GM's Bolt EV to make epic comeback next year, multiple models teased

In a nutshell: For those waiting on the sidelines for an affordable electric vehicle option, General Motors has some good news: The Chevy Bolt EV is coming back, possibly with an even cheaper model as an option. Moreover, the car is actually going to be profitable for the automaker.

GM President Mark Reuss confidently stated at the company's recent Investor Day that the "2026 Bolt will offer the same value as the original Bolt and much more. And it will be a money maker for us. Think about that."

GM initially planned to axe the Bolt last year before backtracking and confirming its resurrection as an Ultium-based EV for 2025. But now there's been another strategy shift – the automaker revealed to investors that it's ditching the "Ultium" branding for its batteries going forward. Even more significant, GM is abandoning its one-size-fits-all cell strategy, instead embracing a wider range of battery chemistries and formats across its upcoming EV lineup.

The new Bolt is slated to hit dealerships late next year as a 2026 model. While the final pricing isn't set, Reuss mentioned it will only cost "slightly" more than the outgoing 2023 Bolt EUV crossover's $28,795 starting price. That's not bad at all for an EV with over 200 miles of range.

However, it's not just the approachable cost that could intrigue EV buyers. GM is promising faster charging capabilities on the next-gen Bolt, addressing a sore point in current models, which max out at a relatively sluggish 55kW rate. Reuss kept the specifics under wraps, simply stating it will have "faster charging" as part of "the latest technology."

The reborn Bolt won't be a one-trick affordable model either. Reuss revealed it will be part of a full "family" of Bolt models, including an even cheaper variant for ultra-budget-conscious buyers.

Reuss seemed to take a subtle jab at Ford's newly formed "skunkworks" EV team too, boasting "We don't need to create a skunkworks to create affordable electric vehicles. We know how to do this."

While light on details, with Reuss saying it's "too early to go into specifics," the 2026 Bolt revival represents GM finally cracking the code for making mass-market EVs profitable after years of struggling with low production volumes and high upfront investments. The automaker is on pace to build 200,000 EVs in North America this year as it scales up next-gen models like the Bolt and the new Equinox EV.