Chevrolet had been the subject of some derision and wisecracks at the Detroit Auto Show in January, when it showed off its upcoming all-electric vehicle, the Bolt. After all, Chevy’s plug-in hybrid EV, the similarly-named Volt, has been around for much longer and now has name recall among consumers. However, General Motors and Chevy are sticking to their guns, and won’t be renaming the Bolt despite the extreme similarity to the Volt name.
“Since unveiling the Bolt EV three months ago, the name has quickly become associated with Chevrolet,” said Chevrolet in an emailed statement to The Detroit News. “Therefore, we will use the name when the vehicle goes into production. The Bolt EV is a significant statement of Chevrolet’s commitment to electrification and the name suits this game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity.”
This is the first time GM has defended its choice of the name Bolt with certainty, as company officials didn’t appear so sure about a month after its Detroit launch. “Some people think (Bolt) is confusing,” said GM North American President Alan Batey in February, adding that GM could “go either way” as far as the final name goes. “People are having some fun with it. It is generating awareness, which is good. It’s so conversational.”