GM tells Bolt EV owners to park away from vehicles on decks

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (Reuters) – General Motors Co. (GM.N) on Wednesday recommended that owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles parked on decks do so on the top floor or on an open level, at least 50 feet away from other vehicles, citing possible fire hazards.

The precaution “would reduce potential damage to nearby structures and vehicles in the rare case of a potential fire,” a company spokesman said in an email. GM sent a warning to consumers who had asked about parking problems, he added.

GM had previously asked owners to park Bolt vehicles outdoors, away from structures and not to cover them overnight.

GM also urged owners not to leave Bolt EV vehicles charging unattended, even if a charging station is used on a parking deck. Bloomberg News previously reported the recommendation.

GM, in August, expanded Bolt’s recall to more than 140,000 vehicles to replace battery modules, at a cost now estimated at $ 1.8 billion after reporting 10 fires. The manufacturer said it would ask for a refund from GM battery supplier LG (003550.KS).

Last week, the largest U.S. automaker said it would extend the closure of a Michigan assembly plant two weeks after the Bolt battery was removed.

GM said the extension of the production shutdown at the Orion Assembly plant that will happen at least Sept. 24 was “the result of a battery failure” related to the withdrawal.

GM will not resume production or sales of Bolt until it is satisfied that the withdrawal remedy will address the fire risk problem, he added.

Report by David Shepardson; Edited by Richard Chang

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.