GM says Chevrolet Bolt EV battery production resumes

WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) – General Motors Co said on Monday that battery production has resumed for its recalled Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle and that battery replacements will begin next month.

GM said battery supplier LG battery plants in Holland and Hazel Park, Michigan, have resumed production and LG is adding capacity to provide more battery cells to GM.

Last week, the largest U.S. automaker said it would extend a shutdown of a Michigan assembly plant to mid-October following a new recall of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles over battery issues after 13 reported fires. GM declined Monday to say when it might resume production of the vehicles.

GM in August widened its recall of the Bolt to more than 140,000 vehicles to replace battery modules, at a cost now estimated at $1.8 billion. The automaker said it would seek reimbursement from LG.

GM said Monday “replacement battery modules will begin shipping to dealers as soon as mid-October.”

GM says the root cause of the rare circumstances that could cause a battery fire is two manufacturing defects known as a torn anode and a folded separator.

GM said LG has implemented new manufacturing processes and has worked with GM to “review and enhance its quality assurance programs to provide confidence in its batteries moving forward.” (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

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