Chevy Plans to Use Lower-Cost Chinese Batteries to Kick Off Bolt Production originally appeared on Autoblog.
Before it was discontinued, the Chevrolet Bolt was one of the most affordable electric models on sale, and its successor is expected to offer much of the same value when it arrives. The automaker plans to use lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for the vehicle, however, which will be sourced from China.
Related: China's $10 EV Battery Could Upend the US Auto Market
The LFP battery packs will come from Contemporary Aperex Technology, or CATL, for the car’s first two years on sale. After that, American companies are expected to have enough LFP volume to support Bolt production. A spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, “For several years, other U.S. automakers have depended on foreign suppliers for LFP battery sourcing and licensing. To stay competitive, GM will temporarily source these packs from similar suppliers to power our most affordable EV model.”
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GM currently uses domestically-produced batteries, but the move to a Chinese-built pack will cut into profits until the transition to batteries made here. Chinese batteries come with steep tariffs of up to 80 percent and their use disqualifies the Bolt from federal EV tax credits, though that only matters for a few more weeks.
LFP batteries are cheaper than more traditional lithium-ion packs, so staying profitable at the Bolt’s expected sub- $30,000 price point will take some work. GM is confident that the less expensive batteries, along with efficiencies it developed in other EV production areas, will help it shave a profit off of each Bolt sale. That said, the automaker doesn’t expect to sustain imports of Chinese batteries forever, with the spokesperson saying that the economics likely only work on a temporary basis.
While the previous car used a different blueprint, the new Bolt will ride on General Motors’ Ultium EV architecture. It’s expected to begin production in Kansas later this year and promises a value-forward price tag like its predecessor.
Chevy Plans to Use Lower-Cost Chinese Batteries to Kick Off Bolt Production first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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