2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Developed in Partnership With Korea’s LG

WARREN, Michigan – When the all-new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle goes on sale late next year at Chevrolet dealerships, it will mark one of the deepest and most extensive partnerships yet between a traditional automaker – in this case, General Motors – and an overseas technology giant, Korea’s LG Corp, which is better known for its expertise in consumer electronics.

GM detailed its non-traditional partnership with LG on Tuesday, giving car shoppers another glimpse into how traditional carmakers are turning to tech companies to leverage their expertise.

GM has worked closely with several LG affiliates, including LG Chem and LG Electronics, to develop and build various components for the 2017 Bolt, an affordable, battery-powered compact that is aimed at the Nissan Leaf, the BMW i3 and Tesla’s upcoming Model 3.

The 2017 Bolt, which goes into production in Michigan in late 2016, will use electric motors, batteries, power inverters, onboard chargers, instrument clusters and infotainment systems from various LG subsidiaries.

LG Electronics invested more than $250 million in an engineering-and-manufacturing facility in Incheon, near Seoul, to develop and build components for the Bolt.

Chevy displayed the Bolt EV concept earlier this year at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. The car is designed to travel more than 200 miles between charges.

GM’s first deal with LG Electronics was in 2007, when the Korean firm supplied the vehicle communications module for GM’s OnStar telematics system. The battery cells for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt came from LG Chem.

Edmunds says: Think of your future Chevrolet Bolt as containing the best of both worlds – automotive and technology.