WSJ Tech News Briefing – Tech Minute: GM Relaunches Chevrolet Bolt

Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Zoe Culkin

Episode Overview

This Tech Minute edition delivers quick updates on major technology news stories, with a primary focus on GM’s relaunch of the Chevrolet Bolt—a pivotal move in the electric vehicle sector. Other highlights include updates on U.S. semiconductor exports to Saudi Arabia and emerging trends in tech employee preferences between remote and in-office positions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. GM Relaunches the Chevrolet Bolt

• [00:26] General Motors (GM) announces the return of its Chevrolet Bolt, with a new 2027 model expected to make up "most of its EV volume next year."

• The base model will start at around $30,000 and begin shipping to customers early next year. A more affordable version, priced at around $29,000, will come later in the model year.

• GM paused Bolt production in 2023 due to "battery fires, sluggish sales and recalls." The relaunch, according to the company, is "driven by popular demand" and seeks to "solidify its position in the affordable EV space."

  "GM is bringing back a new model of its Chevrolet Bolt that it expects will make up most of its EV volume next year."
  — Zoe Culkin [00:27]

  "The company said the relaunch was driven by popular demand and aims to solidify its position in the affordable EV space."
  — Zoe Culkin [00:42]

2. U.S. Semiconductor Exports to Saudi Arabia

• [00:46] The Trump administration and Saudi Arabia are negotiating a major agreement permitting U.S. chip companies to "export semiconductors to the Gulf nation."

• Talks have been ongoing since May; a deal could be finalized soon, per sources. The chips are intended for data centers supporting AI model training and are "a core part of the Trump administration's plans to export US Tech around the world."

  "The chips would be used in data centers for training AI models, and they're a core part of the Trump administration's plans to export US Tech around the world."
  — Zoe Culkin [00:54]

3. Remote Work vs. In-Office Salary Trends

• [01:04] New research from Harvard, Brown, and UCLA reveals shifting worker priorities:

  • Surveyed 1,400 tech workers with multiple job offers (mainly software engineers, product managers, and data scientists, May 2023 - Dec 2023).
  • Applicants are "willing to accept a lower salary for remote or hybrid jobs," with those accepting such positions typically agreeing to "25% less than a similar in-office position."
  • The shift correlates with increasing pressure from tech companies to return employees to physical offices.

  "Those who accepted a remote or hybrid position on average accepted 25% less than what they were offered for a similar in office position they rejected."
  — Zoe Culkin [01:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "GM stopped production of the Bolt in 2023 after troubles with battery fires, sluggish sales and recalls."
  — Zoe Culkin [00:36]
• "The study... surveyed 1,400 workers, most of them software engineers, product managers and data scientists, who had multiple job offers and accepted one between May 2023 and the end of last year."
  — Zoe Culkin [01:07]

Important Timestamps

• [00:26] GM launches new Chevrolet Bolt (main story)
• [00:46] U.S.–Saudi semiconductor export deal progress
• [01:04] Study: Tech workers’ salary trade-offs for remote/hybrid jobs

Additional Resources

• For deeper analysis, listeners are encouraged to check out the upcoming full Friday Tech News Briefing podcast.

Tone: Concise, informative, news-driven.
Host: Zoe Culkin maintains an objective, reporting style throughout for clear and direct information delivery.