When we last reported on the pending 2013 Chevrolet Volt, we passed along GM’s estimate that the cars would be available in August and no indicators were given that it might be earlier.

As it turns out, some Chevy dealers have been receiving 2013s for a couple weeks or so, and as far back as our June 7 report, GM was actually “sprinkling in” a “handful” of 2013 specification cars among the 2012s rolling off the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly line.

According to GM’s Kevin Kelly, Manager, Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Communications, the new Volts with 16.5-kwh battery, three more EPA-rated all-electric miles and 98 MPGe have been in full-time assembly since the line started back up after Independence Day.

Customers have been able to order 2013 Volts for the past couple months, but the August availability date was given, Kelly said, to allow time for sufficient supply to make its way to dealers.

Availability is yet limited with 2012s and 2013s still in inventories, but dealers do have them here and there.

We asked whether GM rushed the changeover to prevent cannibalization of its 2012 sales due to customers possibly holding off until the tweaked 2013 models arrived.

Kelly said this did not weigh into GM’s decision, but it was business as usual, and once suppliers were all lined up, the changeover was made.