Will the Bolt EV be profitable?

[columbo]

There's much talk in the electric vehicle sphere about whether or not companies are actually making money on the EVs they are selling at current prices. For example, some feel that without government subsidies, Tesla wouldn't exist. Other companies, like Nissan, have admitted to having spent BILLIONS on developing the LEAF, and if it wasn't for the large-ness of the company, wouldn't be in business still...

So for the Chevy Volt, and the upcoming Bolt EV, is GM making money on it, or will they anytime soon? This is what GM North America President Alan Batey said at the Chicago Auto Show

Batey would not say if the Volt makes money — or if the Bolt will — but counts their value in being on the leading edge of technology, and cost comes down over time. "Unlike Tesla, we can spread the cost over a whole lineup," Batey said.

What do you think? Or does it even matter? Perhaps only as more vehicles become electrified in their lineup...

 

[marta]

For some reason, EV manufacturers seem to hold this data pretty close to their chests.

Is the Volt profitable? Is the LEAF profitable? Is the Tesla Model S 'officially' profitable?
I don't know that we've been told any of that info...

 

[Anonymous]

some feel that without government subsidies, Tesla wouldn't exist

Tesla makes >25% profit margin on sales of their cars. Of course, given the massive R&D spending on factories and charging infrastructure, they aren't wholly profitable as a company, but neither would any other startup be building out the way they are.

GM and Ford got WAY more money from the US government via loans and such than Tesla and they aren't any further along...

Nissan got massive subsidy to build out the Leaf.

But of course, oil and gas subsidies trump all of the above.