GM kills new Chevrolet Bolt EV subcompact hatch for 2025 in favour of pricey EUV that erodes the idea of the affordable compact EV

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has long held firm as the cheapest practical electric car on American soil — until Chevrolet confirmed that the Bolt would be discontinued at the end of 2023. Earlier this year, however, we reported on a rumour that the electric Bolt would not make a return as the Bolt EV when Chevrolet revived the nameplate in 2025. Instead, it seemed as though Chevrolet would only revive the Bolt as the EUV (electric utility vehicle), a compact crossover SUV version of the Bolt EV.

Now, InsideEVs reports that GM has confirmed the rumours, communicating to the publication that only the Bolt EUV will be making a comeback in 2025. While this is likely just Chevrolet following the US market trends that have seen vehicles grow substantially in recent years, there are other implications of nixing of the compact Bolt EV.

Sure, the Bolt EUV may be more spacious than the Bolt EV, but it is also significantly more expensive than the Bolt EV — at least the current iteration is. The entry-level Bolt EUV 1LT trim starts at $27,800, while the Bolt EV 1LT starts at $26,500.

The Starting MSRPs might only differ by $1,300, but the Bolt EUV quickly starts becoming far more expensive than the Bolt EV, with the Bolt EV maxing out at $33,320, while the EUV's Premier Redline trim tops out at $39,455, thanks to add-ons like Super Cruise and the Sun and Sound Package.

It stands to reason, then, that the next-generation Bolt won't necessarily be the bastion of affordability that the original was.

Offering these luxury items exclusively on the Bolt EUV may be part of the reason that Chevrolet wants to stick to the EUV version only for the relaunch. The previous rumour also indicated that the new Bolt would use many of the same parts as the old EUV, just ported over to the new Ultium platform.

Of course, part of the reason Chevrolet cancelled the original Bolt EV and EUV is that the battery platform simply wasn't profitable anymore, so it could be that the Ultium platform simply suits the bigger Bolt EUV better, especially as Chevrolet diversifies its EV offerings to appeal to a broader market.

Buy a BestEvMod Lower Center Console Organizer Tray Storage Box for Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV or snag a Peak Design Mobile Car Vent Mount on Amazon.