The Chevy Bolt Becomes America’s First “Chinese” Budget EV - Here’s Proof

I had the pleasure of driving the new 2027 Chevy Bolt for the first time today. In many ways, the Bolt remains my favorite EV. It’s affordable, fun to drive, practical, and for 2027, the Bolt solves the DC charging challenges the first-generation Bolt had. The biggest surprise for me was its Monroney sticker. Not the part with the price and fuel economy, but the parts content. This Bolt is more Chinese than American.

2027 Chevy Bolt Chinese Content
As you can see from the top of page image, the Bolt is created using 51% Chines-made parts. And that’s not all. The parts that are Chinese are the heart and soul of the car. The entire electric powertrain. It’s right there in black and white.

What the Monroney does not tell a shopper is that not only are the Bolt’s motor and powertrain components made in China, but the battery is also Chinese. Let’s face it, the battery is the single most important aspect of any battery-electric vehicle. The Bolt’s Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is made by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL). This battery type has many pluses. Among them is safety and longevity. Two things the first-generation Bolt’s nickel-rich lithium-ion proved to be lacking in. That battery was built in a partnership with LG.

Assembly of the 2027 Chevy Bolt and Its Expected Lifespan
GM is assembling the Bolt in Kansas. The current plan is to have an 18-month production run that began about two months ago. So, expect about two years of Bolt sales for this second generation. After that, we suspect it will ride off into the sunset again, perhaps for good.

That’s a shame. We love the Bolt. Looking back at my Bolt content over the past decade, all of my reviews and articles on the Bolt are positive. I drove one up and down Mt. Washington, and I think I’ve spent about two months in Bolts since it was introduced.

Bolt Promotion Seems Passive
GM has not yet sent the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) a Bolt for demonstration or member testing. This seems very odd to me. Our members are regular contributors to Car and Driver, Road & Track, the New York Times, the Robb Report, CarGurus, U.S. News and World Report, Car Talk, and many other high-profile publications. It seems very strange that GM has not accepted our invitation to come wow us with the 2027 Bolt.

Other Chinese Cars From GM
The Bolt is not GM’s first majority Chinese vehicle. Buick has been importing an entire car and selling it here as the Envision for 10 years, off and on. It’s proven to be a very good vehicle. It earned a solid 73/100 for reliability at Consumer Reports in 2024. When IIHS first tested the Chinese-import Envision, it earned a Top Safety Pick+.

Other Chinese EVs In America
The new Bolt is not the first Chinese EV I’ve tested and driven in the United States. That was the Volvo EX30, which was just canceled this week. Notably, the EX30 never met the “affordable” definition. The EX30 we tested cost $50K. Steep for a subcompact.

We’ll do our best to provide driving impressions of the 2027 Bolt in separate story and give you the full rundown of its pluses and minuses in another.

Are you surprised that GM is selling an EV that is 51% Chinese? Tell us in the comments below. 

John Goreham is a 14-year veteran of Torque News. An accomplished writer and a long-time expert in vehicle testing, Goreham also serves as the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and has a growing social media presence. He’s also a 10-year staff writer and community moderator for Car Talk. Goreham holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an undergraduate Certificate in Marketing. In addition to vehicle and tire content, he offers deep dives into market trends and opinion pieces. You can follow John Goreham on X and TikTok, and connect with him on LinkedIn.