The Chevrolet Spark EV Is, Not Surprisingly, Dead

There might be more than a few empty chairs at the Chevrolet Spark EV’s funeral, as the diminutive electric didn’t exactly inflame the passions of the buying public.

The Detroit News reports that production of the electrified model ended this past summer, though General Motors only saw fit to mention it last week. Apparently, the fatal shot was fired by the Chevrolet Bolt, which began production in the fall. Two’s a crowd in the GM EV garage, it seems.

The Spark EV occupied a low rung on the electric car ladder. With 82 miles of range, an updated Nissan Leaf could keep going long after the Spark went dark. So, it’s no wonder that GM doesn’t feel like investing any further funds into a vehicle that can’t come close to the 238 miles of range offered by the equally subcompact Bolt.

When the automaker launched the variant for 2013, the EV’s electric motor provided acceleration and responsiveness that far exceeded anything the stock Spark’s 1.2-liter four-cylinder could muster. It’s a bit odd that GM executives initially claimed that the Bolt wouldn’t erase the Spark EV from the GM stable, but sales speak loudly.

Chevrolet spokesman Fred Ligouri told The Detroit News that the automaker has sold about 7,400 units since the model’s debut. A limited roll-out ensured that many Americans have never laid eyes on one. GM’s sales goal for the Bolt, while never clearly stated, is doubtlessly much, much higher.

In 2016, Chevrolet unloaded 3,035 Spark EVs in the U.S. — about 900 units less than the Volkswagen e-Golf and less than half the number of sales BMW saw for its quirky i3. The tap might not be completely dry yet, as the automaker recorded 17 sales in the month of December.

[Image: General Motors]