In a previous post about production roll-out, we heard from Bob Lutz that GM was considering an initial limited roll-out, first to California, next to Washington D.C., and finally Florida.
I for one, being a New Yorker, was little disappointed about that.
Mr Lutz, according to this excerpt from the Detroit Press seems to now have rolled the Big Apple into the mix:
"…the early plan for distribution of the Chevrolet Volt is to begin with California, followed by Washington, D.C.; Florida; New York and elsewhere on the East Coast."
Mr. Lutz went on to qualify this statement: "Of course, that’s only current thinking, and the plans could change".
While at GM’s tech center I was able to confirm that GM was indeed giving the roll-out plan some thought, but I was told that it was "way too early" to draw conclusions.
I know for a fact that some of the key Volt decision makers read this site regularly, so now may be the time to make your opinions known.
Source (Detroit Free Press )
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 at 6:49 am and is filed under Production, Timeline. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:55 am)I sure hope pennsylvania stays in the early roll out mix I really do not want to wait forever. I just hope my current car lasts till the volt come out
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:59 am)What about Detroit area. Would expect Volt to be rolled out in the area that it was designed. Would expect the GM employees living in Michigan that have worked on Volt would want to be first in having one. I live in the Detroit area and sure hope that this area will be on the first set of delivery locations.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:09 am)Sigh! Living in NZ I know I have to wait, damit!
I Just hope Lyle is right at the top of the list.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:13 am)If by New York, he means the state of New York (including the western part of the state), I’d be thrilled.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:15 am)I’ve already conceeded that it will be mid to late 2011 before I get one.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:24 am)I agree with NZ David, my situation is comparable as I live in Belgium, but I still expect news from Opel about the Flextreme development.
Carl Peter Forster said once we could expect an E-Opel for 2010. He said :
“Ende 2010 so weit sein – auch für einen Einsatz in Europa bei Opel. Das schöne daran ist, dass wir hier im Gegensatz zum Hybrid bei einer Reichweite von 60 Kilomentern absolut keine fossilen Brennstoffe mehr verbrennen müssen, sondern auf regenerativ erzeugten Strom zurückgreifen können. ”
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/wirtschaft_-_handel/hxcms_article_505519_14140.hbs
So, lets hope either we shall get a Volt soon (32 months), or an Opel Flextreme.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:31 am)NY would be great, anxious in Syracuse here.
I think it would also be a great idea if GM went above and beyond a state-by-state roll out plan, and offered the vehicle to anyone on gm-volt’s waiting list who still wanted one. That would make a pretty good statement about GM listening to the customers.
I’m sure it’d be easy for them to ship reserved cars to the nearest dealer of a person on the list, just not sure if they’d have servicing or temperature concerns.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:32 am)Well, I sure hope they include New York. There’s only a potential customer base of over 20 million people in the metro area!! I for one will be tingling with excitement as I ride Metro North down to Manhattan to pick up my brand new Volt!
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:32 am)To clarify my #7 post, for me the ideal would be to have GM do a state-by-state roll out plan, while simultaneously making the vehicle available to anyone on this site’s waiting list.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:33 am)Chicago would be a great place to send a couple thousand of them!
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:36 am)Please Western New York as well as the city!!!
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:40 am)I should have read some more posts before I said anything, I too think that a state by state rollout while simultaneously making the vehicle available to the waiting list would be a great idea…
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:45 am)i live in SE PA. i wouldnt mind driving to DC or NY to buy one, but will the limited rollout prevent it from leaving the state that they are sold in?
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:53 am)I still think Americans want to see this car in particular revitalize the now second (or worse) place car industry. Why not make the Volt available in the rust belt that has been so ravished by the industry which built the industry in the first place. Time to give back a little bit, GM.
That and I think those of us living in the rust belt would have some good will towards the Company that allegedly killed the electric car, making it available in places much sooner than expected. NY first though, without a doubt. But then the rust belt. Michigan, Ohio, and beyond.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:53 am)Klein # 12
My exact sentiments !!! All of us that have stuck by this project and signed up for a commitment to purchase should be considered !!
Rashiid !
Well, it looks like your in buddy. We in Texas will probably be last because of all our connections with oil production and refineries.
My aunt and uncle in Florida don’t know it yet, but they are buying me a VOLT !!
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:54 am)Oh, Lyle, glad to hear NY is in the mix. Wonder if you had anything to say about that.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:04 am)6 Jean-Charles Jacquemin….
After Volt Nation a couple of us went to the nearby Saturn area at the NY Auto Show to see the Flextreme. FOR ME IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!! So if Opel rolls out this car (remember, it has the Volt’s drive train with a slightly smaller battery) BEFORE Chevy or Saturn, I might just have to buy one in Germany & ship it home (after touring Europe with it)! Here’s a link about the Flextreme….
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/14/saturn.flextreme/
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:04 am)Mr. Lutz went on to qualify this statement: “Of course, that’s only current thinking, and the plans could change”.
… like because New York will be underwater by then.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:06 am)Hopefully they will include upstate NY too, particularly the Saratoga Springs area. GM execs can all come to the track and watch the horses’ race in July and August. Plus we get the entire gambit of weather up here. Hot and humid summers and COLD, snowy winters.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:16 am)Well living in IL looks to have another disadvantage. Well I guess
I will just have to wait for you coastal guys to work the bugs out
first. My Suzuki has a few more good years left in it.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=11686
Take Care
Arch
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:19 am)I sure hope DC includes the Northern Virginia suburbs!
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:20 am)I realize it would be impractical to roll this out world-wide, but I hope GM plans on an abbreviated roll-out. This car already has traction, support from key groups, and some level of brand recognition – and it isn’t even out yet.
Canadians have a large and growing environmental awareness. It would be best not to overlook us as an early market – Vancouver and Toronto would likely be great early markets.
I hope GM has already started discussions with Transport Canada. As experience with ZENN has shown, their bureaucracy tends to be a little slow to adapt to change. “Hmm. I don’t know which box to check. Fail!”
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:20 am)GM !! We have made our commitment to you. Now lets see what commitment you will make to all of us faithfull Volt people??
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:27 am)HOWDY all–I’ve been in the automotive industry for 15 years, and know people that “test” drive new vehicles all the time. I suppose it’s because the manufacturers know that, here in TEXAS, we can rack up the miles rather quickly!!! There’s a ton of pavement down here y’all, as well as 24 MILLION people—-As some of you may know, Texas & Oklahoma is the LARGEST Truck/Suv market on the PLANET, as well. On average, I burn about 2500 gallons of fuel per year between 2 vehicles, so I’m BEYOND anxious for the Volt’s arrival!!! I intend to buy 2 VOLTS, but NEED 1 ASAP, if not sooner, as I turn in my GM smart buy in November 2010……..
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:32 am)Not that I’m in any way biased, but I think GM should start with the biggest markets, the cities with over 2,000,000 in population (in the city itself, not in the surrounding areas):
New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Toronto
Houston
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:36 am)Hey GM! The greater Orlando area has >50million visitors/year, all in a vacationing, fun-loving, highly-receptive state of mind. I live near & drive the major highways daily here: I-4, the Beachline, the Greeneway, etc and my 3 vehicles have these attention-getting Florida personalized plates: NASA MAN; NASA GUY; NASA CAR.
I’d be happy to expose the Volt (or the Saturn Flextreme) to those 50 million open-minded people all year long at no charge to GM!
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:38 am)Thanks Nasaman, #17
BTW both bumpers stickers on my little Opel Corsa which went to the garage the last two days made my Opel dealer think about the future and ask me if I shall stay with them if they cannot sell me an electric car as my next one , my answer was direct : “Even if I appreciate your service, it is NO”, a small step towards the future …
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:43 am)Looks like Chevy better get with it.
http://news.carjunky.com/the-byd-f3-dm-cdh080.shtml
Take Care
Arch
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:50 am)Being only 2 hours away from the Big Apple, this gives me hope. If not, I will wait for the Volt 2.0.
To hijack this thread (sorry), we had a discussion several days ago about the noise the Volt will make, and blind pedestrians.
There is a study going on and today, a bill is being introduced in Congress to do something about the very quiet noise Hybrids makes.
As I stated earlier, I want my car to be as quiet as possible.
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8138328&nav=9qrx
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:52 am)Lots of action this morning.
http://newsblaze.com/story/2008040905330500009.pnw/newsblaze/HIGHTECH/High-Tech.html
Take Care
Arch
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:55 am)From the proposed list, CA, DC, FL, NYC, and the East Coast, I see the following trends,
1) Be politically correct (please CA mandates and DC politicians)
2) Stay in urban areas
3) Focus on warmer climates with limited snowfall
4) Key in on areas with higher car/SUV ratios (#24 Flash, you may have a point about the high ratio SUV market, GM wants to compete with others, not themselves)
5) Key in on areas with higher import/domestic car ratios (typically from what I see, CA and the East Coast).
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:00 am)#10… Yes, Send some to Chicago. I really want a Volt… and my current car should make it to the current planned release of the Volt. However not sure how much longer past that point… And if with a phased roll out I have to wait 6-12 months more then not sure I’ll be able to get one. I don’t want to see a limited supply vehicle go nation wide and dealers jack up the price $5K – $10K over retail just cause they are hard to get but on the other hand selling them to everyone who wants one right from the beginning will help sell more via word of mouth and by others seeing them on the street.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:05 am)Hell yeah, New York!
-Ben in Yonkers
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:18 am)Toronto should be near the top of the list. The Greater Toronto Area is a bigger market than all but the top few American metropolitan markets.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:25 am)Before we all start lobbying for our areas, we need some questions answered. For one thing, the original post said that the Volt would get to Austrialia by 2011 or 2012. So if we’re world-wide in one year, what will the roll-out time-lag between New York and Ohio? A week, a month, a year? There were waiting lists of 6-9 months for the Prius in 2004. Will people in other locations be allowed to “get in line” before their local dealer is trained to sell and service, or put at the end of the line only once the local dealer is trained? How big the lags and lines are will have a big impact on how big our concern needs to be about who gets to be “first.” Unless you are outside the U.S., I don’t think that you really have enough information to start worrying, yet.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:25 am)Disappointed in the initial rollout scenario. This will probably have me looking at other potential alternatives for lower gas consumption vehicles. Maybe I can find something here in Indiana that runs totally on corn husks.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:45 am)Mr. Robert Lutz:
Stop playing with Volt’s “limited availability area” rollout issue.
Just tell us once and for all what the roll out plans are for this car, so we can make a reasonable decision as to what plans we should make. You can not expect us to just sit around and wait for an additional year or two past 2010, to see if and/or when a Volt will be available from our local Chevy dealer…………….
Based on the information available for performance and style, the Volt is still my first choice. But if it is not going to be available by mid 2011 at the latest where I live (Youngstown, Ohio), then I am going to have to think about looking at alternatives.
Finally, I think it is just wrong that your most ardent supporters on this site are just going to be ignored and passed over to be politically correct! That is a “short term smart and long term dumb” position to take. Many of us on this site would be able and willing to provide much more useful performance and testing data back to your engineers at GM than some movie star or politician……
If you think that my position merits more discussion, and would like to contact me personally, please feel free to ask Dr. Lyle Dennis to provide my contact information to you. I would look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
James S. Isabella, President
Computer Applications Company, Inc.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:52 am)Hard to believe New Hamsphire is not at the top of the list given it’s 1st in the nation primary status!
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:06 am)I really thing is the place where the Volt should rollout.
Also, I think I am the best choice, because…I like to rock the party.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:08 am)Apparently things in parenthesis are ommitted, lol
–> I really think ‘INSERT HOMETOWN HERE’ is where the Volt should roll out
Aliso, I think I am the best choice, because…I like to rock the party.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:08 am)Dr. Lyle Dennis interview on Fox Business
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6yW4-feUnA
Great job, Lyle!!
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:12 am)I’m not happy, Las Vegas will be the last place.
We will have to settle for a Toyota instead.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:20 am)Hey… Let’s get some Volts out to Central Alberta, Canada, This where the bulk of the US oil supply will be coming from shortly. I need a VOLT. My 07 MAXX will have over 250,000 KMS by mid 2011… Hopefully, I will see a VOLT in my driveway by then…or I guess it will have to be one of the other “hybrid” / “electric” units.
It would be great if we use the signup list as I was in the first 500 to sign up on this site…
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:27 am)What I really what to know is not which states are first, or when it is in “MY” state, but how long it will take to include all of the US. That is the important number. OK, so who will be first or second or third is interesting but interest is so broad we really need to know about the whole US.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:29 am)I love the fact that people will now “Settle for a Toyota”
GM is more than on it’s way back to being the number One Auto Maker.
Sweet! The car has to go where the money is for sales. NY is a Natural.
~60% or a touch more of the entire us income is in the North East.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:30 am)#37, Jim I. Good luck. I sincerely hope you get a good response.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:34 am)Am I the only one willing to fly to a rollout location and drive one home? I live in Nebraska; if you want a proving ground, you’ll love it here. It gets quite cold in the winter with lots of snow and over 100 degrees in the summer. This week: 70 degrees one day, snow forcasted for this weekend.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:42 am)Australia will probably get Volts before Montana…
I guess I’ll just go get a Prius.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:42 am)#5 mmcc:
Right. I have come to the same conclusion. Sorry to say so, but I think that you actually may be a bit optimistic. If they make 10,000 the first year, that’s mid to late 2011 already. If they make 60,000 the second year, that’s not very many to go around either.
#28 Arch:
Hellooooooo? Nice motorhome BTW.
#18 Statik:
Yeah. Another 40′s vintage pop song I remember my mother quoting had some lyric to the effect of “Someday, when we’re awfully old, and the world is cold……….”. Except maybe it’s under water rather than cold. And or HOT.
Is it just me, or are there a lot of new names appearing with these comments the past few days? If so, I think it’s great. Welcome.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:53 am)Makes no difference to me where I have to fly to pick mine up. It’s just a couple hundred bucks, a few hours at the airport, and a TSA agent stealing my toothpaste.
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:58 am)Does GM have an official position on people driving in and purchasing a Volt from one of the metro areas? Someone from Vegas was lamenting not getting one very soon, but seems like they could drive to LA easily enough and buy one there.
Is GM trying to keep this from happening because of potential warranty issues?
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:01 am)The Flextreme is something I would look at buying IF built in Spring Hill Tennessee.
Then it’s really a Saturn to me, and it comes from the factory that built a GM I didn’t hate owning.
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:02 am)Don’t give up on California!
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:31 am)The Mitsubishi IMEV all-electric car, shown at the recent New York Auto Show, appears to be getting ready to go on sale in Japan and maybe the U.S.? Here’s a link to the Japanese TV ad for the IMEV from the folks at Mitsubishi:
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/special/eco/tvcm.html
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:32 am)David L G #50:
The problem I raised was one of service. The original statement by GM for using a limited release area was to keep the service confined to a smaller area. So I have asked what would happen if a Volt failed while out of a service area, or if like you and others have said, what if I just fly to an available area and buy a Volt and drive it home?
Some people here have said that the local techs would be able to service it, after reading the available tech notes from GM. But with technology this different, I would be concerned about service techs not being certified to work on these vehicles. Who has to assume the responsibility if a tech that was not officially authorized by GM would accidentally destroy a major electronic component by accident? And what about parts availability for non-authorized dealerships?
These are important issues that would have to be formally in place by GM before I would ever consider buying a car from a dealer that is not in my local area! If I am going to spend $30K+, I just want to know that the car will be serviced and warrantied by GM at a local dealer…
Maybe others see it differently.
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:33 am)I think everyone needs to calm down a little bit. It seems clear that GM is going to do what it has to do to move these cars as quickly as possible.
Although I live in Detroit (my college is within walking distance of the Hamtramick factory where the volt will be built), and I would be surprised and dissapointed if the car wasn’t available here from the start I fully understand and support GM’s decision to put these cars where they will make the most impact.
If I was in charge at GM I would focus on areas where the GM’s products would not normally sell.
If you could get a person to but a Volt over a Prius in San Fransico or Seattle or anywhere else like that over on the west coast you could sell them anywhere and that would be such a colossal PR gain that GM might finally be able to turn itself back into a real competitor again.
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:40 am)How about Israel? Israel is going to have a wide spread grid of recharging spots thanks to the plan of Shai Agassi, so it makes sense that Israel will be one of the first countries outside the USA that the Volt will be sold in. Other countries won’t have the infrastructure needed to support plug-in cars and Israeli citizens will be already prepared for the idea of plugging-in so it’s a big and promising market to the Volt
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:42 am)The incredible 150 MPG AFS Trinity Saturn Vue, premiered at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show powered by a new lithium battery with ultra-capacitor, begins a nationwide cross country tour and they will be providing test drives. Scheduled to arrive in Washington D.C. on Earth Day.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/08/afs-trinitys-150-mpg-suv-starts-earth-day-tour/
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:48 am)I agree, those on the wait list should have the option to purchase. The trouble I believe would be having GM mechanics in your state (in my case Texas) able to service the volt. Geeezz, I wish I had stayed in Cali.
Apr 9th, 2008 (12:02 pm)Ok, ya’ll
Oil is now trading at $111.65 We sure need some relief, Get that Volt out ASAP.
Apr 9th, 2008 (12:16 pm)Eric, Kevin, Tom, Tom M, and more. have a very good point. Many of us signed up on Lyle’s list, in order to show support for the Volt, at a time when there were a lot of negative Nells out there.
I don’t mean that GM should ship cars earlier than they think prudent. As Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director, said when I asked the question about the roll-out at Volt Naion, “the integrity of this product has to be spot on!”. I completely agree, and would not do anything to hamper that. However, I believe that somehow the first xxxx on the list should be given an early option. And, Ed Peper, General Manager Chevrolet, also talked about people on this site, and people willing to give deposits.
So, I propose that GM take Lyle’s list and a certain cut-off point or the whole list if their numbers work out, and see if people are willing to give a deposit, sooner rather than later. And those people would then need to drive to wherever to pick up the car.
It would be a great way to reward we early supporters of the Volt, who are out here promoting the car 2 years ahead of time!
Apr 9th, 2008 (12:23 pm)Of course, I am completely biased, but I vote for Chicago to be thrown into the mix. Hot summers, cold winters, bad traffic… perfect for proving the volt and maximizing its benefits.
Apr 9th, 2008 (12:58 pm)This limited geography thing only makes sense for shortsighted execs in boardrooms. How about a dose of real world actual practicallity?
If you buy a Volt in DC and decide to take a road trip to Montana, but the car breaks down (heaven forbid!) in the middle of South Dakota then would GM pay for the car to be shipped back to a “qualified” dealer for repair? I doubt it! How is this different than living in SD, but flying to DC to buy one? Either way…
Apr 9th, 2008 (1:10 pm)GM
Rushing the Volt to market is bold, but necessary in the global auto market. The E-REV race is on. If you really want to be bold, be BOLD! Limiting the first production release to 10,000 units doesn’t seem bold. It seems cautious. Getting the Volt “out there” in substantial numbers will establish the Volt as the premier E-REV. Otherwise, you will receive limited glory until other manufacturers dilute the choices. Your “moon shot” would be more impressive if it were more than short-lived bragging rights. You’ve put great effort into the Volt so far. Now, step it up a notch – demand a quality product, support QA/QC efforts, and trust your people to put out a quality product. Then, put it out there with gusto.
I am not a “car guy.” I haven’t been excited about a new model car since – I can’t remember. But, I am way too excited for the Volt. I’m sure others feel, or will feel, my level of desire. You have tapped into something. People want this car for many different reasons; to lessen oil dependence, to support US products, to end oil wars, to lower emmissions, to have the latest whiz bang gadget, to make a statement…Take advantage of this unique confluence of circumstances. With great risk comes great reward. Everything I read about the Volt says that it is proceeding with flying colors. How risky is it to produce a car that you say is, so far, surpassing all of your expecations? Debug your mules and prototypes with extreme prejudice, and get me my Volt!
If you decide on only 10,000 at first, put them all in California (where I live). As California goes, so goes the Nation.
Apr 9th, 2008 (1:18 pm)GM, Don’t forget where your headquarters is. Bring some to Detroit! Remember your roots.
Apr 9th, 2008 (1:52 pm)Ron #63:
Exactly!!!! And how good would the public perception be of the Volt if they saw them on flatbed trucks going down the highway???
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:03 pm)One thing, though…most of these areas are primarily populated by a largely apartment-dwelling population who do not own their own houses. That makes sense for population and customer density, but how are apartment dwellers supposed to charge the car?
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:12 pm)I know my circumstance is a bit unique since I happen to own a diesel Silverado and a car trailer, but I’d be HAPPY to take the risk of needing to make a 700 mile road trip to bring my crippled Volt to a location that can service it. If I have to fly somewhere to buy my Volt then it’s a gamble I’m willing to take . I’d much rather have the service available locally, but I want a practical EV bad enough that I’m willing to take the risk. I haven’t needed to take a GM vehicle back to the dealer for a major breakdown repair in over two decades so I certainly don’t expect my next GM vehicle to break that trend.
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:14 pm)“If you decide on only 10,000 at first, put them all in California (where I live). As California goes, so goes the Nation.”
Not sure about that one….California is more like…
“What are those strange, free loving, movie star, flamboyant, gangsters up to again?” Hah,,just kidding!
It might get rolled out in a few major areas but will spread to the rest of the nation within 6 months I bet you…I can’t imagine having to wait for the second model year to get one unless that is driven by demand. So just calm down everyone!
I’m in Cleveland, so since I am probably SOL since Cleveland obviously isn’t NY or LA I’m thinking it might just be easier to hijack a semi full of them as they leave Detroit on their way to NY…I could always drive silently away into the night completely gas free.
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:17 pm)When will Canadians be able to get their hands on the Volt?
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:19 pm)#61 George K
I hate to be a pessimist, but here are my feelings.
Candidate #1 is an active member on this site, lives in CA, has a master’s degree in electrical engineering, lives near a Chevy dealer who is allocated one Volt, and will trade in a Prius for the Volt. He is in the top 20 on Lyle’s list. Pretty strong candidate, wouldn’t you say?
Now comes a man, Candidate #2, from the same locale. He has never visited this site and won’t for the next 2 years. However, in July of 2010, he sees an ad for the Volt on TV, and wants one.
This man has only a high school degree and is a plumber by trade. 25 years ago, he bought his first Chevy truck from the local dealer (who has been allocated one Volt). Since then his business has grown, and today he has a very successful business, and he has been a loyal customer all these years and now purchases $500,000 per year worth of Chevy trucks, vans, and automobiles, not to mention a new Corvette for himself every year.
I will leave it to the reader to decide who the dealer, and GM, would prefer as their first Volt customer in this locale.
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:21 pm)GM needs to use some of their big advertising budget and spruce up the dealerships. The Chevy one is by far the ugliest and most rundown one on the auto mall strip here in the California Bay Area.
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:27 pm)BillR #71:
You forgot possible sale #3:
Brad Pitt walks in and says “I want that one, and you can put my picture up on the roof!”
Now who gets that one Volt?????
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:29 pm)>> I hate to be a pessimist
No, that is called “enlightened”.
Most everyone here is an ENTHUSIAST… definitely not representative of the typical consumer.
To become a SUPPORTER, you must find a way to reach that typical consumer… by actually doing something.
Buy a Volt will accomplish that reach. Creating informational content that people will stumble across when doing online searches for Volt will too. Prius has stuff like the Information-Sheet & User-Guide. Volt has basically nothing, despite the suggestions I’ve dropped… hint, hint
Reaching that mainstream audience is your challenge.
Apr 9th, 2008 (2:31 pm)Bring it to Memphis!!!! So i don’t have to drive to the east coast!! LOL.. it would be nice if the middle of the country would get some type of shipments and not just the coasts..
Apr 9th, 2008 (3:23 pm)Makes you wonder.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Vauxhall-Concepts/232162/#
Take Care
Arc
Apr 9th, 2008 (3:53 pm)I can’t remember this much excitement about any car since the car crazed 1960s. None of those cars were anywhere near as innovative as the Volt.
I think it is only right Lyle gets Volt number one. It would be even better if Lyle would get the use of a late preproduction model so he could report back to all of us.
Thanks for a great website Lyle!
Apr 9th, 2008 (3:53 pm)I for one don’t care where they roll it out to as long as there is no restriction as to who can buy. IE must live in NY. I will drive to NY or DC or CA to get one.
Apr 9th, 2008 (4:24 pm)What we ought to do is organize a GM-Volt group buy. Certainly we have longstanding members of this board in any of the locations where the Volt is likely to hit.
These members would volunteer to organize and act as reps to purchase like a corporation on behalf of members. Despite the fact that many of the original 10K waiting list members might live in remote areas, as enthusiasts we’ll all agree to take the car wherever it needs to go if it needs service, and not to harp about problems, but to report them to GM as well as feedback in the interest of success of this vehicle.
Actually the last point is why GM should just go ahead and honor the GM-Volt waiting list.
Apr 9th, 2008 (4:24 pm)>> I can’t remember this much excitement about any car since the car crazed 1960s.
Were you active in the automotive community then? How about in 2003?
Even though over 15,000 Prius were delivered that first month of the new model, there was still a very long waiting list. Remember, gas was still cheap than and climate change was far from a mainstream topic.
Apr 9th, 2008 (5:13 pm)As long as I get my first Florida Volt i can’t get too excited about where else it rolls out. GM, call me, I am still waiting to hear about my mule. 239 410-8826
Apr 9th, 2008 (5:32 pm)I just paid $3.47 a gallon for 87 octane. I sure am glad I live in New England. I might actually be able to purchase a Volt on the first go around.
I just thought of something evil. I could buy a bunch of Volts and then sell them in the Midwest for a small mark up fee of ooooh, let’s say 100 percent.
. Now that’s evil.
Apr 9th, 2008 (5:40 pm)#82 Rashiid
They will be on eBay the next day. LOL
Take Care
Arch
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:23 pm)Lyle! Oh my God, I just watched the Fox Business News interview. In typical Fox fashion, they got the facts wrong (40 MPH). And geez, was she really that dang big? She looked like a giant, not just the height, but the head size. She was enourmous.
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:46 pm)#84 MarkinWI
Show some class. She is somebody’s wife and or daughter.
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:48 pm)I want to get a FULL REPORT from Lyle about the Volt once he gets one of the first ones coming off the assembly line in 2010. He should get a good camera (with sound) and upload some video of the car to this website via YouTube … a video report. I want to see the car inside and out. I even want to hear what the electric motor sounds like when you floor it.
Maan. It’s going to be a LONG 30 months or whatever it is. I just hope GM is not going to be like Boeing is with the Dreamliner 787 and the Volt is delayed a year or two. People on this blog might freak out if they had to wait til 2012 for the Volt.
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:56 pm)Send me a VOLT !!!
Central Alberta Canada.
I need it by 2011
Where do I send my deposit ?
Apr 9th, 2008 (6:59 pm)My 07 Maxx will be miled out by 2011….
250,000 + KMs and it’s either the Volt or which ever company has the “best” electric type at that point.
Don’t waste time GM
…geterdone…
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:04 pm)I guess it is good to live in California. We may have our wild fires, earthquakes and Governator. But we hopefully will see the Volt sooner as opposed to later. I have my solar panels up on the roof and I am ready to plug in. Even if they come out here first…I can’t imagine that there would be enought to meet demand, and I refuse to pay over list from a dealer for any car…based on principle…we’ll see.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:19 pm)NY! Lyle, did you bribe GM? Just joking! : ) They (GM) would have to be crazy not to have an initial roll out in the greatest city on the planet.
Where better for Lyle to drive out the first Volt, driving silently in the noisy city, with no smog emitting from the tail pipe, driving down 5th Avenue and making stops at the Empire State building, Rockerfeller Center, Central Park where the quiet hum of the electric motor can barely be heard, and then driving over to Times Square where all of the electric lights will be reflected like a mirror in the electric Volt’s shimmering paint?
Besides, I live in upstate NY, about a 2 hour train ride away from NYC – so then I can get my Volt! My apologies to all who are not in the initial roll out areas.
It is understandable that the initial offerings will be limited. I work for a major company (not GM), having worked both in manufacturing and development, and a limited initial offering is a good opportunity for GM to work out any bugs not only in the car (because we all know it will be perfect!), but also in the manufacturing process, with suppliers and vendors, and the training of repair techs at the dealerships. As things get rolling, with the bugs worked out, then mass production can get into full swing and the whole world will have the opportunity to drive a more refined car. Very exciting!
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:22 pm)#82 Rashiid Amul:
Yeah, the price of 87 octane at the cheapest ARCO station I can find here has gone from $3.49 to $3.57 THIS WEEK!
As many here have wisely suggested, I guess that we just have to be as philosophical as we can about the price, the styling, the availability, and all of the other parameters, and see what happens.
Either GM is going to deliver a package that we can stand of all of the above before the gas prices force us to go another way, or they aren’t.
I’ll bet that there are going to be a dizzy array of alternatives before 30 months, or ever how long it takes to really get Volts into the hands of the likes of us, has passed.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:25 pm)Mary # 89
That’s why this “planned” roll out is questionable to say the least. Does anyone think that dealerships are going to have salespersons showing potential customers the cars on a sunny Saturday? Of course not, the lines and waiting will overwhelm them. There won’t be any left on the lot to show. Dealerships are in business to make money and in this scenario could jack the price to whatever the market will yield. Probably not in GM’s plans for a “car for the masses”. They’re going to have to really think this one through.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:27 pm)Noel, #91,
I had a long conversation with the gas station owner today. She told me she gets a phone call to change the price in the morning, again in the afternoon, and again in the evening. All on the same day. My response was that she already owns the gasoline in the ground. Why keep changing the price? She says that no small ma and pop gas station owns the gas anymore. It is too expensive to buy it outright. So the gas companies own the gas and can raise the price as they see fit.
Sounds pretty messed up to me. She also told me to beware $5.00 a gallon this year. I really hope she is wrong about that.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:35 pm)Grizzly #92,
I think the solution is a fixed price deal.
That way, no gouging by the dealer.
But I doubt GM will want to cut out their dealers.
It’s not like they have had anything to be excited about lately.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:40 pm)From GM’s perspective, the best places to roll out the Volt are those that have the highest CAFE requirements, i.e., California. One way to think about the Volt is that each time GM sells one, they get a pass to sell an expensive and more profitable vehicle and still meet the CAFE average. The Volt by itself may not be profitable, but the combo will be.
For those of us in NC, it is very disappointing. We can just look from afar and be jealous. The good part is that the delay means that litle imperfections that are a part of all new designs may be perfected by 2020, or whenever it is that the Volt is first sold here. And, if you all are charging your cars and using less gas, then we can keep driving our trucks without quite so much competition for gas.
Apr 9th, 2008 (7:44 pm)#47 Marcus R “I live in Nebraska…”
Hey Marcus, great to see another Nebraskan, Ok, there are at least two people who are interested in a Volt here in Nebraska. How does that rule work where if one person expresses their opinion there are likely a 100 others with the same opinion. Hmm… two people means there are at least 200 potential sales here.
#54 SRSCHRIER “Mitsubishi IMEV all-electric car…”
Very interesting car. If the Volt’s a no show, I’m heading to Mitsubishi for an i-MiEV.
#56 DetroitJoe “my college is within walking distance of the Hamtramick factory…”
Ah! A local eyes and ears. Could you engage your colleague to report back to our group any activity taking place at the Hamtramick facility, especially around the 2009 time frame?
#64 ThombDbhomb “If you decide on only 10,000 at first, put them all in California (where I live). As California goes, so goes the Nation.”
Sad thing is California had electric cars, a bunch got crushed or shredded. The remaining cars are still mostly in California, doesn’t help Nebraska much. California didn’t develop the hybrid, think Toyota did that. So “Detroit” needs pressure to produce, which leads me to say…
The dealerships of major metropolitan cities of each contiguous state should have a trained dealership. If not, then there should initially be regional maintenance teams that can travel to the local dealership to effect repairs, or remotely direct the local technologists on how to effect repairs.
GM claims to be committed to Eflex technology. The Volt will be the first production Eflex with other models quickly following. How can GM move to Eflex architectures and not have prepared the sales/service market infrastructure?
GM are you doing Eflex or not. Are you committed or not. The roll-out will tell all.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:19 pm)Has anyone analyzed the waiting list that we’ve all signed onto, breaking down by percentages and geographical area? It would be interesting to see if GM is rolling out appropriately based on our waiting list.
Not sure if geographical area can be determined for persons on waiting list.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:26 pm)Rashiid #93
Yes, but you know what? No matter how you slice it the future isn’t going to be rosy for dealerships. Not for service revenue or parts for EVs, and not for middlemen (with the internet??), and certainly not for the sales tactics so long associated with them (dealerships).
The Volt may usher in a new era, and as I stated earlier, there will need to be some new thinking. Certainly 10K units are a pittance and why any company would want to give the opportunity to a few dealerships to “gouge” on this occasion defies logic.
It is for this reason that I’ve said that the 10K roll out will not/should not be a supply/demand event. It just can’t be. It’s not as though GM will actually recoup their costs on these units regardless of what they might let dealerships gouge the public for.
Again, the GM-Volt waiting list would not be a bad place to start.
My question to this site is:
Would you have a problem agreeing to GM terms of the limited roll out that stipulates that you may not have a “service qualified” dealership in your area? And….for $30-35K do you agree that we (GM) will fix the car even if you are geographically and otherwise challenged by this and understand that the required the service period could exceed the norm, if indeed service is needed?
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:53 pm)Grizzly #98,
Sure, I’d sign. I wouldn’t miss a service on my 40,000 mile 05 Prius, as I also got the extended warranty. At that time (Nov 04), people weren’t too sure how they’d play out in the long run.
Apr 9th, 2008 (8:59 pm)Another vote for Houston, which has surpassed LA as having the worst air pollution in the country.
We desperately need the Volt, then we not only get rid of the polluting cars but the refineries as well.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:22 pm)Lyle – you gotta push to send a couple down here in Texas. Mr. Lutz will need to create the buzz in this gas friendly state. The Smart Car is doing quite well down here, surprisingly, and I think the Volt will be a hit. Let’s get these Republicans down here off oil!!!!!! Thanks.
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:31 pm)George K #99
That’s exactly what I thought. I don’t think that it’s any different for the 9,999 others. You may be the Volt’s #1 fan, but this (10,000) is really a very small number and a very important one. For this reason, this roll out needs to be controlled. Why not the GM-Volt waiting list, because then excuses need not be made to the public or the press as to why they were rolled out to “favorable” hands?
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:43 pm)Holy CROW,
I sign in an hour late and am the 100th respoonse! Hey Bob, take THAT to the board! (reference to his comments at VoltNation). Love the excitement.
PS Jim I: please let us know what response you get. (“No response” is in fact a response)
Apr 9th, 2008 (9:45 pm)Personally, I think that the rollout should be to anyone on the waiting list who drove to the VoltNation meeting (flying is cheating LOL)
Apr 9th, 2008 (10:27 pm)I would love to be able to buy one in the Midwest. Is Kansas City anywhere on the radar???
Apr 9th, 2008 (11:45 pm)One more vote here for Nebraska. I’d like to pick mine up from Tincher Chevrolet in Plattsmouth, thank you.
Apr 10th, 2008 (12:11 am)I hope that GM includes its home state of Michigan in their initial roll-out plans. I also hope that they do indeed give the members of this site the opportunity to purchase one first as it is we who have championed this wonderful car to become a reality. I want one of the first ones in the fall of 2010.
Apr 10th, 2008 (12:36 am)#22 Abbatoir, wrote:
Canadians have a large and growing environmental awareness. It would be best not to overlook us as an early market – Vancouver and Toronto would likely be great early markets.
I hope GM has already started discussions with Transport Canada. As experience with ZENN has shown, their bureaucracy tends to be a little slow to adapt to change. “Hmm. I don’t know which box to check. Fail!”
I totally agree … I live in Victoria – just across “the water” from Vancouver. The way that fuel sipping small cars and hybrids sell here, GM couldn’t build them fast enough! By the time that the Volt is in production, then BC government will be offering substantial rebates and/or credits for purchasing a RE-EV.
The ZENN experience has been rather unfortunate … but it appears that if you can get your story to make headlines on the CBC evening news and thus embarrass the federal government – you can get Transport Canada accreditation quickly enough.
BTW, “Abbatoir” = great name!
Apr 10th, 2008 (5:57 am)Grizzly, #98. I’d sign it.
But although 10,000 units is a pittance, I can sort of understand the need to control problems. I agree that if we sign that contract, we’ll be quiet about he problems. But that doesn’t solve GM’s problem with having to fix the cars. I doubt the cars will have a major flaw, but if they do, GM will have to fix them all. Better to be only 10,000 units than 60,000 or more.
Apr 10th, 2008 (7:04 am)Las Vegas Last!!!!!
Dude, I’ll roll the dice with you on this one…there is no mention of Alabama anywhere in that roll-out plan either…Vegas has money…Bama has blue skies, we will not see any Volts here for a loooong time…unless Floridians are enjoying a cruise in their new Volt thru my state on their way to ‘Route 66′
I mentioned the Volt to my local Chevy Dealer, Bill Heard Chevrolet, and the head of sales looked at me like I was nutz…but then again, he is over-stocked with gas guzzling trucks to concern himself with talking future roll outs that would not include Alabama anytime in the far reaching future.
I do understand the roll out issue; seems I remember that I did not see a true Saturn for 4-years after they started rolling out new cars…and I live 50-miles from the Spring-hill, TN assembly plant (which is closing, or will be closed due to GM’s current financial state). I can assure you, I will not be waiting until 2015 for a Volt, I will be driving ‘green’ long before then, from whatever competitor sets up camp here in North Alabama.
Do I expect miracles? No, I just got my hopes up over an awesome product, that price and roll out issues will keep me and millions of other hard working Americans from ever owning!!
…but should a miracle happen, I would simply want a Volt in a Green and Gold Metalic paint.
Johnnie “watching from the sidelines” Paul
Apr 10th, 2008 (7:08 am)Do the obvious “follow the money” and build client base —-
Registered waiters with proof of deposit balance payable in:
1. cash with a Prius parked in the garage willing to be interviewed
2. cash willing to be interviewed.
3. cash
Sales Months 1-4:
1. areas w highest % of self-drive suburban commuters (your target population)
2. some type of PR strategy that shouts big time that “the US is back in the motor game”
3. Send free Volt to the head of every major foreign exporter of petroleum into the US with a love note attached – “Dear Sheikh of Aabie and Dear retired federal executive from Conway, Texas , “Don’t ask for whom the Bells toll. They toll for thee.”
4. Send one to the President of every foreign oil-dependent, free nation, with a big population (e.g., France, Australia).
5. Send one to head of every major oil company in the world.
6. Limit sales to one per family per year for years 1-2
7. decide whether to market inside market areas with the highest or with the lowest kwh price for electricity.
Work on/analyze impact on increased demand for kwh’s from local electrical power companies who may need to prepare for new load during traditionally low demand periods (night time late).
Apr 10th, 2008 (8:06 am)Here is an interesting article on new Li-ion electrode technology:
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/20524/?a=f
Apr 10th, 2008 (8:37 am)Fort Lauderdale, Fl here…35 mile commute to Miami. So, maybe there is a chance. I can only hope!
Apr 10th, 2008 (9:29 am)I’m assuming that “NY” means the metropolitan area, including NJ, which would make me very happy.
Apr 10th, 2008 (10:12 am)Tagamet #104
Hey there, MR. Tagamet, that’s a good idea too! Since there are so many on the list, (over 17,000), that would be a great way to pair it down and get to some of the most dedicated fans.
It does tend to “dis” people not in the New York area, however, I managed to travel from Chicago to Miami for the Oct. 07 Volt showing.
Apr 10th, 2008 (10:31 am)Hopefully by late 2010, everyone will be talking about the Volt so much that it will be available nationwide. I’m in West Virginia, which means we’re probably next to last. I’ll have to snatch one from New York, I guess.
Apr 10th, 2008 (10:45 am)George K.,
My suggestion was just for the very FIRST Volts, right behind Lyle’s, so my population would just cover about 400 of the first “run”.
Apr 10th, 2008 (11:50 am)Lyle — great job! I loved the last Q&A on present car, future car. It makes it clear that the Volt is exciting.
Apr 10th, 2008 (12:48 pm)I’m in Central NJ, and a 45 minute drive to NYC!! Happy to drive for my new car, not to many delays, although some are expected, my honda CRV is got 165K miles on it and keeps giving me that 1 more mile feeling!!
Note to everyone else if you live in Nevada and want a volt day 1, drive to LA and buy one. You’ll still be able to buy one, but will have to travel to aquire it. I’m pretty sure GM won’t be checking proof of residency!
Apr 10th, 2008 (1:26 pm)I hope Raleigh, NC is somewhere in the middle or so. I hope it’s not at the end or so.
Apr 10th, 2008 (1:31 pm)I know NM is not likely to get one of the first ones, however I hope GM will consider sending some Volts out this direction for testing in the desert conditions. Dry, Hot, and Sand is one of the extremes that should be studied. (I’d be glad to help!)
I just hope they ramp up production quickly… seems like the Volt has a lot of new technology, but compared to the complexity of a gas driven system it seems a lot simpler in many ways.
I want to buy one.
Apr 10th, 2008 (1:50 pm)Canada please!! We’re already paying $4/gallon!!
Apr 10th, 2008 (2:00 pm)I don’t always keep up on the comment threads, but with folks expecting a price in the 28 – 38k range, has anyone added in the “usual and customary” dealer markup over list price for very popular new cars? I can easily envision 5K or more over list.
Apr 10th, 2008 (3:52 pm)…”has anyone added in the “usual and customary” dealer markup over list price for very popular new cars? I can easily envision 5K or more over list.”
I’ve racked my little gray cells and come up blank on any way that (without gutting our capitalist system) would inhibit pricing vehicles according to what the customers are willin to pay. When the new VW Beetle came out, our local dealers were selling them with “B” titles (second owner) for 5K more than the sticker price.
Apr 10th, 2008 (4:13 pm)I’m in a good news, bad news situation. As I’m in the Chicago area, I won’t be seeing a Volt for a while after they are intro’d on both coasts. The good news is hopefully by the time they get here, the premium should be gone.
Apr 11th, 2008 (10:20 am)I’m pulling for at least a half dozen to be sent to Stasek Chevrolet in Wheeling, IL (+/- 15 mi from Chicago).
I have a friend who is the sales manager there and I have been telling him that I want the first Volt that he sees for over a year!
Apr 11th, 2008 (1:15 pm)Roma, #125. The premium may be gone from the other areas, but when it finally gets to your area, the Volt will be new there. And you might see that premium happen there anyway. Unfortunately. For your sake, I do hope I am wrong.