April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors, said on April 6 it plans to deliver the carmaker’s first full electric Chevrolet Bolt EV from late April -- the first in Asia.

“We will start delivering Bolt EVs to customers from later this month,” a GM Korea official told The Investor during the car’s media test-driving event held in Seoul. 

GM Chevrolet Bolt EV

The entire batch of 400 Bolt cars were sold out within two hours after preorders started on March 17.

“We are seeking ways to secure more cars from the US headquarters, but they won’t be delivered until next year as supply is already tight around the world,” the official added.

The Bolt is currently manufactured at GM’s Orion Assembly in Michigan and exported to Korea.

According to the Korean unit, local drivers will enjoy additional advantages thanks to GM’s crucial tie-up with LG Electronics for the car’s production.

“Customers will be able to get their Bolt EVs fixed here if problematic parts are sourced from local suppliers, namely LG,” the official said.

LG supplies 11 key parts -- including battery cells and packs, motors and inverters and infotainment systems, among others -- that are produced at its Korean plant and shipped to the US.

Korea is also the first Asian country to launch Bolt and the third globally after the US and Canada. The car made its Korean debut on March 30 at the Seoul Auto Show.

The Bolt drives up to 383 kilometers on a single charge, outpacing its current rivals, including Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq EV that runs 191 kilometers. The car is priced at 47.79 million won (US$42,180) but the final price hovers around 22 million after government subsidies.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)