Comments on: GM Announces Chevy Volt Engines to be Built at Existing Flint Michigan Plant

By: Chevrolet HHR SS and Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe SS get axe - Page 3 - GM Inside News Forum

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:58:03 +0000

[...] retrofitted to produce the same 1.4 liter engine that both the Volt and Cruze are to use would be completed in December 2010. As a result, if the Volt is still on schedule (although that could change ifwhen BK occurs), [...]

By: Dave K. =D~

Dave K. =D~ — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:24:29 +0000

hi Bob G #67,

“GM accepted money from the government”

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I think you’re mistaken. GM asked for a loan and it was granted. We’re going to call it “a loan” until it’s payed back or GM reorganizes. How can the government force GM to do things their way and then hold a gun to GM to pay the loan back?

If WaMu gave a loan to Ford could they demand that Ford use Japanese tires?

=D~

By: Bob G

Bob G — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:31:53 +0000

#60 Dave K said, “… President Obama … it simply is not his business…”

GM accepted money from the government, so now I expect the government to watch closely over GM’s business and make sure my tax dollars are spent wisely.

If Ford wants to buy batteries from Korea, they can do it with private funds. In that case, the government has no reason to get involved.

By: N Riley

N Riley — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:20:08 +0000

Build the engines in an existing plant for the time being seems a very good idea. It has got to be much cheaper than starting from a raw piece of land and building a complete factory. Some day, maybe, they can do that, but for now, this was the best decision.

By: noel park

noel park — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:34:55 +0000

#54 D Lo:

Yeah, many months ago I suggested on the Fastlane blog that the next generation Corvette could be a mid-engined, Lotus Elise (Tesla?) size and weight car, using the turbo 4 out of the Cobalt SS. Super fast, spectacular handling, and 35+ mpg.

Man, the flames almost came right out of the monitor screen!

By: Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:59:27 +0000

#42 Cabdriver Good post – Thanks.

By: Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:51:49 +0000

How’s an engine plant in Flint gonna compete long term when our tax funds are no longer available to bolster GM’s effort?.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

It’s probably a tactical ploy for government money to locate there as many have noted but in the long term it will be a strategic mistake as #59 has noted.

We have an inalienable right to work that does not belong to the government.
Hope Statik is wrong about no Volts in November; crushing humiliation for GM if they flub it.

By: RB

RB — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:30:50 +0000

#56 DonC quotes statik and says
#13 “the glass is ALWAYS half empty” statik says “They aren’t going to have any production Volts rolling off in November 2010.”
Actually it’s likely to be the opposite. I doubt GM is going to miss the November roll out — too much on the line. The cars may have a few loose ends but they’ll be out. Also, remember that production would start in July, so a December start of the engine plant would signify a many month delay.

In support of DonC (sort of) I think GM will make 2 Volts to sell in November 2010, announce success with great fanfare, and then wait until engines come off the Michigan line to make any more It will be like the huge fleet of mules they “currently” have.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:16:47 +0000

The Orlando is the closest thing to what I want in a new car of all Chevy’s recent concepts. A nice clean diesel with a 6 speed manual would be great. Voltec is also attractive of course. However, in my perfect world the Orlando would be a bit less van, more wagon. That would help aesthetically and probably in terms of aerodynamics. That’s just me, though. Can’t argue with the huge cargo area of a high-roofed vehicle.

By: Dave K. =D~

Dave K. =D~ — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:41:51 +0000

Jimmy Hodges #57,

“…batteries should not be made in Korea…here in the United States”

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Is this a decision for Washington D.C. or decision for GM? It’s very easy to say, “This should be, and that should be”. If President Obama wants job creation and American jobs then he needs to take 1% of the total TARP (about $1,000,000,000) and start an American automotive battery manufacturing program. Until this is done, it simply is not his business.

=D~