GM CEO: “Chevy Volt is a Go”, Production Schedule Approved by the Board and Design Shown Publicly in the “Very Near Future”
This morning GM’s CEO Rick Wagoner made some major announcements about GM’s plans for reacting to $4.00 per gallon gasoline and slumping sales, particularly of trucks indicating that high gas and oil prices are not cyclical but likely permanent.
First the automaker is closing 4 truck and SUV plants in North America, which should result in $1 billion in annual savings.
Second he noted GM is open to selling part or all of the Hummer brand.
Third he confirmed plans to build a new Chevy compact, and a successor to the Aveo.
Last he told reporters GM’s board has officially approved funding for the Chevy Volt’s production. He said, “the Chevy Volt is a go”, and “we intend to show a production version of the Chevy Volt publicly in the very near future, and we remain focused on our target of getting the Volt into Chevrolet showrooms by the end of 2010.”
Well folks, the show is on, and not a minute too soon.
Source (Auto Channel)
Picture from the Detroit News
Popularity: 12%
Related posts:
- Official (Sort Of): Production Chevy Volt Will be Revealed at the GM Centennial this Month
- Production Chevy Volt Will be Revealed to GM Employees in September, Public After That
- Production Volt Exterior Design and Appearance: When Will We See it All?
- GM Showing McCain Production Version of Chevy Volt
- Lutz Details Volt’s New Design and Production Plans
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June 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
One of the plants closing will be in Janesville, WI. It is slated to close by 2010, unless sales are sluggish, in which case it will close sooner. Last month it was announced that the plant was moving from two shifts to one. The plant makes Yukons, Suburbans, etc. Many plant workers saw the writing on the wall, and took the buy-outs last week. Ironically, years ago the plant used to make smaller cars. Hopefully, GM will retool for the future, but no such plans have been announced. I suspect that they will not be.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
I was just reading about this on CNN… Most excellent!
“He also announced that GM has approved production of the Chevrolet Volt, a so-called plug-in hybrid vehicle that can run about 40 miles without any use of gasoline. The Volt will be built in GM’s Hamtramck, Mich., plant and is due in showrooms by the end of 2010.”
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
Another story on this.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/06/03/088775.html
Take Care
Arch
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Suuuuuuper!! I want it Red please
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
The article I read also drubbed the Hummer a bit as the symbol of gas guzzlers, and that GM might sell the brand. But imagine turning that beast into an EREV. Imagine if it might actually “hum”…
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
Glad to see him re-iterate the 2010…although what is up with the ‘Volt is a go’? I thought it was already ‘a go’ like months ago.
Propably just a ‘formal’ committment…and something to push out at the annual meeting that doesn’t suck.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
sorry abou the auto workers, but production approved is certainly a nice step to see finally happened, I cant wait to see what it looks like now
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Statik,
Budget always go through that approval process, this step is needed as they revised the final cost (parts, third party, plant retrofit, etc…).
It was a go from a R&D point of view and it now goes in the production line… great news…
And I still want it Red with all the toys
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Plant closures unoffically affect 10,000 workers. They will be packaged out or they request a move ‘elsewhere’ Probably will eat up what few new ‘tier-2 hires’ GM and the UAW negotiated at the last contract.
The ‘new efficiencent’ compact…sounds like GM rebadging their decision to put a turbo 4-banger in the Cobalt. No final word, but Cobalt/G6 looks to end/get refitted in 2010…I guess the ‘new model’ will get this as it’s ‘featured engine’
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
As always, I apologize for my spelling…sigh.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Always good to hear things like, “The Volt is a `GO’!” This was certainly a bit of sunshine in an otherwise heavily overcast meeting, (sorry for the weather metaphors).
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
While I am encouraged to read that GM is progressing full speec ahead with development of the Volt, I am dismayed that the car will have a traditional steel construction. Electirc cars have the potential to run for years with little required maintanence. It would be a shame to have the expensive propulsion system outlive the unibody. A switch to composite construction would lighten the entire car, increase the range of the vehicle and eliminate corrosion problems. A truly green vehicle is one that does not have to be replaced so often.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
I think GM is farther along than they are admitting too !! It seems like they are commited to making the right moves to put GM back on top.
I hope they have seen the hand writing on the wall and will commit to full production of the VOLT ??
God Bless America:
Tom
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
It seems like there is alot of attempts by reporters to ascertain GM’s profitability on cars now that they see up to 60% of their vehicle sales shifting to cars, even moreso to the high MPG cars
Historically, the higher margin vehicles are the larger SUV/truck platforms…while the least/zero/negative returns have been on the ‘entry level’/economy cars.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
“When I see the Volt, think of it as us putting a stake in the ground”-Fritz on conference call.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
It would be really, really, _really_ excellent to see American car manufacturers completely turn around and take the lead in environmental stewardship. Minor confession here: I’m a pretty harsh critic of the auto industry and a published environmentalist. I’m also the grandson of a former GM mid- to high-level mucketymuck, with a ton of family in the Pontiac area. Much of my extended family still lives there. To me, this is absolutely the right move, and i’m damned happy that GM has finally come to its senses. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that they can do it fast enough; that they can beat out the competition. I would love to see the Detroit-Pontiac-Flint area get back on its feet. Moreover, the Volt is just really cool. Go Rick!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
#11 Mike A:
Good suggestion on the composite (plastics?) construction. Cost and maybe moreso, safety concerns may be the flies in that ointment though. With steel prices rising, plastics may look more competitive in the future, and as you pointed out, they-re non-corrosive. The real challenge would be to make a primarily plastic vehicle safe enough for its occupants to survive a crash. Hard to call that one.
#12 Tom M:
said: “I hope they have seen the hand writing on the wall and will commit to full production of the VOLT ??”
I think with the plant closings listed here with potentially more to come, they already HAVE seen the writing on the wall.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
From conference call:
Truck capacity moves down from 1.7 million units to 1.0 million units, with the closures of these 4 plants.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Like Robin used to say in the old 60’s Batman series….
“Atomic Batteries To Power, Turbine To Speed !”
OK, OK….we won’t have a Turbine but we will have a spinning AC motor. Again, just ONE MOVING PART (apart from a transaxle).
I am poised to pounce on that A123 stock (and GM after it goes a little lower).
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Good question from media reporter”
“What capacity did the board approve for production of the Volt?”
“We are not going to express that today”
Spoke to ofast to get it word for word after that, said small in 2010, a little more in 2011 and ramping in 2012. Further explained that they are ramping slowly (to bring along suppliers with them and) to try get control of costs by 2012.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Right now GM is having a hard time selling the large hybrid SUV’s, check out how the old ones are doing…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_bi_ge/gm_shareholders
The Chevy Volt is a GO
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Still pulling snippets from annual conference call:
Margin on Mailbu: “low 20s”
Margin on Tahoe: “high 30s to low 40s”
So I guess the next reporter sort of got him to answer the “how does the shift to more cars affect profitabilty?”
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
A decision by General Motors to close its pickup plant in Oshawa, Ont., means the company will have to pay back some of a $175-million provincial loan guarantee sooner than planned.
A senior Ontario government source says the loss of 1,000 jobs in Oshawa means GM will violate one of the conditions of the loan guarantee. Part of that original contract included minimum employment levels and GM will fall below the set threshold when it closes the Oshawa plant.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
#4, MC,
I agree that GM is missing the opportunity to “green” the Hummer brand name. If GM can “green” their own image after crushing EV1’s, then they can put motors in all four Hummer wheels.
I suspect Jeep is already blitziing to create an EV version of their vehicles, knowing it is do or die. Perhaps GM will just buy that product line.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:18 am
How refreshing to see GM being proactive rather then reactive by getting ahead and leading the way as they did in the past. As previously stated it would be nice to see the cities of Detroit, Pontiac and Flint rejuvenated as well.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Statik: Cool that you’re on the conference call. Isn’t margin price - cost? How can the Margin on the Malibu be “low 20s” and on Tahoes “high 30s to low 40s”? That’s about what they sell for.
Also from CNN/Fortune:
“But you can expect GM to thump its chest a bit over the plug-in Chevy Volt that it plans to get to the market by end of 2010. The Volt can run about 40 miles on a charge of electricity, and several hundred miles beyond that when its auxiliary gasoline engine kicks in. But at a rumored price of as high as $40,000, the Volt will be good for bragging rights, and not much more.”
Exactly.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
#24 Mark
That is the profit margin.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
Conference call is over.
Seems like as to comes to the Volt, it is going to be a flagship. They pumped it quite a bit. They are going to do what needs to be done to get it to market as fast as they can.
However, it is also very apparent it is going to be very limited production until ‘cost efficiencies’ can be worked out (as was mentioned in conference call).
I would wager it will be very difficult to lay your hands on one of these…and the price is going to be quite high. They are certainly NOT looking to put a whole bunch to market and take a loss to get widespread adoption, so if your hoping for a “surprise $30K Volt in your showroom” moment…it’s not going to happen.
This is jsut my opinion, but from the sounds of it…It looks like token production in Michigan until it moves to the Euro platform in 2012 or later.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Q1 - Earnings Release:
http://www.gm.com/corporate/investor_information/earnings/index.jsp
Net loss for quarter: $3,251,000,000
Revenue: 42.6 (Q1-08) 43.3 (Q1-07)
Cash: 21.3 (Q1-08) 24.5 (Q4-07)
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Very good news. I like this snippet from the Bloomberg article:
‘GM now is emphasizing fuel efficiency, with the Volt as its centerpiece. ‘
I wonder if we can start placing orders by next year at the local dealers? I already contacted the local dealer here, but have not received any call/email back.
My wife & I were just talking about this - several people in our families have purchased new (smaller) cars recently - trading in their Yukons and Suburbans…but we are holding out for the Volt. Even though interest rates will probably be higher by then…
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 am
Statik,
I agree, it’ll be a long while before we get our hands on a Volt, even if we can afford the $40K price tag. The premium markup will also be ridiculous.
The good news here is that by then, there will be other electrics to choose from. Good news for consumers, bad news for OPEC.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
No one is buying the large hybrid SUVs GM is trying to push.
The old gas guzzling SUV’s…well GM announced that they’re closing 4 of their SUV & truck plants.
You better believe the Volt is a GO.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Sorry, forgot the link.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080603/ts_nm/gm_dc
GI
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
My hope is that the GM-Volt Waiting list will have gotten the attention of someone at GM. I refuse to pay the “just because we can” charge to a dealer on a hot new car and this will be the hottest thing in years. Lyle, if there are any strings that you can pull on behalf of GM-Volt Nation here we will be grateful!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
I paid a dealer premium markup on my current car (07 Infiniti G35x) because it was loaded and one of the first delivered in the area - plus it was a completely redesigned model. As much as I want a Volt and as long as I’ve been waiting for it - I wont do that again. If I have to wait another year, so be it. But I wont pay a $5k+ “tax” just to buy the car from the dealer.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Statik #26 : Business dictionary: “Commerce: Difference between the cost price and selling price of a product.” Margin means profit. The question was, what are your margins for Malibus v. Tahoes. I think that GM dodged the question in your conference call. They gave you selling price, not profit margin.
This is not a small point. GM was floating along largely on profits from truck/SUV sales because the profit margins were so high for these products. The high profit margin is also why Toyota was getting aggressive with products like the Tundra truck over the last few years. What I still don’t know is if GM has a business plan that is viable. Can they make money on a small car strategy?
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Sorry. Definition is for “margin.” There are several definitions (banking, stock, etc.)
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
A few reactions to the news:
I’m thrilled that GM is building the Volt. It’s about time. Actually, it’s about 3 years too late, if 2011 is the roll-out date, but no matter.
If they can create a car in 2011/12 that has a 50-60-mile range on only electricity, why can’t they make a smaller, cheaper gas/electric today that gets 20-30 miles on a smaller battery’s charge, and sell it for far less than the Volt will sell?
Aftermarket Hummers have been created that get 22 MPG. I agree with the poster that there has been an opportunity lost to make these and other SUVs more fuel-efficient.
The article states: “Third he confirmed plans to build a new Chevy compact, and a predecessor to the Aveo.” I’m sure that is supposed to read “SUCCESSOR” to the Aveo, since we can’t go back in time and create a predecessor, and the sentence clearly is in the future tense.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
#33 & #34
It’s profit margin, that was the question and that was the answer…I just failed to put the word ‘profit’ in my original statement. I assumed most would understand the point I was trying to convey. They did not give the selling price of Malibus and Tahoes as a response.
This is the definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profit_margin
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
If GM product development had half a brain, they would be figuring out how to put 4 wheel hub motors and on-board diesel generators in their big pickups instead of closing down plants. Imagine the demand from contractors for pickups that could go 100 mi on battery power and had an on-board 50KW generator.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Don’t know what happened to my last post…doesn’t even say waiting for moderation, I will summarize:
#33/#34
They were asked and responded on profit margins for those two cars specifically. I assumed most people would infer when I said 20 and 40 percent on the Malibu and Tahoe they would understand what I meant.
I later clarified it. They did not giving selling price as a answer, nor was it asked. It is about 2/3rds of the way through the conference call if you want to hear it for yourself. No clue why you are giving definitions.
Here is the definition of profit margin though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profit_margin
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Other bits of random news.
Today is the day for automakers GM, Ford, Toyota, etc report May sales…Ford is first out of the gate:
Sales: -16%
SUV Sales: -25%
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
#36 OzoneLevel
You can forget about GM using hub motors / diesel generators.
They have a TOP SECRET project going to drop the EEStor FluxCapacitor into the Hummer !
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
In response to Statik’s comment in #26:
It sounds to me like the Volt will be Corvette type vehicle which will bring people into the showroom but is unattainable by most. Sounds like it will be a fishing lure for dealers in order to try to get people into their, hopefully new, small car line-up.
Sounds like this will likely be the case for the first few years and maybe after that the Volt or other e-flex vehicles will have the economies of scale necessary to start to get into the hands of the masses.
I’m starting to get a little depressed.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
As usual my friends, our wonderful short sighted American manufactures are playing technology catch-up. If GM would have stuck with the EV1, they would have been years and big $ ahead of the standard. Instead, they put their efforts into the gas guzzling SUV’s and Hummers. Mr. Wagoner ought to be real proud of himself. Of course, as the plants close and all these poor folks lose their jobs, Mr. Wagoner will still get his multi-million dollar bonus. And all you folks that believe the Volt will be out by the end of 2010…. don’t hold your breath.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Sorry about the worker’s job loss. I hope all of them were bought out. Although I don’t have any kind of “buy-out” when my company closes next year. I will just be out of a job.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
MrCynic
I wonder how you came by your nickname?
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
I agree that the Volt will initially be regarded as a “Hi-Tech” Corvette. The typical US family won’t be able to afford one (or any E-Flex car) for a number of years. That doesn’t effect my enthusiasm for the superior engineering.
I’m now hoping that Subaru pulls the trigger on that R1e.
I would buy one NOW in a heartbeat.
It’s the perfect “get me to work” vehicle for a lot of people.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/photos-subaru-r1e-electric-car-new-york.php
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Yeah, if the Volt is a flagship vehicle, then I will be looking to replace my Aveo with it’s successor… the 40 mpg twin turbo grocery getter.
I have seen the future, and it’s full of electric vehicles. Too bad Telsa’s name has already been taken. Maybe, the full line of electric vehicles will be called the Watt, the Amp, the Newton, the Pascal, etc.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
The R1e is a knock out for sure. If it becomes available in the next couple of years I would pick one up as a commuter car especially if the Volt fails to offer the Volt to the masses. That interior is pretty slick as well. I wish small economy cars currently available came with stylish interiors like that.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
CalgaryVolt:
Don’t get depressed. Take light in a few things…For starters, feel good knowing that GM has confirmed that they WILL build the Volt, and that it is no longer a matter of “if” anymore. Second, although the starting price will be too rich for most people’s blood, the price will drop somewhat in the ensuing years as competition and economies of scale, and maybe a tax credit help for widescale adoption. Cell phones were the rich guys’ toys for a number of years in the late ’80’s to mid-’90’s. Now everybody has them. I think such will be the case for EV’s too. It is the natural order of business. Realistically, a Volt priced for the masses may be offered more in 2012 or 2013, but I’m ok with that knowing that at least the ball is rolling.
For GM to plan to shut these 4 factories down is a clear indication that they are accepting of the changes in the auto industry and are adapting to them. I can’t criticize someone for genuinely trying, and hearing their plans, it appears they are truly trying. I wish them well in their endeavors.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
N Riley,
If you haven’t yet seen it, watch ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’ and you’ll know why I’m such a cynic. GM was WAY ahead in “green car” technology and they threw it away. That is why they are now number 2 (in more ways than one
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
# 40
I see what your saying and will to be very upset if GM fails at this. They only have one chance to get it right.
However i’m still optimistic because GM is spending so much moeny developing the technology. hopefully they are smart enough to realize it needs to be afordable to the masses.
If GM keeps quantity low american consumers who are already ticked off with the big three will leave them altogether.
My dad has a V6 08 Camry and it gets 30mpg + regularly on the interstate 22-24 city and sooooo quiet!!!!
I want to buy American and i want GM to deliver, however if it’s not 30,000 and in 2010 like they said, i will never buy a GM product and as a 20 year old who Lord willing will purchase multiple cars in his lifetime i hope GM gets my future business.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Bob Lutz is one heck of a manager. Nice work Bobby!
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Again, ” The Car That Could” by Michael Shnayerson. A shame, really.
Greed conquers all.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
#16 Schmeltz:
Have you ever seen a high speed crash of a modern open wheel (F1 or Indy) race car? Those things are almost 100% carbon composite, and they allow drivers to walk away from 100+g crashes which would almost certainly have severely injured or even killed them 23-30 years ago. If properly done, the stuff can result in the most crash safe cars ever yet built. Very expensive though, at this point.
#20 Statik:
Margin on Tahoe you can’t sell - 0%. Actually negative if you figure in the inventory carrying costs, etc.
#40 calgaryvolt:
I hear you, alas.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
MrCynic:
The dead horse known as “Who killed the Electric Car” has been beaten tiresly here as well as at other internet locales. Judging by your statement, I perceive you may be new here? If so, welcome. Recommend to you to become as educated as possible on the Volt as it far surpasses the EV-1 in every way. Knowledge is the best advantage you can have when discussing and promoting the topic of EV’s and this site is one of the foremost resources available as well. Also recommend the FAQ section of this site as it is rich in general info. about this car.
One last thing, –nothing wrong with being cynical as perhaps your call name implies, as their are a lot of people that are, and it helps to provide a needed balance sometimes.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
mien green,
Thanks for the referral to “The car that could” I haven’t read this yet. So my big question for the day, if GM produced an EV once, why can’t they do it again? All the technology is right there! Instead, they’re producing something “new” and it’s years away??? I just don’t get it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
GM OnStar High Speed Pursuit Preventive Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e_ZeYy3qjs&feature=related
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Can someone tell me how the Telsa Roadster gets such impressive resutls and in comparison the Volt Seems like a Model T. The Telsa all electric car gets 220 miles per charge, does 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds(faster than a Lamborghini), redlines at 13,000 rpm and looks like a Ferrari and is already in production. It has a price tag of over $100,000 but it looks like a car that should cost that much. Their electric motor is the size of a watemelon and weighs only 115 pounds
Could such a little company that only produces less than a 1000 cars out do GM. Part of that high price tag is due to the fact that it has such low production number. If it came off GM’s assembly line in numbers the price would be a lot lower.
I know they are marketing to a different target group but their technology seems to be so far ahead of GM.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
MrCynic
I have seen the movie and I agree GM was somewhat to blame. But the state of California was just as much to blame or more so. GM could not keep making the EV1 under the pricing terms it had. No one (or hardly anyone) would pay $100,000 for the EV1 in the 1990’s.
But, yes, I wish they had kept them going and worked hard on updating them. I also wish GM had built a Prius type hybrid, but they did not. I believe they have learned their lesson. We will see. It never hurts to have a real cynic around. Just where would we be if everyone agreed on everything?
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Some are confusing gross margin with net (profit) margin. GM doesn’t currently make a profit. Last I heard, the gross margin on SUVs was in the $10,000 range.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Schmeltz,
Yes, I’m new. Sorry to be beating a dead EV horse here. I’ll take your advice and do more research on the Volt before making any additional cynical comments. But let me tell you, as a past lessee of an EV1, I’m a little suspect of your comment that the Volt surpasses it in every way. Maybe the “concept” surpasses it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
They are, There was a report that in 2009 Gm Would EV2 E Flex Drive System.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Today’s anouncements are real clues that GM is betting the farm on the VOLT. My deposit check is ready, I’ll take a silver one.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
They are, There was a report that in early 2009 Gm Would have a EV2 E Flex plug in Drive System cars .
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
To anyone interested, if you go to http://www.businessweek.com their top story is about GM going to small cars, and there is a picture of the Volt splashed on the opening webpage. The story reiterates basically everything mentioned above.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
#39 OzoneLevel:
It’s even more puzzling than that. I would LOVE to have 4 hub motors, but it would work fine even more simply than that… Take the current front wheel drive e-flex for the \Volt, add one more electric motor for the rear wheels (even the exact same motor) and viola! You have nearly 300hp, nearly 500ft-lbs torque! Plus a built in generator that could power an entire work site! Contractors who buy high end trucks already would line up in droves for something like that and you really could justify your premium price for it because of the extra value. As a bonus, it would probably get a notable all electric range. A lot less than the \Volt, mostly because trucks are bricks, not so much of the weight.
You might have to only go with A123 batteries because of doubling the power, but what the heck. Cooling would be an issue while towing, etc. and bigger motors would be even better, but still. Shoehorn the current e-flex into a light truck (Electric Escalade, maybe?
with a rear motor and it would still sell like crazy. I would think. But I don’t run a car company. 
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
This is fantastic news. I want my in blue-black, deposit ready. Go, go, go!
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I am just really, really, really ready for the Volt to hit the showroom. Let’s get it done GM. The other companies are really breathing down your back.. They may not offer what the Volt will offer, but PR will turn a lot of heads (and pocket books) away from waiting for the Volt and towards the competition.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
No matter what Toyota says publicly, they will come out with a plug-in by the end of 2009 or early 2010. They definitely want to beat GM to be the first major manufacturer to offer a plug-in vehicle. Just mark my words. They do not want to lose face to GM after beating them with the hybrid vehicles.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I will be one of the first customers in line for the Volt. I hope they continue on this type of trend and build more energy efficient cars such as the volt so that the US no longer has to lean on oil for our vehicles.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
bye-bye Hunner
hello Volt…..
My opinion on GM has really changed over the past few months.
:clap:
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
“They do not want to lose face to GM after beating them with the hybrid vehicles”.
Agreed about Toyota. And to add to that, I wonder about the secretive progress of the other competitors out there we usually never hear about like Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, etc. It is realistic to assume that they all are working on a REEV like the Volt in their labs somewhere. Another Plug-in Hybrid could beat the Volt to market and would steal a considerable amount of thunder.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
BTW, I think this is a win for America
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
MrCynic, the reason (from what I’ve read) that the EV1 was “killed” was because each one cost over $80K, and GM was being forced (by California) to make them at a loss. Note that Toyota also killed their electric cars in a similar fashion, they just didn’t make the mistake of stacking their dead cars in big piles ready for a photo-op.
Also, it’s not just GM that was caught off-guard by $4 gasoline. My local Toyota dealership has about 30 Tundras (13 MPG city) on their lot … more than any other model. Several other guzzlers too. So Detroit is not the only place that has made some mistakes.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Statik #40: thanks for clarifying that it is 20/40%, not 20K/40K. Makes sense now. Lawyer habit. Define terms to make sure we are all on the same page.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I’m glad to see GM close plants and stop wasting money. Unions are making this country go right down the toliet. High wages for doing practically nothing, machines (robots) do all the work at these plants. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in paying people what their worth. Why is it that these Unions can hold a company hostage and force them out of business? Why don’t these people do what everyone else in the U.S. does when they’re not happy with their jobs, LOOK FOR ANOTHER ONE! Go Chevy Volt! I’ll be the first in line to snatch one up.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
HELP…Me conceive what I just read on Fox. The volt can drive 40 miles w/out using any gas, and a small engine can extend that range to 150 miles per gallon. That is 110 miles per gallon compared to the present MPG. How is that? I hope it works, but I’m getting use to other forms of transportation.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
#59 Don said of the Tesla Roadster “It has a price tag of over $100,000 but it looks like a car that should cost that much.”
Actually it looks like a slightly modified $55k Lotus Exige. As for GM being “behind” Tesla, don’t make me laugh. The Tesla Roadster uses 6,831 lithium-cobalt-oxide batteries (aka flamethrowers) wired together by hand. These batteries will degrade substantially over time and need to be replaced in five years or so ($20k++ cost). No real automaker would ever consider doing this.
#77 Ray - Volt is 40 miles electric then 50 mpg (roughly) thereafter. If you drive 60 miles you thus “average” 150 mpg (60 miles/0.4 gal). Of course if you drive 540 miles you “average” 54 mpg.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
#4 MC
Right you are.
Maybe instead of Detroit, all these Ultra-Rich, Hollywood Blow-Hard actors should pool their mega-fortunes and buy out the Hummer brand. Then hire a team of engineers and set out creating a real, functional Electric Hummer. Apparently GM can’t handle it.
Let’s see Hollywood put their money where there mouth is for a change!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
There would likely be a market for an E-REV Hummer with electric motors at each wheel. But, it would take a very, very big battery with the Hummer’s likely drag coefficient.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Ray
The future is here. In about 3 - 5 years. All things are possible in this new future. In about 3 - 5 years.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I really am hoping GM and the other competitors will get a decent Volt type vehicle and/or a true BEV with great mpc on the market before 2010 is very far along. But somehow, I think general availability may be late in coming.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
#81 dodahman:
Great idea!
Our beloved Governator and Hummer owner Ahhnold could buy Hummer and convert them to hydrogen, to populate his nonexistent “Hydrogen Highway”.
One of his first famous photo ops as Governator was to drive one of his fleet of Hummers up to a “hydrogen” tank at LAX, and pretend to fill it up. Of course the Hummer was really a diesel and the “hydrogen” tank was a fake prop, but who cares? Lots of ink for the “Hydrogen Highway”, which has never come to pass several years later, of course.
This would be a perfect fantasy ending to the fantasy Hummer story, IMHO.
Well done dodahman!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
#80 doggydogworld
You must be be smoking the funny-weed with your hero Snoop. I just lifted this from the Tesla Motors website.
“…the battery stores enough energy for the vehicle to travel about 220 miles without recharging, something no other production electric vehicle in history can claim.”
As for the batteries needing to be replaced every five years? Let me again refer you to the source.
“Even with the demands of charging and discharging the battery pack on a daily basis, the batteries in the Tesla Roadster will give you more than 100,000 miles of peak performance driving. After that point, the battery will see only gradual drops in performance over time.”
You should actually do a little research before you go flaming something you apparently know nothing about.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Yes! Of course you can’t create money out of thin air, so the closure of plants was probably inevitable and of course it’s only business sense to cut in the areas losing money for the company. Keep in mind that the vehicles produced in those plants would probably have dragged down GM to a slow but sure death, thus putting much more people out of work.
Sorry for those workers who will be affected by the closing of plants. Hopefully, these plants can someday be refitted to produce the new line of GM vehicles such as the Volt and workers get their jobs back. Although they may be re-hired at a lower hourly rate… Unfotunately this seems to be the new reality in globalisation of markets.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
noel park
It should also be a perfect fantasy ending to the fantasy of a hydrogen vehicle, IMHO.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
#84 N Riley:
Alas, too true. Look at Statik’s quote at #20:
“…small in 2010, a little bit more in 2011, and ramping in 2012.”
I dunno guys, it seems to me like the train is leaving the station faster than that. If Mitsu really shows up with the 100 mpc BEV in 2009, I bet they sell every one thay can make in a heartbeat. If gas stays where it is, or goes up from here, people will learn to live with the 100 mpc PDQ!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Maybe Toyota, Nissan or one of our European “friends” will re-open some of these plants GM has or will closed and start building their GM killers there. Now wouldn’t that be just GM’s bad luck? I hope that will not happen. I hope GM maintains some kind of control over the plants or who is allowed to utilize them in the future.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
#87 N Riley:
Amen.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The other shoe:
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080603/gm_sales_us.html?.v=3
“General Motors on Tuesday reported a 30.2 percent fall in May U.S. auto sales on an adjusted basis, led by a 39 percent decline in truck sales.
GM’s overall sales fell to 272,363 vehicles in May from 375,682 in the same month a year earlier.” (Ford - 19%, Toyota -8%, Nissan +4%, Honday +11%)
NEGATIVE 30.2% — There is no way to spin this number. If this number continues there will be no Volt (unless another company buys it), there will be no GM.
As I have mentioned before (endlessly), GM’s survival is on the back of expansion, and it’s ability to access credit facilities. Contraction in the market is it’s death toll. It can’t make it’s payments on its debts (180billion) if it’s business is shrinking.
Here is a example I think is similar, that we can relate to:
You owe 400,000 on your house. You got a sweet 4.5% mortgage and you make $2,000/mth payments based on your $60,000/year salary. Problem is, times are tuff, now you make $40,000/year.
You can try to eat at home, unenroll the kids from soccor, bike to work to try and save money to service your debt, but it’s too late…and guess what? The market changed….your house is only worth $250,000…so you can’t sell either.
Your bankrupt…only thing you got going for you right now is that you don’t have to tell your wife/neighbours/friends until all the cash is gone and you maxed all your credit…might as well use every drop–doesn’t matter anyway right? It’s going to be taken from you. Let’s see how long you can pretend everything is going to be ok.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Oh, I forgot to mentioned the positive side (I’m known for that).
If the economy/auto market does turnaround in the next 6 months and it goes back to 2006 levels, and GM goes back to stamping out 9 million cars a year…GM will actually be in great shape.
/don’t ask me about predictions for the rest of 2008 however, lol
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Noel Park
Looks like we may as well forget trying to tie out comments to a specific comment number. Seems it changes based on not what you see on your screen but what must have been in the updating function before your comment was updated. Or something or the other. Assigning the post number is not working properly. Doesn’t really matter, though.
Statik
Darn, you sure are encouraging. Kind of like me at times. You seen to be more consistent at it than I am. Keep up those encouraging words. Kind of like the ole cattle song.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
noel park
should have been: trying to tie our comments……
But you probably could have figured that out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Yeah, I believe Ford and all is working as hard as possible to get something out before GM releases the Volt. Why not? Even if they do it with NIMH batteries and can get only 10 - 20 mpc with a range extender of some kind or a plug in hybrid, I just bet it is being worked on hard. Competition is great, but if you can bet your competition to market, you can beat them over the head with it. They might get 6 months jump on GM and get themselves positioned where it would be much harder for the Volt to make inroads. Maybe I am just speaking about my “fears” on this subject. The Volt is so very important to GM and to those of us who really want to buy a Volt. Not a knock-off product from the others, but the Chevy Volt similar to what was announced last year.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
A note about contacting local dealers, though it is a little silly to do so right now. However, I did exactly that about six months ago, just to test the waters. The salespeople actually laughed, having no idea what I was talking about, and the manager said that any such vehicle would be five to ten years away. Before I left the d-ship, however, they made me a deal on a Suburban. I smilingly demurred. To this day, I never heard another word from the dealer.
Interestingly, I went across the road and inquired about a Prius, which was unavailable at the time due to demand. The salesman still gives me a call, now and then, just to check .
Different attitudes about customer relations, I guess.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Paul-R #76
I agree with you 100% that all the manufactures were caught off guard. I own 2 Toyota’s and I’m just as angry at them for killing the EV’s as I am GM. The difference is, Toyota gave the opportunity to the general public to purchase their EV’s of which I am the proud owner of a Rav 4 EV. I also own an early Tundra (17mpg) and wouldn’t own a new one no matter what incentives Toyota would offer. I hope all goes as planned with the Volt. If so, I will be the first to eat my cynical words and purchase one myself
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
MrCynic
Do you take salt and pepper with those words?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I don’t want to buck the trend, but I do believe that gas and oil will fall considerably in cost when the world switches to EVs. By standards of a few years ago oil will be high, but by todays standard it will be much lower.
The oil men have it right, its the law of supply and demand which seems difficult for the boneheads in Congress to get their heads around. When the US was the main user, we set the price, but now its well out of our hands.
Drivers will soon love the EVs. The problem has been that there’s no choice and little incentive with cheap gas. Now there’s a need and the choices will be plentiful. Currently Prius production can’t keep up with demand and my guess is the Volt will be in the same situation. Sooner than we think oil will be in less demand and that will set off a price war by oil producing nations.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
#94 N Riley
“Darn, you sure are encouraging. Kind of like me at times. You seen to be more consistent at it than I am. Keep up those encouraging words. Kind of like the ole cattle song”
I know, I know. I’m thinking about hiring out my services for parties, weddings and what not. I have alot to offer. The full range from just ‘downer’ to full out ‘apocalypse’
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Ed M
I believe demand will stay high because of two factors. #1- New consumers through-out the world will take the place of the American consumer of fuels. #2- The oil producing countries and the paper shufflers in London and New York that set the price of crude oil will keep supply low to offset demand losses. In other words, they are going to “:manage” crude oil supply and prices to suit their needs just as they are doing today. There is plenty of oil available in the world. We just have restricted supply and inflated prices.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Statik
I know some places where you would fit in just nicely. Thanks for all the fun comments and the good info contained through-out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
nasaman
Where are you? You didn’t hitch a ride on the space shuttle, did you?
Looks like the least they could do is give Lyle a ride in one of the Mules or early production Volts and NASA give you a ride on one of the shuttle trips. Boy, would I like to go! I would volunteer for the first trip to Mars, if I was not too old. Sure would like to be a youngster and just starting to decide what to do with my life. There are a lot more possibilities now than in the early ’60’s.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I will be upgrading my 2007 MAXX in 2011 ( June or July)..
If there is a Volt out there for me (black with all the toys) for around $ 35 K… I will pick it up in a heartbeat….. but…… if it is only getting 40 - 50 MPC and 50ish MPG after that… and one of the other car makers out there have a vehicle that does 30% better on the fuel economy (60 MPG +) whether it is a hybrid or not… and costs at least $5 - 7 k less that the Volt… THAT is the company that gets my money.
I am from Central Alberta Canada and gas here right now is about $ 5.20 per US Gallon.
Come on GM … You gotta get going … AND FAST !!
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Snooze you loose!
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
#98 MrCynic, #76 Paul-R
Caught off gaurd, yes, but not caught without a backup plan.
While ALL car companies were enjoying gorging themselves on SUVs in the US, the Japanese manufacturers were still developing and perfecting hybrid or small cars in their home markets as well as the US.
Prius aside, the Yaris, Fit, Versa, Scion, etc. were all plucked rapidly from the Japanese market and quickly brought to the US.
I’ll give GM credit for doing the same thing with their Daewoo for the Aveo, but the car is not quite up to the levels of the others. I vaguelly recall some disturbing reveiw of crash safety for minicars a few years ago and of them all, the Aveo and Rio (Korean cars) scored especially poorly because their safety cages basically lost integrity. I can’t find that article (and I think they’ve improved!) but you can see from the IIHS that they’re still not quite up to the other minicars:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=90
But still, GM was there with something in the segment.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
#95 N Riley:
I think comments must come out of “moderation” and get put into the numbering system after the fact, or some such.
As to the typo, forget it. To tell the truth, I didn’t notice. I think that the brain sort of takes stuff in context and moves on. That’s why I keep saying not to take time to correct and/or apologize for typos. It’s the blogosphere man, don’t sweat it.
My younger son, who has two pretty good degrees, and is a really bright young man (if I do say so myself), sends me e-mails that would make you weep. No caps, no punctuation, miss spelled words galore, it doesn’t faze him. Welcome to the 2000s. Blog on!
#92 Statik:
I dunno man, these guys live in different reality from me. I run a small business. if I run out of cash, I close the doors. Game over. It makes you pretty careful. They just cash their $1 mil+/year paychecks. Where did I go wrong?
#93 Statik:
The market may turn around eventually, but you can’t stamp out 9 million cars a year if you don’t have the product mix the market wants. This time even Mr. Wagoner doesn’t believe that the pickup/SUV culture is coming back. See, I’m just as cheerful as you are.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
DaveP
Yes, and at the same time the Japanese were bring small cars to the U.S. they were bring larger and larger SUVs and Trucks. They did not do much better than the American manufacturers. GM, at least, had the best gas mileage in the large SUV and truck market. The Japanese are perfect and neither are their vehicles. But you can’t tell that in the U.S. media.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Dodaman #81, Noel #85,
Well for a change, Terminator could wear correctly his name and put a term to those gas guzzlers Hummers ? I saw him doing a lot harder things in some movies.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I’m saving up!.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
N Riley 102
You could very well be right. I hope they come down a bit so I can manage my Dakota needs. I hope to keep my small pickup for camping and an EV for everything else.
I wonder what’s happening at Chrysler and Ford ? Are they planning to fold or have they something even better in the works ?
I feel sorry for the folks who still think they need to buy SUV’s that are greatly diminishing in value. but then big gas bills are not a concern for some people.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Ed M
I have a 2000 Nissan Frontier Crew-Cab pickup that is in excellent condition. I plan to keep it as long as possible. I want the fuel prices to come down also, but even if they do, the dunder heads in congress will pass more gasoline taxes because they will say we are used to paying higher prices and now is a good time to keep cutting consumption. Yeah, right!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Statik,
Thank you for your great reporting, your views are quite realistic as far as I am concerned.
And I am concerned.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
#109 N Riley:
Well, to some extent, what sells, sells. Given the conditions, the Japanese would have sacrificed a LOT of sales and profits to not have released big trucks and SUV’s into the US. But I don’t think they BUILT that market they just came along for the ride (pun intended). The American Marketing Machine built the SUV market, convincing people that they were safer and more desireable “cars” than, well, cars. In spite of the fact that they weren’t actually safer. Heck, most people still believe SUV’s are actually safer even though the statistics show that is not the case.
I still fume over that old Tahoe ad where the Tahoe is driving around with BOULDERS falling around it making some claim that is was some kind of safe vehicle. GM should have been totally sued over that one. But I digress. My point was that whenever the energy or legislative crisis was over, the Japanese companies kept working on it and the American companies just went “whew! Crisis over, let’s go back to building some cheap pushrod V-8’s!).
Credit where it’s due, though. GM thought up the EV-1 all by itself. It wasn’t until after they decided to try to make it that CA decided to force them and everyone else to do so. Well, after the ZEV mandate was gutted, what did the companies do? Toyota immediately started developing the Prius. What did GM do? Went back to business as usual.
So, THAT’s my point. Not that the Japanese didn’t sell SUV’s and trucks for great profit like everyone else did, but they had a plan B… The hybrids, ultracompacts, etc. all being continuously developed and improved.
Statik is not writing about how Toyota and Honda are on the verge of going out of buisness because of a decline in SUV sales because they aren’t!
I’ve seen 3 energy crises and the American car companies 3 times on the brink. Each time, they managed to survive and thrive once the energy prices stabliized again. And then they go right back to setting themselves up to take it on the chin when the next energy crisis comes along.
I really REALLY hope they’re getting the message this time. At least GM seems to be getting the message.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Jim I,
Thank you for your state of the play at Lordstown.
I hope the third shift is good for your community if it happens.
Im a great fan for high utilisation, whether it be assembly lines or design teams .
Around the clock is good.:)
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I suspect the Japanese society build products that reflect the realities of their country.
They build small efficient cars to reflect their vulnerability of being a oil importer for the last sixty years.
Not necessarily smarter than any other society, just a different focus.
But yes, they built SUV’s because some of their customers wanted them.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
dodahman@86
Sincice you obviously know all about the Tesla, please tell us how many have been delivered to date. Even the ones that are out the door, will be recalled to replace the tranny IF they come up with one that won’t keep breaking. You should read up on it. There is no comparison to the Volt (at least in a positive sense.)
Be well,
Go Volt,
Tagamet
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
#12 Mike A,
Yes, Carbon Fiber body parts for the Volt would be great, but right now they are extremely expensive. Carbon Fiber makes sense for the Tesla Roadster, but most people can’t afford to pay $100K for a car.
There is some research to make Carbon Fiber less expensive, so maybe the 2nd or 3rd generation Volt will use it. If you’re interested, watch the Nova “Car of the Future” segment on Carbon Fiber. This is being pioneered by the Rocky Mountain Institute, and that part starts about 1/2 way through the video segment from the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/ht/tm/3507.html?site=22&pl=wmp&rate=hi&ch=4
By the way, I think the whole Nova “Car of the Future” program is a must see for Volt enthusiasts. Check it out in it’s entirety here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/car/program.html
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
#106 Robert:
Yup. Sums it all up in 3 words.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Awful news for the people near me in Janesville, but good news for the Volt.
I’ll take a silver one. Screw the deposit - I’ll put the whole $40k down now if it guarantees me one of the first ones
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
DaveP
Your cmment is so true about the big three going back to business as usual but its not all there fault. Their business model required big profits to meet worker demands and they could only achieve this by producing larger vehicles.
Also American drivers are a fickle bunch and have wanted large vehicles for the most part. After the oil crises in the early 70’s that led downsizing the fleet, Ford could not make enough V8s to satisfy demand.
This time around the everyone seems to be on board for the survival of GM and the American motorist.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Late to the party, but here none the less.
The last small GM car I owned (last American car for that matter)
was a complete piece of junk. That was 22 years ago. A lot of things have changed during that time. People here claim they are very happy with the GM cars they drive. But to be honest, if I don’t buy a Volt, it will be another hybrid some another manufacturer.
I do feel sorry for the people losing their jobs while Wagoner gets a big fat check.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
#57, Schmeltz. You really worded that much better than I would have.
EV-1 is SO beaten to death here.
MrCynic, welcome. This is a great site. Eventually you will get to know our vastly different personalities while adding your own to the mix.
Some like to argue. Some like a to have a friendly debate. Some people really hate the trolls. Some people are extremely supportive of GM, while some are not. But for many of us, this is the first site we check in the morning and the last before we go to bed.
We all agree on one thing. We all want the Volt to succeed.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
This is fantastic news. Going from ‘Concept’ to PRE PRODUCTION is a huge, huge deal. Lyle’s work is done.
As Jes says, bye bye Hummer Hello Volt!
Dodahman, as someone who has followed the Tesla for some time, I can tell you their battery is only rated for 500 charges or 5 years. Hence the 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty.
What a great day.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
#12 Mike A,
Yes, Carbon Fiber body parts for the Volt would be great, but right now they are extremely expensive. Carbon Fiber makes sense for the Tesla Roadster, but most people can’t afford to pay $100K for a car.
There is some research to make Carbon Fiber less expensive, so maybe the 2nd or 3rd generation Volt will use it. If you’re interested, watch the Nova “Car of the Future” segment on Carbon Fiber. This is being pioneered by the Rocky Mountain Institute, and that part starts about 1/2 way through the 4th video segment on the PBS Nova website.
By the way, I think the whole Nova “Car of the Future” program is a must see for Volt enthusiasts. Check it out in it’s entirety PBS Nova website.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
#122 Rashiid Amul
Thanks for your gracious welcome. Once the forum gets to know me, you’ll either love me or hate me. Just ask my ex-wifes
I will agree to agree….. we want the Volt to succeed!!! (I’m just super cynical by nature)
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
#58 @ MrCynic
Not to belabor a well trodden path around here, although the Volt builds on the EV-1 design experience gained somewhat, the technology and product requirements have changed considerably since then. The hardest sell for the EV1 internally was the business model, and even when it was revised on the heels of the success of the first run pilot production and the Ovonics NiMH battery pack, it still called for several years of losses before finally showing potential profit. That and the fact that the EV1 could only be targeted for the sunbelt states because of its heat pump capability.
GM has chosen this time around to lessen production costs as well as address the ‘range anxiety’ which limited consumer acceptance by making the battery pack smaller and adding an ICE range extender. Their concept to production development cycle on the Volt has actually been shortened considerably, considering all the new technology validation, supplier logistics development and systems testing required for a new model car that will sell, sustain quality and show profit with product support.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
N Riley 83
Your message is so true. I would bet nobody can predict the future because its based on what we know now. It took about1800 years for knowledge to double from the time of the Romans until America was born. Knowledge is currently doubling every 2 years. and in 15 years its expected to double every 3 months. In every direction science and engineering is progressing by leaps and bounds. Who knows where the EV will be by then.
Its a very exciting time to be optimistic and living in America.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Well it has been a fairly bloody day. Four big truck plants closed. 10,000 people put out of work. I still think the Volt will lead GM out of the valley of death. JMHO
Take Care
Arch
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
As I recall, Lyle once said he started the site to keep GM from never moving on from the concept and starting production. Lyle — congratulations === you did it. VoltNation — congratulations === you all did it too.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Hi Rashiid Amul:
You said:
“But for many of us, this is the first site we check in the morning and the last before we go to bed. We all agree on one thing. We all want the Volt to succeed.”
Your statements above reflect me in a nutshell as it does many here I’m sure. Even though the Company GM is suffering as a whole, it is encouraging that we and GM are unified in philosophy. The Volt is the outward manifestation of that concurrence, and hopefully and God willing, the beginning of a new era in transportation architecture. These are exciting times we are living in!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
#12 Mike A
#17 Schmeltz
#56 noel park
I have seen a high speed crash of a modern open wheel race car. Parts fly everywhere. Flying parts might be safe for the drivers, but I’d hate to be an innocent bystander.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Like #100 Ed M, I believe supply and demand sets the prices for a commodity like oil.
And though he doesn’t like to buck the trend, I will. I don’t see $125 per barrel for oil as being sustainable. For the short term, certainly, but at these prices its not only the US that will look for alternatives, but also countries like India and China, because they don’t want large sums of their currency going to OPEC. The whole world will be looking for alternatives, just like Brazil has done with ethanol.
Between conservation and energy alternatives, oil will not be able to maintain its high pricing. I predict a moderation or stabilization of oil prices within the next few years. (Note also high oil prices encourage technologies like oil shale recovery and coal-to-liquids).
People do not want to give up their pick-ups and SUV’s. But with current energy prices, they are being forced to give them up. However, if in the next few years, GM develops a much more efficient SUV (~30 mpg combined), and gas prices stabilize at ~ $3.50, GM’s sales will return. Plug-in capability will also be helpful. Although slated for closure in 2010, some of these aforementioned plants could remain open.
Ten years ago I did some some equipment upgrades in a refinery in New Orleans. At the time, the project engineer for the oil company told me they were losing $.02 per gallon on gasoline. The refinery across the river had shutdown due to low prices. There was a glut of oil, and gasoline could be purchased retail for less than $1.00.
Now the pendulum has swung the other way, and many people in this country own large vehicles that get poor mpg. As everyone changes their habits, reduces, upgrades, and generally becomes more efficient, energy consumption will decrease, and alternate fuels will become more prevalent. Pressure will come to bear on these high oil prices, and the pendulum will swing back in the other direction.
My point is that yes we need to become more efficient and use less petroleum. However, don’t think everything that you hear in the media or even at the GM shareholders meeting is cast in stone, as all of us who lived as adults in the 70’s and 80’s know, economics can change.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Check book ready to go. $10,000 deposit standing by. Hopefully they will go to the Chevy Volt Fan club waiting list to take orders. Could they ask for a more devout, and altogether forgiving crowd. They’ll need that during the “get the bugs out” first year phase.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:14 am
The truck plants may close, but E-flex could re-open them soon. I also believe that long term GM needs to start thinking about securing batt. production in house…(Ramos Arizpe expansion??). The great thing about E-flex is that the potential any way you slice it is almost limitless!
June 4th, 2008 at 2:11 am
BillR #132
You are absolutely right. It is expected fuel price drop within coming five years. That’s the main argument why Europe has high fuel taxes in order to smoothen those swings and prepare people in advance by using fuel in most efficient way. Unfortunately Europe has lack of innovations like Volt.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Statik # 92
That is really convincing that GM is serious concerning Plug-in power train since one option left. Are they successful or not - another part of story. GM will be running as fast as it can.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Does production by the end of 2010, mean the 2011 model year?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:48 am
David #137:
The general word from GM has been that the car will be in the showrooms befre the end of 2010. In regular car terminology, that would mean a 2011 model year.
But I would have to imagine that everyone at GM is now working at full speed to see if they can beat that timeline!!!
Go GM Volt Team!!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 9:31 am
The sad thing is an electric car exists and the technology that makes it work is scalable, however you will never see it. That being said I think it’s wonderful that new technology is being used to get the American drivers off fossil fueled vehicles. I have enjoyed driving while attending collage many years ago on 25 cent per gallon gas and now I pay 4 bucks a gallon, how times have changed. The fact is that when I was paying a quarter per gallon I made $50 a week and now paying 4 bucks I make considerably more. Looking at percentages based on disposable income, gasoline is still a bargain. I was working in Germany last month and Americans still have it good as to life-style and cost of living. If you can afford it, buy it and drive it, but remember, this is “Spaceship Earth” and we are all Crew, No passengers! We need to take better care of the environment. Spaceman Out!
June 4th, 2008 at 10:57 am
If GM really wants this car to be a success then they should try to get it in the hands of the people who will drive it and talk about it. At 40K + dealer markup only the wealthy and influential will be able to afford it then they will drive it once or twice for publicity then it will probably never be seen again. This being the case; the first volts could literally disappear almost as fast as they are produced. Putting these volts in the hands of people who will not use them will not help GM promote the vehicle. Perhaps GM should consider some kind of priority/cost break for those on the waiting list who have helped promote the vehicle. These are the people who will drive/show and talk about the vehicle to just about everyone.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
#135 JBF ALASKA:
Amen. You can’t say it any better than that.
#141 Jay:
As to “Spaceship Earth”, amen to that too. 10-4 Sapceman, message received and understood.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Perhaps GM will sell Hummer to the Saudis.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I will buy one!!!!
Hook me up…OPEC, your days are numbered!!!
I cant wait to kick OPEC to the curb!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Great point skinn3. With the Volt’s costs running high, the affluent will buy them up and they will probably disappear into garages. But, that could be a good thing in the long run. Folks want what the Rich covet. That may help sales down the line as it adds a perceived value… Something that all 3 CM’s very much need.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
How about a Volt with hydrogen fuel cell for backup?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Phil@147
Where are you buying your hydrogen? I have a plug at my place that oozes electricity.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Well, actually I have a recepticle, not a plug (g)
June 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
It’s about freeking time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because of this initiative I hope GM all the best, be at the forefront and get those cars out and make em look great! Now there should be plans for an electric camaro, I would buy one in a heartbeat!
Go VOLT
June 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Good to see , good to see… I do feel empathy for those in the plant closings, but GM simply has to do a 180 here and the long term benefits are all over the place…
I give them a million points for guts here, and and so excited about it.
…Go GM, you’re making us proud =)
June 5th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I’d like to see Volt undercut Prius and such on pricing. I’n interested, but the numbers are still going to make up my mind.
From an engineering stand point I see the Volt drivetrain as a really flexible platform for any developing technolgy. If you get a fuel cell to work, the batteries can handle peak needs an reduce the size of the cell needed. Ultracapacitor breakthrough? Use them to enhance regenerative braking or replace the batteries.
I personally don’t like the idea motors on each wheel. Potentially puts alot of unsprung weight in the suspension.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hopefully, GM also starts parallel-development of moving several more other cars to be plugin-hybrid diesel or E85 in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, etc.
The important thing is developing core technology that can leveraged across many models, segments in a pipeline-like development plans.
How about Malibu, Pontiac, Buick, Saturn, etc.?
i vote for selling the Hummer brand.
This may make some loyalist angry.
But Hummer hurts corporate image when the trend is going green.
But, please look at the $4.5/gallon gas price ($5/gallon for diesel)
in California.
Wake up, GM!
There are more and more Toyota Prius in the CA now!
June 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
YES!! Make mine yellow with black leather interior and *NO ON-STAR*!! Just in time! My Honda Insight now has 115000 miles and I want an eco friendly American made car…
June 5th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
GM could get the “Volt” on the market before 2010.
By that time the Japanese/Koreans will have probably already cornered the market.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I’m still betting on an “09 release - at least a small captive fleet (like us)
June 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I have been routing for