GM Will Build and Test Thousands of Autonomous Bolts Starting in 2018

Reports surfacing today indicate that General Motors will build and test several thousands of self-driving Chevrolet Bolts starting at the beginning of next year, according to Reuters. The American automaker will partner with Lyft Inc--the ride-sharing company in which GM has invested $500 million--to deploy the autonomous Bolts in Lyft's ride-sharing fleets. Even though GM has no immediate plans to sell self-driving Bolts to consumers quite yet, Lyft will reportedly be testing these specially-prepped Bolts across several different states. Over the past year, GM execs have mentioned the American automaker would manufacture and deploy autonomous vehicles in ride-sharing fleets, but never released when this would actually happen and with whom as a partner, even though it was assumed it would be Lyft, given GM's investment. In response to today's news from Reuters, though, GM has released a statement that hints at at some sort of timeline.