GM CEO: Chevy Volt Out Earlier by 2010 and for Less Than $30,000?
We have a teaser of an interview that GM CEO Rick Wagoner gave to the German Publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung which will be published tomorrow.
He is reportedly quoted as saying two very big things.
1. GM wants to put the Volt out by 2010 as opposed to the end of 2010.
2. They want to sell them for less than $30,000.
Wagoner is quoted as saying, “Our two challenges are lowering the cost of batteries and convincing consumers of the advantages of the Volt.”
I haven’t gotten access to the full interview yet, but I confirmed these statements directly with the author of the referenced press release. She told me the interview publisher’s quote is “GM has a clear goal: We want to put the Volt on the market in 2010, at a price of less than $30,000.”
[UPDATE: The full interview is out and doesnt really say any more than what we have above. It seems translation is still a factor here. Im looking for verification from inside GM. Translation by Google]
Source (Interactive Investor)
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May 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
OMG… I’m there, check in hand!
OMG… I’m the first to comment! BONUS!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
GM needs to “grab the bull by the horns” with this car’s release. Sooner than expected and cheaper than thought could set this thing on fire!
Here’s hoping!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Great job, Lyle!
Now the plot begins to thicken.
Is nasaman correct in that the Volt will have a 65 mile AER at the beginning of battery life?
Will it cost near $30,000?
Can it actually do 0-60 in 7 seconds as Bob Lutz indicated at Volt Nation?
If so, they do need to get this to market ASAP, because they do have a true winner on their hands. 2010 can’t come soon enough!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Sign me up!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
now were talking! sign me up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Holy cow…..the excitement is building and people are talking….My check is ready for a blue-black one!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
At $30K/copy, what idot would NOT want one?
My family will take 3 please, one red, one white and one blue.
I’m not kidding!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Lyle
Great work! Sounds like they may be learning what a GREAT car they have on their hands.
Take Care
Arch
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
That’s good news for now! I can’t wait to hear the official interview. Hopefully the 30,000 price comment was referring to USA dollars and not Euro’s. 30,000 Euro’s converts to rough $48,000 USD. Hopefully they can keep the cost down and make this vehicle have more mass appeal with respect to price.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
I was wondering myself from your other thread/post that GM planned to have “final integration” vehicles in 2009… and from your post “and will be built in some significant quantity. These cars are street legal and may be used in a captured test fleet for selected GM employees”.
As for the $30k number popping up again… we’ve seen conflicting reports on this and only time will tell, I don’t think GM is ready to commit to any price yet.
If they are able to start rolling them out by early 2010 or even late 2009, and price it at or under $30k (batteries included not leased), they will definitely have a leg up on the competition!
However there is a lot of conflicting (and hence some of it must be incorrect) information out there… I was surprised that in a small blurb about EV’s in the most recent issue of Time magazine they mention the Chevy Volt as coming out in 2012!!!!
In any case, like from the start, it all comes down to the batteries being the gating factor. EV technology is over 100 years old, even the control systems are old hat now… even Li-Ion is, but large format Li-Ion, and designed to last 10+ years, and produced in large production numbers, is as far as I know all new.
To continue from another thread regarding super/ultra capactitors… see http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=18280 …. “AFS Trinity Demonstrates XH-150 Plug-in Hybrid to California Official” (these are SUV’s so need that burst of power supercaps can provide)
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
Before we start dancing in the streets, lets remember that earlier GM had a goal of selling the Volt comfortably under $30,000. However I do not recall ever seeing a goal to put the Volt “on the market” vice into production by 2010. That is big news. But it still could refer to the market of “limited availability” rather than at a dealer near you.
Bottom line, a very encouraging development, Go Volt!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
I have a question. Perhaps you can do a post on this Lyle. I read an article about the carbon load that is created when you manufacture a hybrid like a Prius. Apparently the “cost” in terms of carbon output is much greater than when one makes an SUV because of the making of the battery. Now, over time, the better gas mileage will neutralise it. However, if you buy a used car with reasonable gas mileage like a Tercel, you would have to drive the Prius 100K miles to offset it. This is because the used car was already built so your order did not generate any more cabon. What about the volt? I imagine that the creation of those volt batteries will be even greater in terms of carbon releasing than the Prius.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
If this kind of news continues we’ll all have to start wearing a Depends…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
You all know me.
You all no what I am going to say.
But go ahead, get excited.
This dream will die in 3…2…1…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Holy crap! My pulse quickened. Shivers went through my body. Could it be?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Other news…
Ford slashes all its productio…and shocker, says will no longer be profitable in 2009, “unless there is a fairly rapid turnaround in U.S. business conditions”
15 percent reduction in the second quarter
15 to 20 percent in the third quarter
2 to 8 percent in the fourth quarter
Production cuts hurt revenues, because automakers book vehicles as sold once they leave the factory.
Ford is the first to be forced to own up, the other two will not be far behind…and falling revenues = bad cash flow = bad credit = no more credit = panic.
Other news…Ford slashes all its production and shocker…says will no longer be profitable in 2009, “unless there is a fairly rapid turnaround in U.S. business conditions”
15 percent reduction in the second quarter
15 to 20 percent in the third quarter
2 to 8 percent in the fourth quarter
Production cuts hurt revenues, because automakers book vehicles as sold once they leave the factory.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080522/ford_cuts.html
Also on the wire today, home price index posts largest drop in 17-year history. Doesn’t speak volumes for the ‘rapid turnaround’ the automakers say they need to break even.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080522/home_prices.html
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
#13 Statik
The dream has its ups and downs. But, the general trend is positive.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
#16 Thomb
If the dream is only that GM is going to built the Volt, I agree the trend is positive.
I have very little question that if GM can built it (ie. still have money in the bank)…they will.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
AFS Trinity Demonstrates XH-150 Plug-in Hybrid to California Official
Source: AFS Trinity
[May 21, 2008]
SYNOPSIS: In a typical 340 mile week of driving, barely two gallons of fuel will be consumed, resulting in 170 miles per gallon.
http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=18280&url=
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
I have been holding off buying a new car since I first heard about the Volt. I love it’s look.
Build it and I will buy it !!!!!!!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hello Lyle’s sign-up list!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Wow! This is terrific! Make mine Red.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
This is a fun roller coaster ride! After all the ups and downs all will be well. Imagine how the dealers feel- will my dealership get picked for the first year? They should know within a few months and at that point its time for a deposit!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
The German press isn’t known for being very reliable (not that ours is demonstrably better).
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Lutz said closer to $40k not too long ago, now Wagoner is saying under $30k.
One of them has to be wrong…..
I think the lesson here is to just be patient. GM will eventually let us know what the actual price is.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Well they could sure sell a bunch of them if they had them available today! The sooner the better Rick.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
Well, despite Statik and his pessimism, I think this calls for some celebration.
This may be a repeat, by we know there are a lot of new people coming to this site, so see the attached video, it has a cool music score, and check out the Volt’s lighting scheme at night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVFTAgKTN70
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
If nothing else, GM is making some brilliant moves. Investing in channel Planet Green giving them some rather exclusive advertising rights with the exact crowd they’ll be aiming for initially…then mentioning a possible earlier release and lower price of the flagship of their green car line-up.
Amazing PR footwork aside, every piece of news I read about the Volt just makes me want it more.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
TK #12
If we go by what you say, we should never build another new car or truck (or anything else). We should all start trading in and buying only used vehicles, forklifts, boats and such. Since no more carbon will be produced in the sale and re-sale of these used vehicles, etc. So, GM, Ford and all should just convert their plants to repairing used equipment for our new world.
Get real. Go GM, Go Volt. And any other company who can and will produce NEW cars and trucks that will reduce or remove our dependence on oil and the oil producing countries. ASAP…..
This announcement is good news and I hope it holds up. We need the Volt as early as GM can produce it. They will not be able to make enough of them at less than $30,000 U.S. Dollars.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
TK #12
Sorry, if I sounded a little hard on you. I did not mean to do so. We are all anxious to see some relief from high gasoline prices. It is only going to get worse before it gets better, if it ever does.
Let’s all pull for GM and the other manufacturers in this new effort to give the buying public what we hope will be good for us all and the planet, also.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 am
No need to wait until tomorrow, (gatekeeper)Lyle. It’s on the internet. Here it is, translated by Google:
http://tinyurl.com/6zyp24
And $30k is what he said.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
#12 TK - Your math might work on an individual basis, but somebody has to buy a new Tercel for you to buy a used Tercel. So all you are doing by comparing a used car to a new car is dodging responsibility for the original production of your used car, as if that part of the car’s carbon footprint were all on the shoulders of the first buyer. And that somehow the change of ownership washed the carbon footprint of the construction of the vehicle clean for the second owner.
If you are really meaning to compare the carbon footprint of a NEW Tercel vs a new Prius, that’s an entire different subject. You would be better off just addressing that directly, instead of muddying the waters with the new vs. used argument.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Can I pay now?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Try this one:http://tinyurl.com/5zllz5
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Or this:
http://tinyurl.com/5zllz5
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
“GM hat ein ganz klares Ziel: Wir wollen den Volt 2010 auf den Markt bringen zu einem Preis von weniger als 30.000 Dollar“
“Weineger als 30.000 Dollar” means “less than 30,000 $”, yes LESS.
AS Ache always writes,
take care
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
This is starting to sound like yet another “too good to be true” mis-statement. I’m a big fan of the Volt, but I’m afraid you may all be setting up Static for a big ‘I TOLD YOU SO”.
It’s obvious that he’s chomping-at-the-bit to say it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
My Mazda6 ought to be just about ready to trade in by that time.
Woo Hoo!
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
I hope that they have some surprises for production volume too. Otherwise there will be a supply shortage.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
That is excellent news!
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 am
18 Tim, the car is possible now. Plug in cars will start appearing everywhere, and the numbers will look great. If you can get an EV with a 50 mile pure range, your numbers will always look good at the launch of the car.
The questions that GM have answered that are going to make the Volt much better in the long run are about convenience, durability and cost.
My biggest worry is that people will see the MPG and assume equality. The Volt with a 10 yr battery life, safety, and the performance of an above average ICE will be head and shoulders above the trinity or any other plug-in that I’ve seen advertised, even in prototype or limited test version.
Don’t compare cars on just one stat, compare them on how they perform over 10 years, and beyond.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 am
#25 BillR
“Well, despite Statik and his pessimism, I think this calls for some celebration.”
You know you’d miss me if I wasn’t here! I’m a integral part of all of these threads. There would be so fewer responses (albeit much more positive) in all these threads, hehe.
It would be like waking up in the morning and having eggs with no bacon. (Yes, I realize that analogy leave me wide open, lol).
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I’m with Statik (chills)… everyone will be ticked at GM when this turns out to be $40K and Dec of 2010 (if we’re lucky).
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Just like we shouldn’t take a lot of stock in price speculations that are high such as a few month ago with the $40 grand estimate, lets not take a lot of stock in this one which happens to be on the low side—even if it comes from the top brass. There’s still a lot of time between now and 2010, and any number of things could affect the price between now and then. Not trying to rain on the parade, but I’m just being realistic. We should figure the Volt to be a very expensive commodity when it first comes out. If it’s less than the higher numbers we have been told, then it is all the better, and a pleasant suprise to boot.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I think that when Bob Lutz said “closer to $48K”, he was talking about initial build cost as volumes increase. He also said that GM was willing to “take a loss for several years” on the Volt.
His boss Rick Wagner is also saying that GM is willing to sell it at under $30K with a loss on the initial units in order to build economies of scale so that later units will be profitable. They have made the Volt a Chevy because that is their “main stream” line and they know that Chevy’s must sell for well under $30K to remain in the main stream.
This strategy will buy them AT LOT of green credibility that they have let slip to Toyota and will also raise their fleet MPG average. Since E-Flex will be used across MANY different GM product lines, the amortization of the initial costs (losses) will pass quickly.
GM is finally thing ahead instead of focusing on just the past and the present.
GM, keep you eyes, ears, minds and budgets open to new technologies and look to the future. Be brave, be bold and be successful! We’re counting on you.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Here is the Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference Presentations
http://afvi.org/NationalConference2008/presentations/
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Fantastic. I put my wife on the list last month.
USA #1
Thanks for your continuous excellent work Lyle!
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hurray for GM! I like that it will be priced for the masses.
Statik, keep it coming.
I do hope (as you probably do too) that you are wrong. 
Question everyone. Assuming the Volt is coming out in early 2010, how soon do they need to start retooling the plant they are building the Volt in? I have no idea how long it takes to do that, but I think we have discussed it here before.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Jean-Charles Jacquemin #34, I was waiting for your translation before getting excited. Thank you. Does it tell us when in 2010 it will come out? The tinyurl translation above needs some help. Thanks.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
By By Honda. The lease is up on my Civic Coupe in 12 months…Sweet!
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Ok Rachiid, here is the start of the press article :
“GM hat ein ganz klares Ziel: “Wir wollen den Volt 2010 auf den Markt bringen zu einem Preis von weniger als 30.000 Dollar“, sagte GM-Vorstandschef Rick Wagoner der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung.”
My translation :
“GM has a very clear objective : “We want bring the 2010 Volts on the markets at a price less than 30,000 $”, says GM-CEO Rick Wagoner to the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung.”
To me “the 2010 Volts” means … that there will be 2010 Volts on the roads.
Hope that helps, take care all of you.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Thank you very much, Jean-Charles #49. I have to agree. 2010 means 2010. Anywhere from January - December. So the time line may not have changed at all. It could still be November 2010. Thanks again, Jean-Charles.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Rashiid,
Here is what follows in the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung :
“Bisher hatte GM nur erklärt, Ende 2010 mit der Serienfertigung des Volt unter der Marke Chevrolet beginnen zu wollen.”
My translation :
“Until now GM has only precised that they will begin to serie produce the Volt under the make Chevrolet by the end of 2010.”
Hope that helps.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Maybe since it is a German interview they actually mean less than 30,000 Euro.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Alright! I’ve got $7K saved up for my down payment so far.
Someone said something about a 10 year battery life. Works for me, the 2020 Volt will be so much more technologicaly advanced, you’ll want to trade in your 2010 by then…
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I am far more excited about the earlier release date, rather than more speculation on price. An earlier release date means that the development is going extremely well.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
If Rick is looking to lower the cost partly by removing extras and options, I think he’s on the right track. The strategy has changed - you no longer need to present an electric with exactly the same
goodies as a gas powered job. The people buying the Volt are buying into a concept and technology and whether it has power seats is mostly irrelevant to them, as it is to me. I operate my power seats possibly once every two years or so. Do you really think I give a %$%#@ whether the seats are power or not? Power windows, on the other hand, are a different story.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I’ll bet they can make money selling \Volts under $30k. If Toyota can sell Priuses and make money at $20ik, it ought to be possible to add a $10k battery pack and still make money at $30k. The development costs are kind of irrelevant. GM was going to pay their people to develop something regardless, so they cancelled a couple other “traditional” cars that they probably would have had a hard time selling and would have lost the money, anyway.
Well, that’s my cautiously optimistic rationalization.
The real truth is that I expect it to be under $30k for no other reason than I wish it to be so.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
My $30,000+ will go toward GM’s Volt or Aptera’s Typ-1h. The first one finished gets my cash.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
i’ve been monitoring the site as after the $48K remark all I care about now is the price. The car will be awesome for sure. But the only thing is price. This variable is the make or break factor. And this news has me wanting to re-consider things and actually wait to see. I hope Statik has most the most part been a good poster and I sure hope he is wrong this time. What a great feeling it would be to drive an american made Chevy Volt. After the $48K remark, I’ve been lessening my hopes to other cars rather than the Volt. I would love to increase my hopes again.
Heres to hope!
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
#51 Rashiid, you wrote :
“I have to agree. 2010 means 2010. Anywhere from January - December. ”
Well perhaps not, my 2006 Opel Corsa was actually made in october 2005 and sold end 2005.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
#53 Brain:
It’s a natural conclusion to draw but, if you go to the linked article, The headline says “Under #30,000 U.S.” in big , black type. What a relief.
#56 Kent Beuchert:
I completely agree. I could even do without the power windows. My wife, on the other hand, has a different view. That’s why we need an options list, or at least packages.
She could have her optioned up cruiser, and I could have my bottom line stripper. My theory is that I might save a few bucks, and get a bit better AER by not carrying the weight of what I don’t need.
Better yet, I could get my S-10 sized E-flex pickup. That’s what I really need for my second “Volt-like” vehicle.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Well consider me one of the skeptics who thought it would be at least $40k initially (but I still wanted to get one
). This statement is coming up a little bit too much however, I’m starting to think they really might hit this cost target (or it’s bad marketing on their part).
Either way, I’m going to start saving. This car is important and I want in.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Noel, I too LOVE the idea of S-10 size e-flex electric pickup truck.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Registered hybrid vehicles increase 36 percent in nine months in Massachusetts
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/22/registered-hybrid-vehicles-increase-36-percent-in-nine-months-in/
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Keep it up GM. I’m hoping for Fall 2009 release. It would really give GM a great headstart since it seems like many car companies are releasing more fuel efficient models in 2010.
I’m ready to put down a deposit to secure one of the first cars.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Less than $30,000 ……………..with a leased battery pack.
Don’t get your hopes up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
#66 banjoez,
Or Gm will copy the Renault-Nissan system, who knows ?
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
BTW, Carl-Peter Forster, head of GMEurope opened a personal blog yesterday and it is very clear from what he says that the Volt will be followed by different E-flex vehicles.
For those of you who are interested, here is the link : http://drivingconversations.gmblogs.com/
Take care all of you.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
#66 & #67:
I don’t think GM would risk making the “leasing” mistake again. They know that the EV-1 correlation would be PR suicide.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I’m going to take it as a grain of salt. I still have not hear what battery company that GM have choose and did they completed the 10 year battery life cycle test? I use these info as a timeline to thier goal.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
It seems to me that a leased battery pack may be the only sensible thing to do. We don’t really know what real world conditions will do to the batteries yet and someone has to accept responsibility for warranty on them. There is warranty expense built in to every piece of capital equipment (cars included) so GM can build it in to the price and cover the batteries, lease the batteries as a separate item or pass the risk on to the consumer (marketing suicide!!!).
I sure don’t want to pay 30K for a car and replace the $2,500-3,000 battery pack out of my pocket in the first year! May some sort of third party warranty deal…….?
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
First solar pants, now this!
We truly live in marvelous times…
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Kind of hard to figure out….
A 2010 model year would usually start to get sold as of Sep/Oct, 2009. Cars being released now are being advertised as 2009 models.
My 2004 Crossfire was produced in June, 2003 and I bought it in October, 2003.
But if they are going to stick to the initial run of 10K units, and only sold in a few states, I guess we better buy that house we are looking at in Boca Raton…..
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Time to see the final design
Don’t you think??
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Well, if GM thinks that their ohallenges include convincing people that $4 gas is in any way better than NO gas, I’d love to volunteer for their ad dept.
Joining the masses on the “long side of the lever (away from the fulcrum) offsetting Statik WHHHHOOOOOOOPPPEEEEEEE!
Oh, and TK re carbon - Screw carbon (and I say that with love in my heart).
Tag
PS Thanks for the links pauln
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
My daughter just got notified she was awarded a $20,000 4 year scholarship from Edison. That is $20,000 less for college I have to spend and $20,000 more I have for a Volt! Life is sweet & powered by Edison! I’ll have my Smart meter by 2010 for cheaper night time charging. Still looking for available thin film solar arrays for my roof in Sunny So. Cal? Time to clean out my garage & make room for my Volt!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I appreciate Jean-Charles’ input because some of the other translations I have read leave a lot to be desired as evidenced by this little comment:
OK Statik, ich wanten be perfektly klar - your fears are unwarranted.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Tim #69
As Carlos Ghosn said :”we need a new business model like what was done with mobile phones compared to th old fixed phones.”
I think that perhaps a short lease on the battery is not similar to what happened with the EV-1. It depends on the possibility to have a standardization of the batteries (or ultracapacitors) and competition on this market, I do not exclude this possibility on the basis of the failure of the EV-1.
Perhaps we should to discuss this againu in one year from now.
JC
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I appreciate Jean-Charles’ input because some of the translations I have read leave a lot to be desired as evidenced by this little comment:
Fears leading trade unionists, GM could once again the capacity in its western limit works contradicted Wagoner clear: “The worries are unfounded.”
OK Statik, ich wanten be perfektly klar - your fears are unwarranted.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
a GOAL of 30k can be completely different than the ACTUAL price it will sell for.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Loss leader
“A loss leader or leader[1] (also called a key value item in the United Kingdom) is a product sold at a low price (at cost or below cost)[2] to stimulate other, profitable sales.”
“Loss leaders can be an important part of companies’ marketing and sales strategies, especially during dumping campaigns.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_leader
GM loses some money on the first cars because they price them for the mass market and makes it up with brand loyalty later. DUH.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
How long is the lease if there is one. I would lease it for one year then have them take it back and put in my own battery.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
What?!! It’s not going to be under $20K. I’m out!
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
#47 Rashiid
“Statik, keep it coming. I do hope (as you probably do too) that you are wrong. ”
Hopefully my posts do come across that way. I have always said I will be delighted to be wrong. I would like nothing more to eat crow on this one…considering the alternative. (=
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
keep ‘em motivated green eggs (and ham)
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
#24 Brian said “Lutz said closer to $40k not too long ago, now Wagoner is saying under $30k. One of them has to be wrong…..”
I agree, and I think Maximum Bob Lutz deserves a lot of credit for pushing the Volt. On a matter like price, however, Mr Lutz talks, but Mr Wagoner decides. Whatever Wagoner says is going to happen is what is going to happen. The price will be under $30K.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
#71 George B.:
As someone noted earlier today, Toyota faced this same issue with the early Prius. Evidently they solved it by a very conservative use of the battery - 50% of capacity, the same as the Volt. According to that commentor, and my own limited experience, this has been a non-problem for Prius owners and Toyota. I would step up to buy the battery in a heartbeat.
Come on GM, quote me a price under $30K and I will write you a check for the whole thing today. I double-dawg dare ya!
#79 akojim:
Yeah, the Google translation computers do not appear to be infallible. It reminds me of the owner’s manual for my 1959 Yamaha motorcycle. It was actually fun to read, if not very instructive.
#81 Jim:
Just like the first couple of years of the Prius, if you believe the urban legend.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I am more impressed that they feel it may be available earlier than originally planned. That means to me that GM has been dogging it all along. And that development is proceeding maybe faster than expected.
Now, if it could get about 60 miles on a charge, ………………… everything would be all good.
Go GM!! Show’em how its done!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
They are both targets; that doesn’t mean he meant they would occur at the same time. Especially when we’ve heard so many $40k-ish comments for initial roll-out.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
MetrologyFirst #88:
I don’t think that GM was dogging it. Sometimes, things just go better than you expected them to………….
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’m still betting on $35k+/-2.5k.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
My problem with this is that we’ve heard things said overseas before that may not pan out. Didn’t Lutz tell the Ausies that the Volt would be released in 2010 in Australia? Now Wagoner is telling the German press that the Volt will be under $30K….or is that eu30?
Personally I’m done speculating on price until this thing comes out volume.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
GM needs to be under $30k because:
1. Honda announced plans earlier this week for 3 new hybrids (parallel or serial wasn’t stated) with a stated price objective of “…not more than Y200,000 (1,900 USD) over the price of petrol powered Hondas…”
2. The new Prius will cost the same as or less than the current model, is larger and will have improved fuel economy. It’s AER is expected to increase to 20-25 miles.
3. Nissan will also offer an electric vehicle in the under $30k range in 2010.
Bottom line, $30k is a critical price point for this type of vehicle, and GM’s ability to sell significant volumes of Volt-type vehicles depends on coming in under it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
This is really great news. I recall some months ago, GM stating they had 200+ engineers working 24/7 on this project with only 2 holidays during the year. You focus this many geniuses on a project you get results… moon landing, Chevy Volt or a really big weapon of mass destruction. It has also seemed as if the development was progressing ahead of schedule… i.e. weeks of little or no news then “We’ve had mules on the road for some time now.” As for the plant where the Volt is to be manufactured… can’t remember the name of it but Detroit area… I recall reading that if was recently shut down so the retooling could be on-going as we speak.
Make mine silver. Got my “Screw OPEC” bumper stickers ready. Where do I send the deposit?
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
#12 - TK
Yes, the carbon emissions required to produce the Volt will be initially higher than a Hummer, but that difference will diminish over time. When you compare any new technology to existing mature technology, the new technology is always more difficult to produce initially, but then they find ways to optimize production, and the new technology often becomes easier to produce than the existing technology after several years. I expect that after they’ve built millions of E-REV cars, the carbon output required to produce a Volt may actually be less than today’s Hummer.
Also, Nova recently did a program called “Car of the Future” that featured the Volt along with other new car technologies. They talked about electric cars requiring more carbon to produce, but even figuring this in, electric cars still produced 40% less carbon over the lifetime of the car, and that’s with today’s dirty coal plants.
So I wouldn’t really worry about this.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
As for the news of the Volt being a 2010 model for under $30K - THIS IS FANTASTIC!
The sooner and cheaper the car comes out, the sooner it will get traction in the mass market. The U.S. desperately needs to reduce oil imports, and cars like the Volt seem like the best option to do this. Let’s hope the Volt becomes fashionable, and everybody wants one. When soccer moms start driving E-REVs, that’s when things will start to happen.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
man i sure wish i wasn’t a poor college student or i would give them a deposit!
I don’t think it will be a hard task to convince the public that they should buy the VOLT Gas hit 4.19 in good old WV today!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Bernie Torpik #94
“GM needs to be under $30k because:
1. Honda announced plans earlier this week for 3 new hybrids (parallel or serial wasn’t stated) with a stated price objective of “…not more than Y200,000 (1,900 USD) over the price of petrol powered Hondas…”
2. The new Prius will cost the same as or less than the current model, is larger and will have improved fuel economy. It’s AER is expected to increase to 20-25 miles.
3. Nissan will also offer an electric vehicle in the under $30k range in 2010.
Bottom line, $30k is a critical price point for this type of vehicle, and GM’s ability to sell significant volumes of Volt-type vehicles depends on coming in under it.”
It can’t be reasonably predicted what the price will need to be in 2010. Gas prices, material prices, and the Volt specs are too much in flux to say where the price should be. All that can be accurately said is that vehicles with AER can support a price premium over those no AER. That premium for APPLES to APPLES vehicles will be directly related to the price of gas at the time of purchase and buyer psychology. If anyone can accurately predict this then please direct diect me to the location of our current president’s grey matter.
1. So. Don’t you think they would have been screaming their specs if they were impressive.
2.The current Prius and any other car that does not have a plug can only have 0 AER. Any AER will require plug and charger, plus a larger battery if they want to have any practical range. How can this cost less?
3. So. What will range be for under $30K?
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Wow. I hope this is an accurate story. This would be HUGE. A Volt for UNDER $30,000 in early 2010?
Things might be going MUCH better in the development of the Volt than we think. GM is probably dying to get the Volt into showrooms in order to get some of those sales that the Prius is getting these days. GM will have plenty of customers for the Volt if they can get it out on the market. Lots of them … TENS OF THOUSANDS in the first year, maybe a hundred thousand or so. With gas prices where they are now and probably going up more, I bet there will be plenty of folks who will want to trade in their SUV or big truck for a Volt.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I was watching the market pretty close today to see if there was spillover from the Ford news…looks like it smacked GM down another 3.5%.
Of interest:
High —— $43.20 (October 12th, 07)
Today — $18.43
…not good.
About 90 cents away from a multi-decade low…and a cap under 10 billion, which makes GM a ‘mid cap’ stock now…scary. Thats about the market cap of…Activision? Maybe they could do a tie in with them the Volt “Call of Duty 4″ Limited Edition.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Horray!!!! under 30K!!!
However, when I see it on the invoice during purchase I will believe it. I wonder if it would be possible to dig up all the media stories on GM’s Saturn company before they produced a single sellable vehicle. In case you are unaware, several claims were published on the performance and price of Saturn’s vehicle(s) which turned out to be stretching the truth.