GM Will Move Production Of Chevy Bolt To Kansas In 2026

In a strategic move set to shake up the electric vehicle (EV) market, General Motors (GM) has officially announced the production location for the highly anticipated 2026 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The buzz is all about GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas, where the next-generation Bolt will roll off the assembly line.

This decision comes as part of GM’s bigger plan, which involves bidding farewell to the Chevy Malibu sedan production at the same plant. Instead, the Fairfax facility will undergo a transformation, gearing up for the production of the new Bolt. This shift will also entail a brief halt in Cadillac XT4 production, as GM gears up for the Bolt’s arrival, courtesy of a hefty $391 million investment in upgrading the plant’s equipment and facilities.

Confirmation of this exciting development came straight from the horse’s mouth, with GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly affirming the news, as reported by The Detroit News.

So, what’s the big deal about this new Bolt? Well, for starters, it’s getting a major upgrade under the hood with GM’s state-of-the-art Ultium battery platform, bidding adieu to the older Voltec-based architecture. The previous-gen Bolt, which hailed from the GM Lake Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, boasted 200 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque, channeled solely through the front wheels. With Ultium, GM promises even better performance and affordability, raising the bar in the EV game.

GM CEO Mary Barra has been vocal about the upcoming Bolt, hinting at its arrival “a little more than a year” from now. She’s sung praises about its strong brand recognition and customer satisfaction ratings. After some back and forth regarding the Bolt’s fate, GM made a U-turn and decided to bring it back, now with Ultium under the hood. Barra assures that the 2026 Chevy Bolt will be “even more affordable,” with expectations pointing toward a Summer or Fall 2025 debut.

The 2026 Chevy Bolt is just one piece of GM’s grand EV puzzle. Midyear is shaping up to be quite electrifying, with a lineup of new GM EVs, including luxury offerings from Cadillac and pocket-friendly options from Chevrolet, set to hit the market.

But before the Bolt hits the streets, there’s work to be done at the GM Fairfax facility. Production will momentarily pause as GM gears up with new tools and upgrades. Once back in action, the Fairfax Assembly plant will play host to both Bolt and XT4 production, offering GM the flexibility to adapt to market demands. Production is slated to resume in late 2025, with the XT4 and Bolt sharing the same assembly line, marking a new era in GM’s automotive journey.