General Motors’ upcoming Chevrolet Bolt has been spotted charging at a Tesla Supercharger in Southern California, days before its scheduled unveiling on October 8, according to images posted by EV enthusiast chargepozitive on Instagram.
The Bolt, first launched in 2016 for the 2017 model year, was General Motors’ first mainstream electric vehicle designed as an EV from the ground up, rather than a compliance car. The hatchback won praise for its size, affordability and range, and was named Electrek’s “Vehicle of the Year” in 2022. But production ended in late 2023 following a recall and because it was built on GM’s first-generation EV platform, rather than the newer Ultium system.
See also: Chevrolet Drops “EV” Suffix for 2027 Bolt, Unveils Updated Battery and Design
General Motors later confirmed it would relaunch the model on the Ultium platform, though only in its larger EUV form rather than both the original EV and EUV variants. The new version maintains a compact footprint compared to many SUVs on the U.S. market, but it will be longer than the discontinued hatchback.
Photos of the vehicle charging suggest that the exterior design remains close to the outgoing Bolt EUV. Visible updates include a revised front fascia without the black grille border, new headlight detailing, reshaped taillights, and more body-colored trim on the rear bumper. Interior details remain under wraps, as the dashboard was covered during the sighting.
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The most notable change is the addition of a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, confirming GM’s earlier pledge to adopt Tesla’s connector across its EV lineup. Until now, Bolt owners could only use Tesla Superchargers with an adapter. The sighted prototype was connected to Tesla’s new V4 Supercharger post, which features longer cables designed to accommodate varying charge port locations.
The Bolt’s front driver-side charge port, however, may pose challenges at older Supercharger stations with shorter cables. Tesla acknowledges on its charging FAQ page that certain vehicles may need to park over the line to connect comfortably. The company said it is expanding its rollout of longer-cable Superchargers and has encouraged automakers to standardize charge port placement to improve compatibility.
See also: GM to Use CATL’s LFP Batteries for New Chevy Bolt E
The new Bolt’s return marks an important move for General Motors as it works to expand affordable EV offerings in North America. The vehicle is expected to play a key role in broadening GM’s Ultium-based lineup, alongside higher-priced models such as the Cadillac Optiq, which will also launch with a native NACS port in 2026.
