General Motors is currently in the process of revamping its cheapest EV, the Chevy Bolt. The upgraded Bolt is expected to include new battery technology, which is important because older Chevy Bolt cars have flawed, potentially dangerous batteries. That issue earned the company a class-action lawsuit, which is now paying out settlements to owners of 2020-2022 Chevy Bolt cars.
General Motors has announced a compensation program for owners of 2020-2022 Bolt EVs and EUVs in the US, who experienced reduced range due to a battery recall issue. The recall, prompted by concerns about fire risks when the vehicle was fully charged, led to the installation of diagnostic software limiting the charging level to 80 percent, reducing the range from 259 miles to 207 miles. In a statement, a spokesperson for General Motors said that “owners are eligible to receive a $1,400 Visa eReward card upon installation. This applies to Bolt EV/EUV owners in the US only. We’re grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding.”
In order to get the compensation, owners need to update their car with a “software final remedy” by December 31st, 2023, and they also need to sign a legal release. For now, GM is only giving out prepaid debit cards with $1,400 on them, and users who happen to need a different method of payment will need to wait until the class-action lawsuit is over — GM is just giving pre-emptive compensation for now. Although it should be relatively easy to get money out of the card.
Likewise, if the court mandates compensation higher than $1,400 by the end of the trial, GM will also pay you the difference whenever that’s done. And if you don’t do all of this by December 31st, either because you forgot or you didn’t want to, you’ll still be eligible for compensation. But again, you’ll have to wait until everything is over.
If you happen to have a Bolt model from 2020 to 2022, make sure to check out GM’s terms for more information.
Source: Engadget
