick C-pillars. At the rear, the most noticeable changes are the new taillights and the refined bumper, which features more painted elements.
Limited technical details about the new model are known at this stage, but we do know it will be underpinned by the BEV2 platform with a 400-volt electrical architecture. The old model had been criticized for only supporting DC charging speeds of up to 55 kW, so we expect some speed improvements to be made to this new model.
Powering the latest Chevy EV will be a lithium-iron phosphate battery pack supplied by CATL, a move that should help balance cost and durability. The last Bolt managed an EPA-rated 247 miles (398 km) of range, but expectations for this update are higher. To stand as a credible rival in today’s market, Chevrolet will likely need to push that figure closer to the 300-mile (482 km) mark.
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