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More Chevy Volt in 2009 Talk
March 5th, 2008 | Posted in: Production, Timeline
Recently we heard comments from Continental’s CEO about production level battery packs and Volts in 2009. GM spokesperson Rob Peterson told me that 2010 was still the plan.
Today we are hearing some more talk aboout 2009. In an article in CNN, GM exec Robert Babik told the reporter “GM is rolling out its all-electric Chevy Volt hopefully by late 2009 and is pushing its “E-Flex” design concept.”
Another source claims to have information that the Hamtramck facility where the Volt is scheduled to be built will be closed for re-tooling in May 2009, and will be re-opened in September 2009 to begin production of Volt prototypes.
Thanks to Lyle L. for the tips.
Posted by: Lyle
59 Responses to “More Chevy Volt in 2009 Talk”
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March 5th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Booyah!
GM is kicking butt! They should release enhanced iterations of the Volt as they are ready, and forget following model year scheduling. When all the low power, low cost accessories are ready, funnel them in and call it a 2010 1/2.
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March 5th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Since I told my wife that we couldn’t get a new car until the Volt is available, she must be nagging GM to get it done sooner.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Now THIS is what’s meant by "promising less and delivering MORE"!!!
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I’ve always thought GM was holding a few surprises for us. Don’t be surprised also if the range of the Volt is closer to 60 miles when purchased.
It’s not to their advantage to let everyone (including competitors) know exactly what is going on and the what the scheduling looks like. Way too much at stake with this.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:28 am
PS: In this same CNN article, GM’s Babik said, "We’re trying to make this (the Volt) a very consumer friendly vehicle. The all-electric vehicle will be able to travel 40 miles on electricity before the motor kicks in and is expected to cost about the same as a typical Chevy compact sedan."
I went to the Chevy site & priced a fully-loaded Malibu LTZ 1LZ, which includes virtually every option available, like 3.6L DOHC V6 (252 hp), 18" alloy wheels, paddle shifters, etc, etc. It gave me an MSRP of $27,445.00!
Hey, this could be called, "comfortably under $30,000" like Bob Lutz originally said! Maybe there’s still hope the Volt will be priced competitively!
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I think there are many automotive engineers working around the clock trying to get these cars out as fast as possible. It’s like a race to be the early market leader. A race for the first company to provide a plug-in like hybrid. I wonder what Toyota is doing… This is getting good! It’s kind of like a bunch of people sitting around a very cold pool. They are all dipping their feet in and looking at each other. Once that one brave soul jumps in it sets off a chain reaction. Let’s face it everyone is getting in the pool. The losers that don’t might as well go home.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am
#1 #2 #3 #4 I never thought GM could pull this off so fast , I will be happy to admit I was wrong , the day the first customer gets the keys to his new Volt.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Metro,
Not only that, but I’m positive that given the RPM range the 3-banger will operate in, the highway economy of the Metro with a loss tranny etc, etc, etc.. that the Volt will deliver considerably more than 50 while running the ICE.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:39 am
By the time the Volt is available to the general public, solar PV may also be affordable and cost-effective Tuesday, March 4, 2008 – 8:15 AM PSTSilicon Valley-backed company makes solar cells via inkjet printerhttp://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/03/03/daily20.html?jst=b_ln_hl
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Ugh, this is dangerous.
People will think GM is going to deliver in 2009, and under $30k, and they’ll call GM evil again when they don’t deliver.
I’ll be happy if they get a decent car out at $35k in 2010 or 11.
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March 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
#7, Jeff J,
Fair enough ….
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:00 am
If GM could get as little as a few thousand out in 2009, that would be a feat that is greater than the first moon landing. I would be so thrilled to see 5000 in 2009 followed by 60,000 in 2010, and then 120,000 in 2011. The Tauris was selling 500,000 per year in it’s best year — that should be the goal of the Volt.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
RE #9 Tim
What that company is targeting is power for sensor devices. So their targets are about three orders of magnitude away from PV power for houses or cars. Also it uses organic materials which have had durability issues when used outdoors. However, it is a step in the right direction.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Unless it comes from Wagoner’s mouth I won’t believe it. Everyone else has lost credibility.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Early, late, inexpensive, or costly, I’m just glad the car is still on track to be built at all.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Design and market a new vehicle in two years ? This is contrary to just about everything we’ve heard.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Where do we put the money down?
I saw some comments yesterday about the credibility of the waiting list. I saw a comment suggesting a $1000 deposit, not refundable unless GM fails to deliver the car.
OK, do it. Then we’ll see how credible the list actually is. Just give me an address, and the check’s in the mail.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
The plant closes in May 2009 and opens in September, getting cars to the consumer ’shortly after October’? Hrm…I have doubt.
I live close to the Oshawa plant that is in the process of doing a ‘changeover/high flex line’ for the Camaro, they have been at it for months, they are having nothing but headaches, and just evaluating it visually…it is in complete shambles still, nowhere near looking like anything that resembles a car plant. They peg production for late 2008, with actual car rollout in first quarter 09. 18 months to the consumer from the day they shut the plant down.
For myself, I am going to just keep holding onto the November 2010. I would crap my pants with excitement if they hit this ambitious goal.
I think “Josh E. Oliver”@TheGMSource.com is being a little optimistic. I would be interested to see if any plant has ever produced one platform of a car out the door, then did a whole line changeover, and pumped another to consumers 5 months later.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Heres a date I’m looking forward to:
Easter. March 23, 2008…18 days.
Working mules!
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Statik-
I agree that the source of the second comment is of uncertain credibility and unverified..I have checked in with GM for facts.
Don’t forget for those going, we’ll be able to ask the whole Volt exec team these questions and many more directly and in front of the world at Volt Nation in 2 weeks from today.
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Don’t get too excited. I would guess that in 2009 there will be the first production prototypes and perhaps the pre-production cars. This is still exciting, but I doubt they mean that retail consumer cars will be rolling off the line in 2009. It just means that in 2009 we’ll be able know and see pretty much exactly what our Volt’s will look like and perform like. These early cars will be the first real Volts, but not our Volts. I agree with others here, we shouldn’t put too much stock in rumors, it just leads to disapointment.
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Noel #17:
The $1000 non refundable deposit was in one of my posts, and I still think it is a good idea.
I am with you. The day they say they are ready to take pre-orders, I am ready to send in a check…..
But I have to say – If they can go to production in that short of a time, it will be almost a miracle!
What a boost to GM’s image that would be!!!!
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Don’t look now……………..
Oil over $104/barrel
GM can’t get the Volt out fast enough.
At this rate of increase, gas will be through the roof in 2009/2010. The market just keeps getting bigger for this car. Do it right GM!
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Dear Lyle, I can’t be with you in New York, but I wish you could ask Bob L about the apparent gap between GM announcements and its ability to deliver product. A good example of this is GM’s heavy hybrid advertising and lack of product. The Tahoe was going to be out in January, but as of yesterday no one seems to have any information. Is the lack of follow up going to continue?
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’m tempted to offer GM execs a $10K deposit in two weeks. I want to make a point about being serious not just interested.
One of my questions for them is how they plan to gauge likely customer uptake before launch.
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
#18 Statik I have also watched the cadillac XTS line added to the corvette plant in Bowling Green Ky , It took 3 to 4 years to retool the line, I am not a UAW worker but alot of my customers do work their. I hope I ‘m wrong but past history is on my side. Like many others I would be thrilled at a late 2010 launch date and completely shocked at a 09 . I am glad that we have moved from IF the Volt can be made to WHEN the volt will be made.
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March 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Manic depressive. First they will then they won’t then they will…
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March 5th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Guys, I remember car & technology shows talking about GM’s skate board architecture (now E-Flex) 10 years ago. I think this technology is way more mature than they are letting on. I think we could be in for a big and pleasant surprise.
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March 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#9 TIM
RE: Google NANOSOLAR, it’ll make you happy.
Also general question for everyone about the volt’s ICE: Isn’t it healthy for regular combustion engines to be started and ran about once a month (if say, nobody regularly drives the car or it’s in storage for the winter). If you drive your volt electric only for say 3 months STRAIGHT, and then go over that 40 miles one day, is the ICE just going to kick in no problem even though it hasn’t been started in months? Will you still need to change the oil every several months regardless of weather or not you USE the ICE? just so it’s READY to be used? That would be a small annoyance. I’m sure that ALL proper maintenance will be specifically detailed in the Volt’s owner’s manual…but do you guys with more experience with engines think this will be the case??
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March 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
#17, #22, & #25
I’m with you folks!
Deal Me In…
Dean in Las Vegas
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March 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Mike D,
I’m sure the manual will outline proper maintenance and care. The ICE is in fact an ICE and should probably be run once in awhile to oil the inside of the engine and keep it from rusting, and to flash off any water in the oil etc.
I’m going to run mine until it’s broken in, whatever that is in work hours since the ICE usage can’t be measured in miles, then I’m going to change the oil to synthetic. Regardless of what the manual recommends I’ll run mine briefly once a week to make sure it’s in good condition. What good is it if it doesn’t work when you need it?
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March 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Nasaman, #5, "I went to the Chevy site & priced a fully-loaded Malibu LTZ 1LZ, which includes virtually every option available, like 3.6L DOHC V6 (252 hp), 18" alloy wheels, paddle shifters, etc, etc. It gave me an MSRP of $27,445.00!"
Under 28K and I’m there! 35K and over, forget about it.
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March 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Grizzly, that’s probably what i’ll do. LET the combustion engine run once a week for maybe 10-20 miles or so. The cost of that would be like 1-2 gallons of gas per month, no sweat there. And you’re right about the ICE not being measured in miles, but work hours. In the Volt there will probably be an overall car miles odometer, an ICE "work hours" meter (or even minutes), and a battery charge/drain cycle meter. (how many cycles you’ve gone though). I hope there’s a volt with a turbo diesel ICE. Can you say 70-80 MPG even with no plug in? hehe. But i’d still plug it since diesel is like $3.79 here in detroit.
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March 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
#28 Mike D
#30 Grizzly
For a good discussion of that topic, refer to Home Forums Suggestions For GM Health of the internal combustion engine
(at http://www.gm-volt.com/volt-discussion/?forum=5&topic=156&page=1&tp=3)
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March 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Nice to see discussion as to when the Volt will be made vs. if the Volt will be made. I think that’s progress…don’t you?
Recommendation for someone attending the VoltNation convention: Someone should start a petition at the VoltNation to arrange for a free Volt to be presented to Lyle when production commences. Look at all the money thrown into advertising campaigns that can be questionable at best many times, then look at this situation where a person starts an enthusiast website (on his own accord) that has even garnered the attention of GM’s own top exec’s. Giving Lyle a Volt should be considered money well spent and a no-brainer. Just my 3 cents.
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March 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I couldn’t agree more! Ya got my vote…errr I mean sig:)
I’m looking forward to attending!
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March 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
#35
Lyle…..is that you?
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March 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
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March 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I may have to stop visiting this web site…
The anticipation is going to give me a fricken heart attack!
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March 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
35Schmeltz
Great idea! I’ll be at Volt Nation in 2 wks & I’m volunteering herewith to circulate the petition you’ve suggested. In fact, so we don’t duplicate one another’s efforts, please, all VOLT NATION attendees note that I’m planning to bring a couple of clip boards to circulate to all gm-volt.com members attending our inaugural meeting who want to sign such a petiton —and I’ve composed the form needed….
PETITION TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION – 3/19/08 Whereas Lyle Dennis, MD has dedicated countless hours to researching, creating, managing, editing, posting, interviewing, traveling and overseeing the Chevy Volt site gm-volt.com ….. (you know the rest)
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March 5th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
nasaman #40:
So how do us poor schlubs that have to work, and can not be in NY get to sign that petition for Lyle?????
And I think we should also start one to see if we can get GM to accept pre-orders and deposits. What do the rest of you think? If they say at the meeting that they will accept deposits there, someone call me, and I will get it there immediately!
And if there is no way to set up a webcast, please be sure to take lots of pictures!!!!
The only other thing that would really be great is if you could ask about "design freeze" specs for the vehicle and if they have begun to formulate what the different models and options might be made available.
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March 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
If this is true it is certainly strange that the 2010 Vue isn’t using the Volt’s battery/supplier.
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March 5th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Before the Volt can be released to the general public, it has to undergo government crash testing. Does anyone know how long that process takes?
I still think they will do a limited "test" release (10k?) to large customers before releasing to us in late 2010.
I also think the lucky few to the Volt Nation meeting will get to see the final version of the Volt & a mule ready to go.
I am so jealous you lucky bas*&%ds !!!
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March 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I thought the road to Hamtramck was going to long and winding but we have seen the first rumours already.
That should drop my blood pressure 2 points.
Is hamtramck still full of robots that work all night with the lights out?
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March 5th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Greg @ 10
I agree, if GM doesn’t meet people’s expectations, look-out. I’m excited to hear news like this. But when Lutz or Wagoner tell it like it is, there is backlash. Let’s hope for the best and plan for the worst.
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March 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Oil Prices it all time highs. $104
OPEC President Chakib Khelil said economic "mismanagement" by the United States is pushing oil prices to record highs. Khelil told reporters that America’s problems were a key factor in the cartel’s decision to hold off on any action.USA TODAY 3-5-08
Oh I can’t wait until I don’t never have to worry about gas again!!!
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March 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I don’t doubt that plant may roll a few Volts in 2009, but they won’t be for sale. They’re going to have to do quite a few rounds on the proving grounds and then back to the drawing table. And as has been mentioned crash testing and retooling that plant is no small measure.
Actually, if you think about it 2010 is pretty darn ambitious.
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March 5th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
#46 Jeff J oil for April delivery hit 104.95 in after market trading! It also had the highest close ever $104.52.
Source: http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/05/markets/oil_eia/index.htm
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March 5th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#41 Jim
"See if we can get GM to accept pre-orders and deposits"
I’ll be taking my checkbook.
My questions for GM are mostly how they can gauge demand, and take deposits, etc. well in advance.
RE petition for Volt for Lyle
Yes I agree. However, I will play devil’s advocate, it is easy to spend someone else’s money (us spend GM’s money). So anyone in favor of GM giving Lyle a Volt might want to consider making a donation to this site via Pay Pal (and yes I have).
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March 5th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
The real question is what is meant by prototypes in "…. closed for re-tooling in May 2009, and will be re-opened in September 2009 to begin production of Volt prototypes"
The key word is prototype. That is good news, but as has been mentioned there is a lot that still needs to be done before beginning production of production vehicles.
The gating factor still hasn’t changed I believe… it’s always been about the battery as there is nothing revolutionary about the EV design itself. Battery production is going to dictate time table, as well as how many Volt’s can be made.
It sure would be nice to have GM be able to go into real production by late 2009, as they really need to get a jump on the potential competition which will be heating up in 2010/2011.
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March 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Donation link missing on new style site?
It was there in January.
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March 5th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Nasaman:
If you make a petition, they will come.
An online petition would be a good way for people who can’t make it to Voltnation, to sign and show their support for the idea. I’m personally not internet savvy enough myself or I would attempt it. I’m so jealous of you guys who are able to make this event–that sounds so awesome!
Rock the Volt!
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March 6th, 2008 at 12:03 am
52 Schmeltz
I’m not savvy enough either, but let’s first get the ball rolling in NYC then wait until after that to take the next step, OK?
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March 6th, 2008 at 1:49 am
As one of the VERY fortunate ones who’ll be at the Javitz center, I can promise a LOT of photographic documentation of this historic event. Lyle, will there be a spot on the site where photos can be posted? If so, some guidelines as to jpg file size or resolution would be helpful. I’ll be taking all high resolution shots, but I can resize them to pretty much any size (so they don’t take up too much website storage). Once the lower resolution pics are posted, I can divide them up into sets of say 10 pics each and email a reasonable number of the higher resolution shots to individuals. You need the higher resoution shots to be suitable for printing out at Walmart (or where ever).
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March 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
March 6th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Just because they may be producing cars doesn’t mean they will be commercially available. There have been times in the past when 500 cars or so were run off the production line and then tested for months before they ever began commercial production.
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March 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
56 kent beuchert:
True that. Such has been going on forever. Somebody was telling me just the other day that something approaching 200 1953-55 Corvettes with "EX" VINs were produced, tested, and crushed. And a 53-55 Corvette is a somewhat less complex device than a Volt!!!
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March 11th, 2008 at 8:19 am
green by design/volt comments suggesting that they deliver not advertise misleading info. and that credibility is lost.
The reply I got from GM was that the volt is only a CONCEPT!!! And that GM is the greenest manufacturer Hmmmm
I wish GM the best but I’ll take the 1st EV that’s available. At 78, I cant drive hyberbole.
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March 17th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Ever since I saw the Volt the first time I’ve wanted one. I’ve followed this website since it’s inception. If GM offers a ‘first adopters’ purchase program via a $1000 or $2000 deposit, my check will be in the mail that day.
What better advertising than to have thousands of die-hard followers driving and talking about their new cars.
If GM is able to build an airplane from initial design to delivery during WWII and Budd was able to design and build the Streamliner passenger train during the 1930’s in 18 months, they can build the Volt and have it in the marketplace in 24 months if enough resources and the will are put into it. It can be done! They’ve done it before. The competition would be blown away and that GM / American can do attitude will be the talk of the day!
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