GM could buy back your potentially fiery Chevy Bolt

GM has been having fun lately with the Chevy Bolt, call back, then call back due to a potential fire due to its batteries. His current advice is for homeowners to park their bolts outside, which a new report says is driving some of them crazy and demanding a buyout.

The Detroit Free Press says that, in some cases, Bolt owners have been successful in securing GM buyouts. The Freep has spoken to several Bolt owners, who are in various stages of insanity. My favorite is that of Durham Smith, a man from South Carolina who is engaged in a high-stakes showdown with GM and its local dealership.

Smith, 74, is determined to secure a buyout. He said he refused to pay for the vehicle, that he was considering contacting a lawyer and that he could run a full page ad in his local newspaper telling his story.

On August 5, Smith and his wife, Cyndie, purchased a 2022 Bolt EUV – the all-new compact electric SUV – for around $ 40,000. The couple wanted to be environmentally conscious plus it was fun to drive and, “I loved the car, it was just wonderful,” said Cyndie.

But on August 20, their new vehicle was part of GM’s recall. Four days later, Smith returned the vehicle to the dealership, hoping to trade it in for a Buick Envision SUV, he said. But the dealer offered them $ 29,900 for it and the Envision was $ 39,900, Smith said.

Frustrated, Smith decided rather than park the Bolt in his tree-lined driveway or garage, he left the Bolt, with the keys in it, at the dealership and called a cab to take it home. His first payment approaches and the car stays with the dealership.

“I’m looking at a few options, none of which pay off because I think that would be nodding and it would be an admission of ownership,” Smith said. “I consider it unethical of General Motors to leave the car on the market.”

Smith has submitted all the required documents to the automaker to request a buyout, he said, and is now awaiting a response.

Longtime GM customer Smith said if GM and LG find a solution, he will likely still want a buyout because “GM’s actions so far have done nothing to instill confidence or in their ability to resolve the issue. problem or in the veracity of a statement. for having done so.

A full page ad in his local newspaper! Park the car at the dealership and take a taxi home! Long-time GM customer! I like it all.

Regardless, the Freep also spoke to GM, who admitted that it offers buyouts to some Bolt customers, but declined to say what the criteria are and for how much GM is buying back the cars. I also emailed GM and a spokesperson declined to give details, saying “As I mentioned to the Free Press reporter, we are not going to go into specifics and will continue to do so. ” consider redemptions on a case-by-case basis. “

All that suggests me that this is a situation where the wheels are squealing grease, so if you are a Bolt or Bolt EUV owner and are angry enough, feel free to escalate your complaint for maybe be getting some satisfaction. I’m sure Durham Smith will have his, because I think talking to a reporter is probably enough noise. This is, of course, as it has always been with car dealers and manufacturers.