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GM VP Gives Chevy Volt Update: Development Remains on Schedule

December 19th, 2008 | Posted in: Engineering, Prototypes

Jon Lauckner is GM’s VP of global program development. He along with GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz co-created the Volt concept. In fact Jon is credited with coming up with the idea of a range extender, whereas Lutz’ idea was a pure electric.

Apparently Jon became a bit concerned about the plethora of news in the mainstream media and here on the blogosphere about the shutdown of construction at the Chevy Volt generator plant in Flint, and decide to “squash some of the rumors.”

He advises us the the Volt program remains on track and is “one of the highest, if not the highest, priority programs in the company.” We are also told that the building of the last 33 of Gen II Cruze-mules like the one Wagoner drove in DC were just finished last week.

He also notes that engineering for the “final prototypes” is nearing completion and that those true-to-form Volts will being testing in July 2009.

Lauckner also reassures us that the temporary work stoppage at the Flint Volt generator plant, done to conserve cash isn’t that big a deal. He said that GM’s global manufacturing process is flexible enough to allow that plant to be built in less than a year.

He therefore asserts “the development of the Volt remains on-schedule,” and that we should “reserve judgment until 2010.”

Source (FastLane)

Posted by: Lyle

51 Responses to “GM VP Gives Chevy Volt Update: Development Remains on Schedule”


  1. Cautious Fan
    Vote -1 Vote +1Cautious Fan
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:23 am

    “the development of the Volt remains on schedule”

    Good news. Go baby go. Of course, it can be on track one day, and the next be several months late. But this is still a piece of good news.

    You can never be too sure though. I think we should give them several billions dollars of taxpayer money just to make sure.


  2. Brett Pavel
    Vote -1 Vote +1Brett Pavel
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:27 am

    That is uplifting news! I visualize that Volt in my garage every day!


  3. Firefly
    Vote -1 Vote +1Firefly
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:37 am

    It’s good to hear that they won’t let government intervention (or the lack thereof) stop them from innovation. OPEC wanted to cut oil production to increase profits but it seems that all they’re doing is spurring on production of cars like this.

    Keep it up!


  4. Rashiid Amul
    Vote -1 Vote +1Rashiid Amul
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:38 am

    Thanks Lyle for the quick update.
    I was concerned about the schedule and this new piece of information helps a lot.


  5. jeff j
    Vote -1 Vote +1jeff j
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:42 am

    Just two weeks until 2009 , let the count down begin .


  6. Arch
    Vote -1 Vote +1Arch
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:45 am

    Words words and more words. Thats all it is. When I see the car then I will believe.

    Take Care
    Arch


  7. Guy Incognito
    Vote -1 Vote +1Guy Incognito
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:47 am

    No matter how cheap oil gets, ours still comes from foreign source.
    This alone is reason enough, a matter of national security in fact.
    The Volt MUST be built.


  8. akojim
    Vote -1 Vote +1akojim
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:53 am

    where are all the posts I usually see?


  9. Van
    Vote -1 Vote +1Van
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:55 am

    So the test drives that were promised last summer are now scheduled for the summer of 2009 but development remains on schedule. Got it.

    Or next summer you could buy a next gen Prius plug-in, thanks to a Hymotion modification and beat the schedule by two years.


  10. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:59 am

    How many?

    Delivering a small quantity on schedule is good, but doesn’t achieve the goal of change.

    If you are left waiting a long time for delivery, at what point do you become disenchanted?


  11. Dave G
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dave G
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:11 am

    john1701a Says: “How many?”
    ————————————————————————————–
    10,000 units in the 2011 model year (starting in Nov. 2010).

    As a comparison, this is a little more units than the Prius did in it’s first year.

    Obviously, 10K units is peanuts, but it’s typical of how car makers start ramping up new models in general. The real issue is how many units in the 2012 and 2013 model years. GM has given various numbers on this.


  12. MDDave
    Vote -1 Vote +1MDDave
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am

    So, the Volt is still on schedule… Would anyone really expect GM to fess up at this point in time if the schedule were slipping? It was only a few months ago–when GM was trying to paint a better picture for the shareholders–that the company supposedly had enough credit/cash to last through 2009 and any downturn in the economy. Then, when a Federal bailout seemed possible, GM suddenly became days away from bankruptcy. I don’t think GM is exactly lying, but they will pick and choose the facts that support their current best position.


  13. JEC
    Vote -1 Vote +1JEC
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:23 am

    “He said that GM’s global manufacturing process is flexible enough to allow that plant to be built in less than a year.”
    ——————————————————————————–

    Ok, so you are going to build a plant starting when? (it’s already Dec 2008)

    And your going to have engines coming off the assembly line, when?

    I guess you gotta take him at his word, but in my experience, trying to get production rolling in a new plant is no simple feat.

    But, the engine plant is the least of the real issues. The real “long pole” will be the electronics and software, along with that battery. When are they going to get that battery contract signed?

    Is it still to early to take a “Wait and see” attitude?


  14. akojim
    Vote -1 Vote +1akojim
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:23 am

    oh! now I see them!!


  15. RB
    Vote -1 Vote +1RB
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:25 am

    As we never know what “the schedule” is, we can never know we are “behind.” This is Alice speaking to you from wonderland. :)

    All we know is that the particular events associated with particular times did not actually happen at those times, such as prototypes, test drives, engine factory and battery contracts. I do love computer models, but sometimes it is nice to build something and try it out. :)

    But not to worry. It is good that someone at GM still is speaking optimistically about the Volt.


  16. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:28 am

    As a comparison, this is a little more units than the Prius did in it’s first year.
    ___________________________

    Get serious. Misconceptions were abundant back then and the competition was fighting fiercely against hybrids while consumers had no idea what the heck they were.

    By the way, the first year of sales for Prius here was 15,556.


  17. RB
    Vote -1 Vote +1RB
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am

    #9 Van remarks “So the test drives that were promised last summer are now scheduled for the summer of 2009 but development remains on schedule. Got it.”
    ===========================================

    Van, when speaking to Alice please remember that words mean exactly what she says they mean, not what you think they mean. :)


  18. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:33 am

    Obviously, 10K units is peanuts, but it’s typical of how car makers start ramping up new models in general.
    ______________________________________________

    Typical for what & who?

    200,000 is the target for the new Honda Insight.


  19. statik
    Vote -1 Vote +1statik
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:46 am

    He therefore asserts “the development of the Volt remains on-schedule,” and that we should “reserve judgment until 2010.”
    ====================================
    Oh you are a funny one Jon Lauckner, how you make me smile.

    I find it interesting that in the same interview he wants to convince us they are still clipping along on schedule, he actually adds another item to prove they have stopped working.

    He mentions having just finished building the last of the 33 mules to prove his point? Thats odd, because just 6 weeks ago, Lutz said they were building 3 a week and would have 50 by year’s end. Source:
    http://gm-volt.com/2008/09/26/bob-lutz-video-gm-wasnt-prepared-volt-initial-reaction-current-volt-mules-are-chevy-cruzes/

    By my math they are coming up 17 short and no one works the last week of the year, so that means the decision to stop building them was made early November…and the Q3 report/board meeting was early November, hmmm, must be a coincidence

    Then we have “engineering for the “final prototypes” is nearing completion” statement. What does that mean…other than, we are still not done? He also holds up ‘true to form’ Volts in July 2009 as a argument for being on schedule for going into production a little over a year later.

    I don’t remember Lutz saying anything like, “Check back with us in two and a half years from now when we will have a working prototype-July 2009″ in the press junket hyping the Volt on March 31st 2007…oh wait he said “working prototype by the end of 2007″
    http://gm-volt.com/2007/03/06/gm-reiterates-2010-target-launch-date/

    /so close

    I would suggest to them until they actually come close to hitting a deadline, it is better off to say nothing.


  20. RB
    Vote -1 Vote +1RB
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:57 am

    Just in case you are wondering, the three men in the picture in the post are auditioning for night jobs at a men’s clothing store in DC. (They need a little supplement, now that the day job is only $1/year.) Nice suits and ties, don’t you think? :)


  21. statik
    Vote -1 Vote +1statik
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 8:58 am

    I’m guessing we are going to have a new thread in about 2 minutes, lol. Bailout Nation in full effect. Maybe we could talk about the winter strom that is attacking the northern part of the US and southern Canada now in this thread…I sense it will become less popular shortly.


  22. RB
    Vote -1 Vote +1RB
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:03 am

    #19 statik asks “Then we have “engineering for the “final prototypes” is nearing completion” statement. What does that mean…other than, we are still not done?”
    ==========================================

    It means “we haven’t figured out how to build the car yet, but we still are working on it.” You understand it is harder and things go a little slower after you turn off the electricity in the office, as that pencil and paper work goes slower because it gets dark earlier. :)
    .
    [Actually I feel a little guilty to make fun of them so much, as I'm sure there are people who still are trying hard, but gee whiz with statements like this one, they ask for it.]


  23. MarkinWI
    Vote -1 Vote +1MarkinWI
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:10 am

    The deal is done. No bankruptcy. “Targets with wiggle room” for concessions from stakeholders by the end of the year. Wage parity by the end of the year (instead of next week, as demanded by Congressional Republicans). 33% targeted return for bond holders (more than double what the market was offering them last week). It will be interesting to see what parts of the deal, if any, are ever actually executed.

    http://www.freep.com/article/20081219/BUSINESS01/81219021


  24. Dave G
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dave G
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Feds to lend $13.4 billion to automakers
    http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/19/auto.bailout/index.html


  25. RB
    Vote -1 Vote +1RB
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am

    The White House threw in the towel.

    GM is an embarrassment to the country.


  26. Thom
    Vote -1 Vote +1Thom
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am

    Will the GM Volt’s user manual have a section on “Rebooting”?

    Had to jump start my CEO’s (non-GM) car last night. He had just gotten a new keyless ignition system installed and yesterday morning the computer software got hung up in a state where the ignition was turned off but the battery was being drained. He, thinking that it will eventually correct itself, left it and came into work. When he went back to the car in the evening the battery was completely drained to the point where he was unable to start it. Completely draining the battery, did power down the computer so that when it was jump started it effectively did reboot itself.

    When I was at Volt Nation event last March, the assertion was that battery management will be done by the computer, even when the car is otherwise “powered off”. To date (and I previously worked at Intel) I haven’t come across a computer that went 24×7x365 for 10 years without the need for at least one unplanned / undesired reboot. (I’ve seen “calculators” accomplish this feat but unaware of anything meeting the standard of a true “computer” meeting this level of overall system quality).

    Obviously better software testing should have been done by my CEO’s after-market vender — but begs the question: Does/should the Volt (and maybe especially any pure-electric cars) have a “Reboot / Reset” button to reset software without disconnecting electrical supply? Obviously reboot should not be a button that the kids play with while the car is in motion on the road but seems like this needs to be a consideration for good design.


  27. statik
    Vote -1 Vote +1statik
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:26 am

    #22 RB said,

    #19 statik asks “Then we have “engineering for the “final prototypes” is nearing completion” statement. What does that mean…other than, we are still not done?”
    ——————-

    It means “we haven’t figured out how to build the car yet, but we still are working on it.” You understand it is harder and things go a little slower after you turn off the electricity in the office, as that pencil and paper work goes slower because it gets dark earlier. .
    [Actually I feel a little guilty to make fun of them so much, as I'm sure there are people who still are trying hard, but gee whiz with statements like this one, they ask for it.]
    =================================

    Heeh, I like your humoUr RB.

    I felt a little guilty myself truth be told. I wrote up the laundry list of delays and missed deadlines again…but then just deleted it all out and decided to only addresss the issues the thread itself brought up.

    Side note:
    They should be careful to not make many mistakes ‘figuring out how to build it’ if they are using pencils and paper, as they no longer had ‘waste collection’ at their desks…big piles of crumpled up paper can be a fire hazard.

    Although, if the company has any large steel drums hanging around they could burn the paper and warm their hands by it. Two problems solved at a time (waste and heat), now thats Detroit ingenuity at its finest!

    “Look everyone, Fred in finance has a REALLY big fire going, who know the words to kum by ya my lord?”


  28. Dave G
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dave G
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:31 am

    john1701a Says: “By the way, the first year of sales for Prius here was 15,556.”
    ————————————————————————————–
    Misleading. These are 2001 Prius sales. The Prius started selling in 1997 in Japan. By 2001 Toyota had already been selling the Prius for 3-4 years, so they already had a lot of the kinks worked out.

    By the way, you obviously love your Prius and hate the Volt, so what are you doing here? Who do you work for?


  29. JEC
    Vote -1 Vote +1JEC
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:38 am

    Weather Report!

    14 inches and still coming in SE Wisconsin.

    Just finished the driveway…Back hurts…Kids at home…Is it to early to drink beer?

    Need Volt with optional snowplow installed, immediately. Will use mule if available.


  30. JEC
    Vote -1 Vote +1JEC
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am

    Well, I guess my money is heading down the toilet…
    ————————
    “WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The government will offer up to $17.4 billion in loans to the ailing U.S. automakers and expects General Motors and Chrysler LLC to access the money immediately, a senior administration official said on Friday.”

    “Viability would be mean that the companies must have a positive net present value, which doesn’t necessarily mean immediate profitability but would require them to reach that point relatively soon, the official said.”
    ——————————–
    Relatively soon? Which basically means…after you spent all the money


  31. statik
    Vote -1 Vote +1statik
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am

    #29 JEC

    Weather Report!

    14 inches and still coming in SE Wisconsin.

    Just finished the driveway…Back hurts…Kids at home…Is it to early to drink beer? Need Volt with optional snowplow installed, immediately. Will use mule if available.
    ===================

    Weather thread FTW.

    We have just started getting it here (Toronto). Only at 2 inches, but snowfall is ramping up pretty good. Me and the boy are hunkered down for the day already. We are forecasted to get 25 inches or so…but who knows.

    Rented a few movies from the Blockbuster, picked up some ‘movie snacks’ for us (and some cold beverages for myself). The wife gets off early from work at noon, and she already has received the directive to pick up a bucket of chicken.


  32. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:59 am

    These are 2001 Prius sales. The Prius started selling in 1997 in Japan. By 2001 Toyota had already been selling the Prius for 3-4 years, so they already had a lot of the kinks worked out.
    ________________________________________

    Isn’t Volt on the road already? Won’t we be hearing about mules for another 2 years still? Wasn’t the 90’s a very different automotive market?


  33. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    By the way, you obviously love your Prius and hate the Volt, so what are you doing here?
    __________________________________________

    I’m tired of all the misrepresentation… like the 311 MPG claim without any data whatsoever to support it, stated in only ideal condition situations.

    Setting up false expectations will harm all hybrids. Someone needs to call out “shenanigans”.


  34. charlie h
    Vote -1 Vote +1charlie h
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 10:40 am

    Dave G, There’s misleading and then there’s misleading… John said “here.” Bear in mind that Prius sales here of 15K in 2001 are in addition to however many Toyota sold in Japan that year. The Prius has been solidly mainstream since 2004.

    Your note only serves to remind that the Prius has a 13 year head start; due only to GM’s intransigence. And in the fourteenth year, the Volt will manage only piddly quantities against Toyota’s possible 400K? GM should be embarassed into silence.

    This is pathetic underachievement on GM’s part for a vehicle which will offer no compelling economic or other argument in favor of its purchase.

    And you are way off base when you ask someone, “By the way, you obviously love your Prius and hate the Volt, so what are you doing here?”

    Even a Prius owners are welcome to analyze and criticize the Volt program. GM invited them to do so, because a Prius owner is kicking in his share of a $7500 tax credit for each Volt sold! If a Prius owner (or anyone else) doesn’t like the way the Volt is shaping up, he has a civic duty to speak up!


  35. N Riley
    Vote -1 Vote +1N Riley
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am

    Always good to hear that. Good luck GM.


  36. N Riley
    Vote -1 Vote +1N Riley
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am

    It truly amazes me that no matter what you do you can not satisfy some people. They always have to see only the bad side of every thing.


  37. N Riley
    Vote -1 Vote +1N Riley
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    After reading all the comments today, I wish I had just skipped them. Pessimism is at a premium today. You know the old saying “that if you can’t say something good about something, don’t say anything”? Apparently that does not apply here. Give us a break.


  38. GLV
    Vote -1 Vote +1GLV
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    #29 JEC

    Weather Report!

    14 inches and still coming in SE Wisconsin.

    Just finished the driveway…Back hurts…Kids at home…Is it to early to drink beer? Need Volt with optional snowplow installed, immediately. Will use mule if available.
    ===================

    Weather thread FTW.

    We have just started getting it here (Toronto). Only at 2 inches, but snowfall is ramping up pretty good. Me and the boy are hunkered down for the day already. We are forecasted to get 25 inches or so…but who knows.

    Rented a few movies from the Blockbuster, picked up some ‘movie snacks’ for us (and some cold beverages for myself). The wife gets off early from work at noon, and she already has received the directive to pick up a bucket of chicken
    ________________________________

    Winter has arrived! Here in Houston Texas we have a 10% chance of rain today with a high of 74 and an expected low tonight of 60. Brrrrr…. :)


  39. Leroy The Cable Guy
    Vote -1 Vote +1Leroy The Cable Guy
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    GM needs to just shut it down. Turn out the lights the party’s over.
    Feds are just throwing money down the drain. Mismanagement and poor engineering got them to this point, all the money in the world won’t fix those two problems. Toyota has kicked “GM the begger”’s butt !


  40. jeffhre
    Vote -1 Vote +1jeffhre
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    john1701a

    …and the 1st gen Prius was a Japan only release based on the echo. Didn’t take off till it got it’s own unique sheet metal.


  41. Shawn Marshall
    Vote -1 Vote +1Shawn Marshall
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Go GM!!
    Go Volt!!
    Now’s your opportunity to spin the Volt off and go with it. You’ll attract beau coup moola from venture capitalists. Make sure you have the factories you need (southern;cheaper labor,cheaper utilities, less heating – no cooling, no arcane work rules) and the just right personnel to JGTVWOTR. And with no anchor around your neck, get the new government to kick in some ridiculous amounts of money for the Coskata scheme and for your very own battery research and production facilities.
    And let’s have a drive.


  42. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    …and the 1st gen Prius was a Japan only release based on the echo, Didn’t take off till it got it’s own unique sheet metal.
    ___________________________

    Echo came afterward. Production dates clearly confirm that.

    Toyota created a less expensive body, detuned the engine (for more power, rather than efficiency) and replaced the hybrid components with a traditonal transmission. Echo was a way of recouping costs from the aggressive development of Prius.

    As for the “didn’t take off“, do you really want the same to be claimed for Volt? You’ll insist sale numbers were low due to a production quota limitation… just like it was for Prius… but all others will see in the number itself.

    Toyota kept the numbers low, since there was no reason to push back then. Why? With the next generation model so close, it wouldn’t have made any sense to increase volume for the older hybrid system or battery-pack. Think about the timing. Think about the dealer & mechanic training. Think about the SUV market back then. Think about how little people cared about oil dependency or climate change….


  43. jeffhre
    Vote -1 Vote +1jeffhre
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    Leroy The Cable Guy

    …Great idea for GM. Then they’ll return the favor to us trashing enough suppliers to immediately wipe out Chrysler. Then with it’s supply chain looking like Swiss cheese, Ford will shut down for ten months, if not for good, to re-certify new suppliers. Asian and German automakers, mainly in the southeast will shut in order to down to source, contract and certify new suppliers after Ford shuts their lines down. Thousands of landscapers, housekeepers, waitstaff, builders, store clerks, small business owners, coaches, physicians, car dealers, lenders, insurers, your supervisor, his cousin, your youngest sister and everyone who depended on them will be out of work or at best underemployed if they can move fast and scheme even faster. A Swiss cheese economy with a trillion dollar hole in the center, until the new all-overseas-based auto industry sets up it’s supply chain. When the German and Asian automakers do start up again, with vastly more foreign parts suppliers than now, they will begin to feast on exporting billions of dollars overseas with no incentive to look out for US interests or even pay US taxes.

    The last two months have already been deflationary and the government is on the hook for 2 trillion of deficit spending. All 50 states have deficits and will not be paying their private contractors who will continue to lay off workers. The fit has yet to hit the shan with regard to necessary layoffs. The world economy is essentially hoping for the US economy and consumer demand to pull it back up. Do you really figure it’s time for GM to add momentum to get that ball rolling downhill?


  44. jeffhre
    Vote -1 Vote +1jeffhre
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    john1701a

    Toyota was smart to keep the numbers low early in the learning curve. If there was a larger market, selling more would allay the criticism at the time that it was only produced for “green publicity”. They would have lost a lot more trying to tool up too soon before learning how to make money selling the Prius including giving a unique skin for the Gen II model.


  45. Koz
    Vote -1 Vote +1Koz
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    jeffhre #43

    “…and the 1st gen Prius was a Japan only release based on the echo. Didn’t take off till it got it’s own unique sheet metal.”

    This is a very popular view but I believe it was more coincidental. Didn’t the Prius also get is revamped HSD with the new design. Oil prices also started their upswing in ‘04. While I’m sure some people bought for the skin, I don’t think that has been the main driver especially since the skin ain’t so lovely.


  46. john1701a
    Vote -1 Vote +1john1701a
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    A hatchback offers a far more practical interior than a sedan.


  47. koz
    Vote -1 Vote +1koz
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    john1701a #46

    “A hatchback offers a far more practical interior than a sedan.”

    That too. It’s probably number 2 or 3 on the list, above the unique look of the skin.


  48. kdawg
    Vote -1 Vote +1kdawg
    Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    #19 Static says
    He mentions having just finished building the last of the 33 mules to prove his point? Thats odd, because just 6 weeks ago, Lutz said they were building 3 a week and would have 50 by year’s end. Source:

    —————–

    You read that wrong. Its not “last of the 33″, its “the last 33 of”. Totally different meaing. That would make me belive its the last 33 of 50, so they have 17 complete already.


  49. koz
    Vote -1 Vote +1koz
    Says:
    December 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am

    kdawg #48

    I saw that too but then read the linked article. The “last 33 of” wording was an inaccurate paraphrase by Lyle. Laukner wrote the “last of the 33…”, so Statik is accurate. But does it matter to the point of them being on schedule or not. Perhaps so perhaps not. I don’t agree with a lot of the griping about missed deadlines, changed plans, and other changes in the design process. Certainly GM and Lutz were misleading or incompetent in the early comfortably under $30K comments. Anybody familiar with the technology involved could predict that was bogus. But stirring those misrepresentions in the same pot with every single adjustment during the design process is absurd. It is impossible to be as transparent as GM has in this design process and not encounter changes. IMO it is perfectly reasonable to hold their feet to the fire for changes that indicate a shift in their commitment to this project and its fundamental goal of producing a commercially viable EREV in a timely manner. It’s also understandable to call them out if one believes they are being deceitful. The change in mule count from 50 to 33, if this is indeed the case, is most obviously a result of their cash problems and could certainly be a sacrificed they chose to make while not directly affecting their timeline to production. Of course it would increase risk but not necessarily the development timeline. That said, I would be very surprised if the timeline ends up being unaffected by their financial woes. I do agree with Statik and others in the overall opinion that end of 2010 looks increasingly less likely to be the first production date.


  50. Eric Salyer
    Vote -1 Vote +1Eric Salyer
    Says:
    December 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    I am extremely glad to hear that the Volt is still on schedule and did not get canned. The significance of this technology, concept, idea can not be over stated. I truly belief this car will revolutionize the car industry and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
    GO GM!!!!!!!!!


  51. jbiz
    Vote -1 Vote +1jbiz
    Says:
    December 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 am

    Great news. However, I never doubted the Volt. Chevy knows how important this car is. Late 20 to early 30 somethings really love this car, and my wife and I are planning on buying one just about regardless of the cost. This is the car we wish we had five years ago! If GM can take the idea and extend it to: sporty, rugged, etc other vehicles they can probably dominate.

    Right now I am a Subaru owner and have been for a long time. However this Volt is good enough to make me switch and that’s really saying something!

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