Report: GM Plans to Build 100,000 Volts per Year after 2010
Today truly marks the turning point in the Chevy Volt’s development process.
I began this site on January 12th 2007, a few days after the Volt concept was first introduced. We have analyzed news and information about the car on a daily basis since then, including contributing much original content. There is no question this site has served as a beacon to GM and many of their executives have told me this site is linked on their browsers and blackberrys and they check in regularly.
Today for the first time we hear that the Volt’s mass production program has been funded. Pushed by us, the economy, and the rising cost of oil, GM has agreed to make our Chevy Volt a reality.
We’ve also debated whether the Volt will be a niche car or massively produced. Initial production numbers we’ve guessed at and heard about have varied.
Now Edmunds.com claims inside information that GM intends to build at least 100,000 Volts per year. Obviously, since the first Volts will roll of the assembly line in November 2010, there won’t be 100,000 copies in 2010. But for 2011 and beyond, the Volt will be built in massive quantities right in Detroit, and a long with it presumably a whole suite of E-Flex vehicles worldwide
As usual, I tried to track down the source of this statement. The article’s author quoted Tom Wilkinson of GM. It turns out Tom is GMs director of news relations and I was able to reach him by phone.
He indicated to me that he did not specifically say “100,000,” as the actual target quantity is still not final. He reminded me that Chevrolet is the brand for the masses, and that indeed GM does plan to produce as massive numbers of these cars as the public demands. 100,000 simply represents a fairly sizable number of production cars of any ilk, and seems therefore to be more of a symbolic representation. He re-iterated that the Volt is not a niche car, and will not be “a toy for the rich,” taking a jab at the Tesla Roadster.
Lets face it, the Volt is GMs future, they had better build a lot of them!
Source (Edmunds.com)
Popularity: 9%
(21 votes, average: 4.95 out of 5) 
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June 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
AMEN!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I want number 756.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Lyle
I think you have HELPED push the Volt to this stage. Hang in there until we see one in a showroom. Thanks!
Take Care
Arch
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Third!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
If only I got the third Volt
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Didn’t we hear about these production numbers a long time ago?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
That sounds great, well done GM, and their favourite lobby group, GM-Volt.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Car looks awesome. Wonder how you charge it and how much it costs….
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hopefully they can sell them at a price point for the car to be self-sustainable (in an economic sense). Hopefully the supply and demand curves meet above the mass production costs. If/when that occurs, THAT will be a day to remember.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
That is what I love about the Volt. It is not just a car. It is a shift, a new beginning for automobiles. The power source may change but the lessons learned form the Volt serve as the foundation to rid the automobile from need to use gas. It is one hell of a first step.
Go GM!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I’ve watched the Volt since I first heard of it as a prototype.
I would say that GM has the best idea for a practical vehicle with the available technology I’m aware of.
GM, don’t screw this up!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
This is totally fabricated and 100 percent false.
I quote word for word from Fritz Henderson, President and Chief Operating Officer, today on the conference call:
“What level of capacity did the board approve for the Volt”
“Uh…um..we are not…going to announce that today”
“But I would say we are going to have a relatively small ramp up…We expect to get into the market by 2010…Begin to ramp up into 011 and 012 and bring our suppliers with us.”
He continues to explain that process, technologies and more cost effective program will be developed concurrently.
If you want to hear it for yourself..here is the link to the conference call…the part you want to hear is at 46:00 mins even:
http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/0/93830.html
The target may well be 100,000 but it is certainly not it’s short term production goal. If I was guessing the Volt will be at 100K in ‘future generations’. Fritz actually mentions capacity utilization and special teams already working on ‘future generations”
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Rock & Roll GM!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
What is really amazing is the shift at GM. I am not just talking about building the Volt, but the rapid shift away from gas hogs to smaller, smarter and more efficient automobiles.
Can it be that GM has learned the lesson of the 1970’s here in 2008? It would seem that the death knell of the Hummer is the Ode to Joy for the rest of us ;-).
GM Execs…I thought I knew you. When did you all become so smart?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
#10 Jason C
May sales SUV/truck sales are off by 40%…FORTY. These moves are strictly reactionary. They are not ahead of the curve…they are hitting it at 100 miles a hour.
Today they moved future truck capacity from 1.7 million units to 1.0 million units, which will take affect late 2009-mid 2010. Also…down 40 percent.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Guillen works his 2nd walk of the game. I mind him playing 3rd even less tonight, (even though there is no correlation, lol).
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
And that was me mis-posting from the Tiger game…
FYI, they just grounded into a double play to the end the inning if anyone is interested…lol
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I truly believe GM will be surprised by the number of people interested in buying a Volt. If the demand is there, GM can and will ramp up production very quickly. All they will need to do is look at the open orders from the dealerships to guage demand.
Thank you GM …and Lyle.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I really think they have been ready for this move and planned it for some time. If you owned a firm making a killing on Units…in this case SUV’s …you would ride it for all it’s worth as they have done.
Don’t be surprised when SUV’s roll out with the same or better technology as the Volt. It will happen sooner than you think.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Hey everyone I just did some math…
The Volt was introduced on Jan. 7th, 2007, and the current release date target is Nov. 2010 (I assumed Nov. 1st). That makes a total of 1393 days (and yes I counted the leap year).
Today is June 3rd, 2008, so by my count 513 days have passed since the original public introduction.
That means we are 36.8% of the way to getting the Volt!
Of course I am not including the time spent on the Volt before it was introduced, but we don’t know exactly what that is.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I’m not sure that demand is going to be enough to make more Volts. Look at the Ford Escape in most of the country it is impossible to get one, like the Prius was a few years ago.
Plus let’s not forget the EV 1 were you could only least one. I am excited of the news but doubtful of is ramifications to us mid income wage earners.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The rising cost of oil with the insane drop of SUV sales is what is pushing GM to build the Volt. Lets hope this trend continues.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I don’t care what number, just give me one in red please.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I feel that by 2010-2011 GM will need to be producing more than 100,000 per year. By that time gas might be as high as 6-7 dollars per gallon, and when people have to spend 75 bucks to fill up a compact car….well, people will be turning away from gasoline altogether. I sincerely hope that GM already has plans to quickly transfer the li-ion eflex system to other platforms and other models as quick as they can after the initial volt release because, I feel at least, there are going to be massive waiting lines for this car. GM needs to prepare for the deluge of customers. Three years from now I think we will see the resale value of ALL gasoline powered cars begin to fall, which is starting right now with SUV’s. The volt will truly begin a revolution in transportation in this country. Pretty soon people are going to be saying “If it doesn’t get 50 mpg or better, I won’t buy it”.
My girlfriend drives a Corrolla…very good on gas. It cost 44 bucks to fill it up the other day. And that’s an econo-box.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Ultracapacitors, Smasitors, I want my Volt. Batteries are the future, and if the Ultras play a complementary role, fine.
Any rumor control on whether GM is going to tap into the Chevy Volt waiting list? Is there even a real, by name, email database for this?
Hope so. GM hopefully will start locking in orders ahead of production to keep the buyers at bay.
CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
True Will. Unfortunately, like all the hot sellers, we’ll wind up with a premium to pay (just as the Hybrid Tahoe) which will dampen sales. Out with the old, and in with the new. This is still going to take awhile to restructure the entire automotive world delivery system and production. I’m just hoping I’ll be close to the front of the line, and yes, for the first time in my life, I’ll be paying full sticker price.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Statik, sometimes I don’t know why you bother. This lot wouldn’t know a “we’re imploding, please look at the shiny object in the future” if they built a website to it and GM advertised it three years ahead of availability.
GM (and it seems the media) is convinced that the Prius gives Toyota some sort of green advantage. Perhaps it does. But look at the car sales in May. This will be known as the month that the US switched to efficient cars. Honda is up 11.3% and Toyota is down 7.9% (GM down 30%, FYI). I believe the Civic is the #1 selling car in the US now; up 28% at 53,000+. The Prius and the Civic hybrid sales were DOWN in May.
There is a simple lesson here. Come 2010 (let alone 2012) people are not going to pay $30,000+ for the Volt. They are going to pay in the high teens for a Honda or a Toyota hybrid.
For GM, selling 10,000 Volts at a loss or 100,000 at break-even isn’t going to replace the huge profits of selling 100,000’s of thousands of SUVs and trucks.
GM is so bad at making decisions it truly boggles the mind. To think they might have saved themselves if they had just put all this effort into a competitive small hybrid instead of this crazy prius-envy inspired disaster.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
GXT….
So you’re saying that a gasoline powered car is better than a car that doesn’t need gasoline?
I’m afraid I have to disagree with you on this. Small hybrids like the prius are only stepping stones to a future where people will not be using gasoline for their day to day transportation needs.
Electric cars are the future, there is no getting around it. And I’m very happy to see GM, an American company, taking the lead on it. It’s about time they came around.
JBFALASKA, I too, for the first time in my life, will be paying full sticker price for a car, and it will be the volt.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I think Lyle should get the shot at purchasing the first Volt.
Seriously.
He’s done much to help GM when it comes to publicity and maintaining a link between GM and the public.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
GM couldn’t find it’s rear end with both hands. I’ll believe it when I see it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
GXT,
I like your data but I come to a different conclusion.
The interesting trend is away from hybrids that only give a small improvement in mpg.
There is a big difference between the Prius that will not start without gas in the tank, and the Volt that may never need gas.
The future lies between the EV’s and the E-REVS, forget the mild hybrids, that was an eighties idea.
imho
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
100,000!?! I’ll believe it when I see it. But even if it is a public relations move at least GM is beginning to realize what the public wants. I wish they’d produce 100,000+ models ever year from today on, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
I think sticker for a Volt will still be a steal even with gas staying above $2/gallon let alone $4.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Yes, it was last Halloween when Lyle’s post (http://gm-volt.com/2007/10/31/massive-breaking-news-gm-receives-first-chevy-volt-lithium-ion-battery-packs-from-lg-chem/) said,
“[Lutz] goes on to say that he hopes for 60,000 to 100,000 vehicles to be produced in the first model year.”
I guess Tom Wilkinson is allowed to say what Lutz has already publically stated.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Cool, my windmill was fixed today…
Of course I want my Volt in red. It seems to be the most requsted color. I would also like it with a touch of chrome. Makes the car more fun to wash. I would like to keep it clean.
Think they would let me use my GM card points?
Or how about a tour of the factory?
Thanks to all the hard workers that will bring us the Volt. (and information about the Volt)
Red HHR
June 4th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Hey guy’s I put an article in the forum on new battery technology. I was hoping someone could look at the specs on this new battery tech and let me know if this is an improvement on what we are currently working with in regards to the Volt. There is actually a quote about how much better this tech is than what the Volt is using.
I guess nobody really visits the forum section on this site. Could someone with technical knowledge take a look at this and let me know if it is important.
http://www.superlatticepower.com/20080602/index.html
June 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Lyle,
I hope you have a big grin on your face all day. You have achieved this sites origional purpose. To make sure the volt wasn’t a PR stunt.
Give yourself a pat on the back, we might not be why there building the volt but we made sure they knew there was alot of people who wanted to buy one.
Honestly 40K seems like a steal in 2011 with the way the dollar is going.
Not to mention if in the near future we electrify most automobiles it will probably persuade OPEC to change how they denominate a barrel of oil to whatever country is buying the most oil. (EU, china, india)
Which believe me will probably cripple our economy due to the drastic decline in the value of a dollar. (which isn’t backed by gold anymore) I believe that getting away from fossil fuels as our primary means of propolsion is a good thing, but i don’t see how we do it without cutting our own throat. I mean come on every foreign policy move of the last 25 years has been about oil, i guess a good question if that happens will be.
What will we fight for?
June 4th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Or more familarly what will our “vital interest” be then?
June 4th, 2008 at 12:23 am
#23 GXT
I know what your saying, but people want to believe…and thats ok. Everyone has got a opinion…this might just not be best place to be a contrarian, lol.
I will make a note on the Prius sales. It was down almost 30 percent as you say, but it wasn’t for lack of demand…they simply don’t have any.
It comes off a April, where basically everyone they had lying around lots got bought…up 54% in April. Official wait times on ordering a Prius is 26 weeks atm. They have issues with the ‘09 facelift and how to stop orders on the current incarnation to tool for the 09s.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:35 am
#10 Jason C.
“Can it be that GM has learned the lesson of the 1970’s here in 2008? It would seem that the death knell of the Hummer is the Ode to Joy for the rest of us ;-).
GM Execs…I thought I knew you. When did you all become so smart?”
**** **** **** ******
The wakeup isn’t quite that easy. It’s a cross between short run profitability and long term foundation. The latter is not easily understood nor achieved by publicly held corps. Ok so now you’re beginning to understand just why GM is in the pinch they are and just what kind of STAND it took with the Board Of Directors (B.O.D.).
The good part is that it’s been said that necessity is the breed of all invention, and right now GM has the necessity thing going on
. The good part is that we’ll all benefit. Hard to imagine that $4+ /gal gas would be the savior of GM, but all it ever takes is a small amount of risk, and balls. Right now it appears that GM as both!
Bombs AWAY!
June 4th, 2008 at 1:23 am
GXT
Your a tad negative about this announcement. Things can and do change all the time. And at no time faster than the present with new technologies sprinting ahead everyday. Its surprising that anyone thinks that they can predict the future.
The time has come for the electric vehicle. Unless hybrids get a quantum leap in gas mileage they will go the way of the bigger gas guzzlers. From what I’ve read the EV will out perform hybrids.
And with technology on batteries steadily advancing, it won’t be long until they will be able to get much better mileage between charges. Unlike the hybrids you may be able to roll in with a volt and upgrade the battery as they improve.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:54 am
The volt will be my next new car.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Same here, PHEV will be my next car, if it’s affordable. After crunching the numbers in Excel, I found that the 120,000 mile cost of ownership of a 2010 $30K Chevy Volt is cheaper than that of a $15K 2008 Ford Focus (my next likely gas car), assuming current gas and electric prices here in MI remain the same, and assuming the specs and price we hear from GM regarding the Volt are accurate. I’m waiting for more word on the new American Ford Fiesta so I can crunch those numbers too.
But get this: The energy cost of a Volt (assuming 20% genset, 80% battery usage) is actually cheaper than the energy cost of a 250cc motorcycle (Ninja 250, gets 70MPG).
Anyway, I’m really hoping GM treats this as a viable money-making opportunity for them, and not as a public-relations gimmick. I don’t want an EV1 repeat.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I think we have to remember that we are all basically “fan-boys” of the Chevy Volt here. We talk about it, think about it, and anticipate it on a daily basis. We may be forgeting that most people out there may have never heard of the Volt. I have seen one story about the Volt on the evening news so far. Personally, I tell people I talk to about my next car, the Chevy Volt, and they tell me they have never heard about it. You would think a car this important would be on the news every night, and THE hot topic on talk radio. I guess GM has some public education to do.
10,000 units, 100,000 units - either GM is flying their trial balloons again, or their public relations people need to seriously start checking their “facts” before making public comments. Either way, Gm needs to build in a process to prevent dealers from “price gouging” on sales of the Volt. Limit dealer profit to a certain percent of base price, and enforce it. Their future may depend on this car. I would hate to see greedy dealers kill sales of the Volt.
About the color ? Red ? I see someone went to see the Iron Man movie this summer, and has “Tony Stark” envy. Well, enjoy your cherry red Volt, as you explain to Officer Friendly why you were going 70 in a 55 zone. I would settle for a metallic gold Volt, please. Cops aren’t as antagonized by that color as they are by red, IMHO.
The waiting is the hardest part. But wait I shall - what choice do I have ? A Tesla ? A Prius ? Please ! I’ll wait for the real deal, thanks.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:09 am
I want #6700 (+-) in silver. I’m glad to see GM is still making statements like “a brand for the masses” and not “a toy for the rich,” I don’t see how they can price it much hicher than the mid 30’s and that would be a stretch. Even with tax incentives it’s got to be priced in the low 30k range.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:38 am
[...] Source [...]
June 4th, 2008 at 5:38 am
It’s not that people don’t want SUVs anymore, they just want them with significantly better MPG or MPC.
Vincent is right. Don’t be too surprised to see the Volt technology in SUVs and light trucks sooner than later.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:47 am
I’m telling you, if the Volt is successful it weaken demand for oil, which will cause the price to come down. Not to mention the shift away from low-mileage vehicles which is already going on.
I predict gas will be $1.50 in 2013.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:57 am
You all have your heads up your butts, don’t you? If everyone were to buy an electric car, electricity consumption would skyrocket, meaning more electricity would have to be created using fossil fuels or nuclear energy, seeing how solar and wind energy aren’t up to it yet.
Northern Europe (Sweden or Norway I believe) are way ahead with hydrogen-fueled cars which need only water and a — optionally ‘portable’ as in porta-potty portable — hydrogen station that can be solar-powered. Hydrogen is the future, not a substitute for oil that still requires the use of oil to get the substitute in the first place.
But wait, it’s an American ‘invention’ this discussion is about, so therefore it must be the greatest thing ever.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:38 am
There’s no question in my mind if the price is right, the amount of cars will be huge. If and when that happens, I sure GM will make any adjustments. No need to worry about that.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Roland,
You had me fooled there for a minute.
The portapower potty is the easy bit, its the hydrogen powered car that is the tricky bit.
Try and buy one on e-bay and see how you get on…
Just joking..
ps..Im not US….
June 4th, 2008 at 6:52 am
to # 41 Roland,
We on this site don’t all have our heads up our butt.The only one I see with his head up his butt is you. You prove that with your arrogance. Yes, American is a great inventor–look at our history.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I think most of us realize the challenge for the Volt is the battery pack. They have done electric drive (EV-1 and Fuel Cell Equinox) and Jon Lauckner has indicated that 90% of the Volt’s electric drivetrain is already defined and has suppliers. Other systems (brakes, suspension, interior, etc,) are all within GM’s experience. The key component that has been the big unknown is the battery pack.
I listened to an interview with GM lab personnel several weeks back regarding the testing of the battery packs. They are trying to squeeze 10 years of battery life testing into 2 years. Apparently, the way they can accomplish this is to test the battery packs at high temperature (which creates an accelerated loss of battery life). The battery degradation can then be plotted and trended.
First, I believe GM is much further ahead on battery testing than what they are releasing to the press. The fact that the Board of Directors has approved the Volt for production means they are sure the battery pack is successful, which means 10 years and 150,000 miles of life.
I’m sure GM also realizes the sense of urgency involved. If the Volt doesn’t come to market in the near term, they will give the other auto manufacturers more time to introduce competing vehicles. They need to be the first to market with a mass-produced iconic vehicle.
The commitment to a large volume also indicates their desire to lower the price, as high volume leads to lower manufacturing costs and the ability to spread the overhead (development costs, production facility costs, etc.) over more units. Also, high volume justifies an investment in automation, and this may be the key to lowering battery prices.
I anticipate that low volume production could begin as early as the end of next year (about 18 months from now), with a ramp up to full production by the end of 2010. Note that GM makes about 40,000 Corvettes per year working only 1 shift per day. With 3 shifts it would be entirely conceivable that production could exceed 100,000 Volts per year.
And as others have stated, don’t be surprised to see E-Flex luxury vehicles, SUV’s, and pickup trucks soon thereafter.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:08 am
The naysayers sure are wide awake and cranky lately…………
It will be fun to look back in 2012 or so, and see who was right!
Personally, I think this shift away from gasoline based transportation will be our greatest achievement in the last 100 years!
And I mean no offense to nasaman and what he was involved in during the NASA moon program. (Way off topic) I have already set up the DVR to record the “When We Left The Earth” series on Discovery channel. I hoe nasaman will tell us if we can see him in any of the episodes!!! (Back on topic now)
Finally, IMHO, it takes optimism to see your way through a project like this. The pessimists wring their hands and do a lot of talking, but what have they designed and built to solve any of our problems???
Go GM Volt Team!!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:34 am
It is World War II all over again. It just took us forever to find our enemy (OIL). Now that we found our enemy, it is time to completly rid it from our lives as quickly as possible. GO GM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Way to go to the source Lyle…Edmonds, worthless. ha!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Toyot has the capacity to build about 180K Priuses a year for the US market. That’s 15K a month. They ended the previous month with almost no inventory and this month they sold this month’s production and ended with 7 days’ of inventory. They’re selling everyone they make and very promptly. Don’t worry about Toyota, they’re doing OK.
They’re doubling Prius production for the 2009 model and intend to sell about a half million hybrids per year.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am
#45 BillR
“I anticipate that low volume production could begin as early as the end of next year (about 18 months from now), with a ramp up to full production by the end of 2010. Note that GM makes about 40,000 Corvettes per year working only 1 shift per day. With 3 shifts it would be entirely conceivable that production could exceed 100,000 Volts per year.”
You need to listen to the conference call at the annual meeting with Fritz Henderson. (I posted the link in #8). He clearly states the goal is to just get cars out in 2010…and to start to ramp up in 2011 and continue in 2012.
This isn’t a random interview. It’s the annual meeting, you can’t make stuff up here…you can’t outright lie and deceive the investors/the public. He also mentioned Hamtramck as the plant that would be exclusively producing the Volt…it has production committments for other vehicle until at least Q4 of 2009 (Cadillac DTS/Lucerne), and it already running two shifts atm. Also it has to be fitted to run the new Delta MPV7 before the Volt.
http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t20114.html
Then you have this quote from Lutz himself, “Volt will be about 10,000 units the first year, just to make sure we’re prepared for any issues that might come up, and then ramp up production from there,” and “So we’re not going to see a wholesale move to electric vehicles right away.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080221.WHDIESEL21/TPStory/Environment
June 4th, 2008 at 8:17 am
# 40 Leon
I completely agree with you that if there is a major to electric vehicles that demand will drop like a rock and gas will become very, very cheap. Its about time that people understood supply and demand issues.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I wouldn’t say that the Volt is GM’s future, but E-Flex most certainly is.
GM should have NO trouble selling 100K Volts per year IF they are built and priced right which seems to be their intention. Now, 10 different GM E-Flex vehicles across 3-4 different lines at 100K in average sales each would mean 1M electric vehicles per year.
How many new cars are sold each year? How many of these replace old cars and how many are additions to the existing fleet? How long will it take to replace the entire practical fleet of ICE cars with electric ones?
June 4th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Cadillac was just named the number one car for customer vehicle satisfaction. Way to go GM! Now we need to get that out to the general public that seems to think domestic automakers build crap!
“Survey: Cadillac The Top Auto Brand in the US for Vehicle Satisfaction
Jim Taylor
General Manager, Cadillac
We all have our favorites, our own loyalties and preferences. But in a survey of new vehicle buyers released today, only one brand can be at the top. The number one brand in the US in owner satisfaction in 2008 is Cadillac, according to AutoPacific’s annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) study.
This study is based solely on the opinions of actual new vehicle owners rating their new 2008 models. AutoPacific adds no “3rd party” opinion to the owner survey results, which are grouped into 28 car and truck segments. For more information, check out AutoPacific’s blog.
Cadillac’s overall win stems from the Escalade, Escalade EXT, the new CTS sport sedan and the DTS luxury sedan each winning the title as “most satisfying” in their individual market segments. Across all segments in the study, no auto brand (including BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and the others) was rated as highly by consumers as Cadillac.
And the good news from vehicle buyers doesn’t end there. GM had 11 overall segment winners, more than any other manufacturer. Chevy HHR, Chevy Silverado HD, Saturn Sky, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn VUE and HUMMER H3 were also named “most satisfying” in their respective segments.
There are no higher accolades than those earned from real owners who have spent real money on new vehicles. Specifically in the luxury business, high levels of opinion and satisfaction of the most discerning consumers is the ultimate goal.
At Cadillac, Escalade has put together a record of desirability as the top large luxury SUV. This summer, we’re extending Escalade’s desirability with the most technically advanced Escalade models ever – the ultra-luxury Escalade Platinum and the Escalade Hybrid with our “two-mode” battery electric technology.
In the luxury car space, new CTS is earning a place among the highest-regarded luxury cars in the industry. The upcoming CTS-V launches this fall, elevating CTS into the ranks of the world’s highest performing cars.
It’s a terrific time for Cadillac, and for new vehicle buyers who have an unprecedented number of excellent choices. At Cadillac, we’re pleased that - according to the AutoPacific study of new vehicle owners – our brand is the most satisfying choice.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I really don’t see the Volt being widely available until 2012, and I think the price will be north of 40k. The real issue is can GM survive as a company until the Volt becomes profitable?
June 4th, 2008 at 8:44 am
This is interesting, seeing how this is actually ‘local news’ for me:
Union blockades GM Canada headquarters after job cuts.
Angry autoworkers blockaded the entrance to General Motors of Canada headquarters in Oshawa, Ontario on Wednesday, one day after GM said it would shut its Oshawa truck plant.
“We’re not allowing any GM of Canada employees to enter the headquarters building,” said Chris Buckley, of the Canadian Auto Workers union, which says 2,600 jobs will go if the truck plant closes
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCAN0429106020080604?rpc=44
They actually have a legit beef because they just signed a new 3 year deal a couple weeks ago.
“The Canadian Auto Workers union reached a three-year contract deal with GM in mid May, agreeing to a wage freeze and a shift rotation at the truck plant that would see up to 2,600 workers share about 1,300 full-time jobs.”
It wouldn’t be hard to prove GM signed this in bad faith. At the very least it makes the striking legitimate.
While GM could care less about the truck plant or losing production in the short term on virtually any of its car plants…the Oshawa car plant is unique in the fact it is the sole builder of the ‘09 Camaro –which is already behind schedule.(It also produces the Impala, Buick Allure/LaCrosse
June 4th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Oh I forgot to mention this part of the new May ‘08 contract with the union:
“As part of that agreement, GM also promised that the Oshawa plant would be employed to work on the next generation of light-duty pickup trucks”
June 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
We have to respect each other therefore I would like to answer to all your statements:
1. Max. “skyrocketing” of US power consumption in case rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) development would be additionally 0,3% per annum.
2. Hydrogen vehicles are not in the manufacturing program of any company since:
a) No availability of hydrogen retail system
Such system would be very expensive to install (US 1 trillion of US dollars)
b) Hydrogen car would be very expensive at least 50 000 EUR. The high pressure hydrogen fuel tank would cost 10 000 EUR.
c) Fuel cell cost is not identified yet because short life time.
3) Hydrogen itself does not make sense because to produce hydrogen you have to consume electricity or other primary energy source. There are no hydrogen underground reserves. And once again electricity will be produced in the car fuel cell. So you consume 1 kW of electricity and get 0,7 kW mechanical thrust. Therefore hydrogen simply accomplishes energy storage role very inefficiently. Why not using simply battery!!!!
4) The photovoltaic can be used both for producing electricity or hydrogen. The sun radiation power utilization efficiency would be better with electrical mode.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Concerning current vehicle sales:
Its about the economy, $tup!d. It ain’t so much about the gas mileage, its about the price points. 25 vs 35 vs 35 mpg is about advertizing, the bottom line cost is what is the driver. People may well be buying a $20k prius, but those are people who WOULD have bought a $30k sedan w/more financing if they felt secure. And the econoboxes are selling well ACROSS THE BOARD, not just imports. People can’t afford the big cars, and can’t get financing, so they buy small and feel a tad better because of the higher MPG. But in the consumers heart, they really know that buying a $10k cheaper car also buys them a heck of a lot of gas.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Lyle said “Lets face it, the Volt is GMs future, they had better build a lot of them!” Exactly so.
Stakik at #8 notes correctly that the chief operating officer at GM is, in contrast, still talking low volume. No doubt there is some level of negotiating still going with potential battery suppliers as to quantities and prices, so the chief is not going to stake out fixed “must have” quantities now, at any price. The chief is an ICE traditionalist yet good at what he does. I think he is smart enough to move along into the future as doors open for him.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Statik
Yesterday you and I agreed you cynical and somewhat negative at times, but after reading some of today’s comments I have to say you are a rank amateur compared to them. Sorry, but I have to down grade your standing. These others are just blowing you away.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Further note on the other car Oshawa produces, the Impala. It has the smallest inventory window of any GM vehicle — 22 days. GM slowed production late 07 because of the new Malibu, figuring demand would shift…not so much.
Inventory start of May: 22,700
Sales in May: 23,803
The plant made 18,424 of them thru 5/24 and 5,407 in the last week, which is max. The only car GM can’t build as many as they sell. They have quite a bit of leverage in Oshawa to put some hurt on GM.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:11 am
# 60 N Riley
“Statik -Yesterday you and I agreed you cynical and somewhat negative at times, but after reading some of today’s comments I have to say you are a rank amateur compared to them. Sorry, but I have to down grade your standing. These others are just blowing you away”
So your saying I need to up my game? I’ve been working hard the last couple days! Consider me more the gasoline the last two days…not the fire.
(=
I try to be objectively negative. I like to use’ actual facts’ backed up with quotes/stats and links. It would be alot easier to just spout off random diatribes (sp?) to really get people worked up…but it hurts the credibility (as shown by some of the posters recently…you know who you are, lol).
June 4th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I really like the picture Lyle. haha
June 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Statik,
Your whole arguement appears to be timing.
I will stand by my prediction. Although GM executives may say they are targeting 2010 for a start date, if they can produce sooner, is that a bad thing? Even the stockholders are not privy to GM’s business sensitive information.
Look for production in limited quantities before November of 2010. Just my prediction.
I don’t believe everything I see in the media.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Statik
Your comments always makes sense even when I do not totally agree with them. Some of these others do seem to spouting off mighty bad. Keep up the good work.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I guess those Union Workers would rather see GM go bankrupt instead of making moves to guarantee its future as the #1 electric hybrid car manufacturer. Maybe GM Union workers don’t have any GM stock.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I believe we will all see an improved GM come out of this mess. I feel for the jobs lost, but at the same time those union workers helped make GM the company it was and still is today. As long as they got their way on every contract everything was fine. Now the hard times are here for real for GM and everyone else. I am sorry, but the union workers will just have to “suck it up” and get along like the rest of us.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Black Volt…. all the options… I was in the first 500 to register and had to re register twice when the “webmaster” made changes to the site and I was still in the top 3000…
Let me know when I can pick it up …. If you need my number Lyle… contact me via this site as I log in dayly…
June 4th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I hope GM IS monitering this site because the competition is going to be tuff, and soon.
I just received my current issue of ” MY FORD MAG” On page ten is an artical and sneak preview of the Escape Plug-In Hybrid. The long and short of the artical is as followes:
Lithium ion battery that can be recharged in about seven hours, providing a range of 30 to 40 miles. After that the gas engine kicks in and the vehicle operates like a standard Ford Escape Hybrid. They have a 20 unit fleet now being tested in California. My main question is what are the speed limits for the 30 miles? Is this a top speed of forty five or seventy five?
In any case, we are going to see many auto makers coming to the table in a big way, and I believe the compition is going to be fierce.
Consumers should have some excellent choices in the very near future.
God Bless America,
Tom
June 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I was reading the Ford owners magazine my son receives (since he is a Ford truck owner) and it said Ford was readying a Escape SUV Hybrid Plug-in to be released for testing later this year. I got the sense of the article (without them saying it) that Ford intends to have it in regular production by fall of 2009. That is one full year ahead of GM Volt. I know this does not equate the Escape with the Volt, but still it shows Ford’s intent to take a big chunk off the Volt’s prestige of being the first regular production plug-in vehicle. The article said electric range would be 25 - 40 miles before a “range extender” engine would kick in.
Come on GM!
June 4th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Tom M
Saw your post after I had posted mine. Great going. We both were on the same thought plane. I have been looking for Ford to do just that with the Escape. Surprised they haven’t announce the same capability for the Edge SUV. I feel it is coming. Plus the Fusion and the Focus. Just have to down size the drive train. Car bodies already there and fully certified for world wide sales. If they do it and can’t get the mpc the Volt gets, that’s ok for them right now. They still have time before 2011 to juice them up..
June 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Well, I was # 7468 or something like that. I think people on this forum serious about buying a Volt should be emailed some type of agreement that would be filled out and sent back to GM for processing. That way, the GM-Volters would have first opportunity to get chassis #’s 5 through 10,000. I say 5 because the first 3 will be test mules and I figure that Lyle should be entitled to chassis # 4.
I prefer silver. And as far as all the people bad-mouthing GM for this project? My guess is that they’ll be the first in line trying to buy one.
There was a fable once that the moral was “it is always easiest to despise what you know you can never possess.” So keep hating. Talk positive, talk negative but keep talking. Because the more crap you spread about the Volt, the more people will hear about it. Go ahead. Make it easier for GM to get press. Thank you. After I get mine, I’ll invite your cynical @$$ to a barbecue. We’ll sit down like adults and I’lll listen to you degrade the next good idea to come from this country. And wouldn’t it be something if your kids graduated college and went to work for GM? You’d bad mouth them too?
June 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Firefly -
Typically the first few hundred will be “test” vehicles, although identical to the eventual production models. They let employees drive them around for a few months to make sure they have ironed out all of the obvious issues. Then a few months later they start the real production run.
Of course they could decide to something different with the Volt.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Lyle
I did not make a note of what number I was when I signed up for gm-volt.com. Is there a way to find that out?
June 4th, 2008 at 11:01 am
#54 brad:
I sure hope so.
I think that following this saga (soap opera?) every day can easily make one feel cynical and negative. I would confess to both - although I’m sure you didn’t notice.
On the other hand, we are all going to be a lot better off if GM can make this work, and coincidentally pull its corporate chestnuts out of the fire. So I am struggling today to get back to a more positive place.
So come on guys and get it done. I truly hope that you do. As frustrated as I (we) get sometimes, I will be there with the cash to buy one of the first ones, if the price is at all realistic.
If you produce a really cutting edge ICE Delta platform car, as discussed yesterday, in the meantime, I will buy one of those too. Even better, how about a 1.4 turbo Colorado? My S-10 is getting pretty tired.
Bring it on.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:05 am
noel park
I echo those same sentiments exactly. My stop gap vehicle may not be the car GM announced with 40 mpg because it will not be available until fall of next year. I am not sure I can wait that long. The 2009 Prius is starting to look good as a stop gap car then passed on to my wife when the Volt is available.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:12 am
noel park
Well, I guess I did not echo your sentiments exactly, did I? But I am on board with most of what you say.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I’m happy GM has made the firm commitment to produce the Volt. It’s time that an American automobile company took the lead in something rather than following along 5 years later. The price tag is going to be too high for many in the first year or two until the volume ramps up enough to get the production costs down. The trick will be if they can sell enough at the higher price to warrant building enough in the future to get those costs down?
In the end America has to find a different way to get around rather than burning gasoline. EV’s and EREV’s seem to be the best way that is on the horizon. Imagine having a solar panel collecting energy all day and transferring it to your EV at night so you can go to work, etc. without ever burning a drop of gasoline. That’s energy independence.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Oil independence!
I’ll take Volt #1776 please.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Maybe GM should copy Ford’s program (or at least advertising of one) where they let people test drive their vehicles. I know that GM had and may still have a 30 day return policy. If they do still, they should advertise the fact and get some good commercials on the air with “real” people expressing their experience with “switch over” test vehicle. GM has got to improve their public relation campaign. Don’t depend on good press, GM, because you may not get it. You have to create your on “BUZZ”. And their is plenty to talk about.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I could not let the affront from #48 go unaddressed. Since it appears he is personally familiar with anal-cranial inversion. The forum should have lots of information on this subject much of which I posted myself with a direct cost study. Your obviously a newbie to this site who fires from the hip without any bullets. Do your homework before you insertus your footus in your pie hole. I will not bother to try to educate you since if you are not willing to look it up you probably wouldn’t let facts get in the way of your opinion.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
N Riley:
At least we are on the same page. Again I am concerned on the top speed for the electric mode. My driving is freeway ( until we get toll roads) and the speed that San Antonio people drive is 70mph. and up, MOSTLY UP !!!!
But the important thing is that the auto makers get the message that we are demanding a release from foreign oil, and domestic !!
Have a great day,
Tom
June 4th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Maan … I’m getting addicted to this Volt blog website. The Volt can’t get here soon enough! I’m looking forward to seeing the final exterior design. I hope GM makes it look cool. I’d like people to buy the Volt for the exterior design alone. Make that interior look good too. I hope GM’s best design geniuses are working on the Volt.
I’m sure the powertrain engineers working on the stuff “under the hood” will test everything thoroughly and make sure it gets the good quality ratings from the car magazines, Consumer Reports, etc.
This will be GM’s technological flagship vehicle for the next 5-10 years or so. Let’s hope they get it right. Toyota and the other auto companies are giving GM all the competition it can handle these days. Get ‘er done GM! Get ‘er done right! Make Americans proud of their auto industry again. This really IS a bit like a “moon shot” like Bob Lutz says. There’s a new documentary in HD about the moon landing on the Discovery Channel starting on Sunday night. Maybe it’ll inspire GMs engineers even more.