It has recently been disclosed that GM is in advanced talks with Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer Sichuan Tengzhong to purchase the Hummer brand. Shedding Hummer has been an important aspect of GM’s reorganization plan to be able to bring the automaker down to its four core brands, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick.
Much has been made in the media about the irony of a Chinese company buying Hummer and the fact that it will give them a foothold in the US market as dealerships are taken over.
In more irony, the company has also indicated its interest in making Hummer a fuel efficient brand.
Tengzhong will keep the current Hummer executive team and continue to manufacture the vehicles in Shreveport, Louisiana. Jim Taylor is Hummer’s general manager and was recently interviewed about the transition.
Taylor confirmed the Hummer production would stay in the US at least in the short-term.
"We’re there until the end of 2010, for sure. After that, we have a lot of choices," he said. "As far as I can see in the next product development cycle, it would all come from here.
Of course Hummers sold in the US would have to achieve the newly approved federal CAFE regulations.
"We need to head towards CAFÉ compliance – which means smaller and more fuel efficient, or we’re dialed out," says Taylor. "Think of the smaller H4 we were showing at the auto show and it could safely conjectured we would enter into that space."
The reporter pointed out Raser’s recently unveiled plug-in hybrid hummer demonstration vehicle that could get 100 mpg and asked if the new company might pursue that course.
"It’s a big number to take on, a ground-up hybrid or electric vehicle, but it’d make a lot of sense for the Hummer brand," he said. "We just have to look at the financial side to see if it’s something we can stomach." He did note that there is a "100%" likelihood that in 5 years an alternative propulsion Hummer will hit the roads.
Source (TheDetroitBureau )
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 10:55 am and is filed under Brand, PHEV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:58 am)First
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:59 am)!st or 100th just make it well thought out and relevant!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:59 am)I think this is great news for all the people who work at Hummer, as they not only keep their jobs, but receive the injection of capital and product plans for the future.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:00 am)The more electric vehicles, the better!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:01 am)Not First!
Hummer would be a cool vehicle if it would get 30+ MPG.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:09 am)6th
Hummer EV… leave it to the Chinese
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:15 am)@ArkansasVolt
Raser already did that. Of course they will probably do a “Reverse Engineering” of it and come up with their own version.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:16 am)Listen to me now and believe me later.
Once you have a Chinese Hummer you will never go back.
Chinese do it better and I’ll be back…
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:18 am)It seems reasonable that Hummer would partner in some way with Raser to continue producing the larger vehicles, even if only to sell Hummer gliders to Raser for retrofit. Always pursue the low hanging fruit.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:19 am)#2, jeffhre,
Your inital post stated “!st”, so don’t fake like you weren’t going for the prize.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:21 am)#8
bahhhhhhhh that was a good one.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:23 am)Jason M. Hendler
I wanted to state my opinion from a position of authority, but as usual you were way out ahead of me!
The prize is actually getting the information and element of community that Lyle brings us with this amazing site.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:24 am)@Jason M. Hendler 9
I agree and if they (the Chinese) can do it for $40K that would be awesome. I wouldn’t buy it, not my niche, but the more EREV/BEV the merrier.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:29 am)The chinese will need more vehicles than this SUV. I would expect that the dealer could quickly start selling small BEVs and EREVs.
Don’t think the Volt has some huge insurmountable lead in the technology. There are plenty of smart engineers available to design the control systems to make these things work well.
The Chevy Volt 2.0 may be competing with the Chevry Vrolt from China which could easily cost half as much.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:32 am)The Chinese Hummer will eat Volts for breakfast.
I have no doubt that the new improved and electrified Hummer will to some serious damage to the Volt. I look forward to dusting some Volts off the line at your nearest stop light soon.
Till we meet again my friend.
W. Buffet
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:36 am)#7
CaptJackSparrow
@ArkansasVolt
Raser already did that. Of course they will probably do a “Reverse Engineering” of it and come up with their own version.
______________________
If I was the guys at Hummer I’d look at taking a page out of Daimlers book with Tesla, AMG etc. Just use Raser as the “factory” installer, once they have a reasonable amount of testing and road experience.
If any problems come up later, tell customers, although this is a tested rock solid technology, (“from Raser”, and “gee guys how could you let us down like that?”) we will make sure your “customer experience” is the best”… and make Raser pay for all the problems!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:36 am)The only thing I like about the Chinese are the women.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:43 am)“100% likelihood in 5 years” –wow, pretty good odds.
I like the Raser idea but I read the H3 that was equipped as an EREV cost $54,000-ish. Ouch, but as we always say here with the Volt, hopefully economies of scale could bring that down into the real world. I personally like the look of the H3–if they could do that EREV set-up such as by Raser, and bring the price down, that would make a compelling argument for a lot of people.
Does anyone know if this Chinese company has deep pockets? They are going to need them.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:44 am)Fuel efficient turbo diesel that’s down on power. Hope for mid to high 20’s mpg. That’s about as good as it’ll get with an H3.
An H4? That’s just dumb. You’d be competing directly against the Jeep CJ’s. Good luck selling a sub compact Chinese made Hummer (at least in the U.S.).
More to the point: Heavy non aerodynamic electric cars have little to no chance of viability. Those batteries will eventually wear out and need replacing. They may come down in price but to the point of “cheap” seems highly unlikely. So unless you’re assuming cheap batteries that never need replacement, there’s really no sense in building heavy draggy electric cars.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:46 am)This begs the question of government meddling into the auto industry. What if a well financed company wanted to buy Hummer, and just make Hummers, regardless how big or small the market is.
The company would be unable to sell the product in the U.S. because they don’t have ’small’ cars to offset the fuel economy standards. This limits light vehicle production to large multi national companies and effectively locks out startups or investors who may want to buy pieces of bigger car companies.
Please don’t bother responding about all the wonderful startups that produce electric cars. The only electric cars available in any numbers are E-Z-Go, Club Car, and Yamaha. Golf carts….
In 10 years if you want to haul equipment, tow a boat or camper, you’re gonna wind up buying a Ford F550, Dodge 5500, GMC Top Kick type vehicle, or maybe even a Navistar or KW.
Thank you Uncle Sam.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:55 am)>> “… to see if it’s something we can stomach.”
WTF? See if you can stomach it? Whether it’s fiscally logical, yeah, I can see where you’d be concerned about that… but stomach it? What’s this guy got against improved technology and efficiency?
Edit: Duh, he WAS talking about the financial aspect. My bad.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:01 pm)Well Good! I don’t know if China got a good deal with that move but GM getting down to their core brands (i.e., Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cad) is good.
How and why did GM ever get envolved with a “Hummer”. As much as I like Arny, the Hummer didn’t do much for him accept, let him give the oil companies a little more money which seems right, in Califonia.
If the Hummer can be made into a Hybrid, the Chineese can do it. Good luck China on your new acquisition, you will need it.
Now GM needs to get VOLT production a movin.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:04 pm)The Chinese are sitting on 2+ Trillion dollars of cash right now. I say their auto companies can dominate GM anytime anywhere. They have extremely deep pockets. They already produce the first mass produced EV (from BYD) and more are on the way. If anybody can electrify the Hummer it will be the chinese. Don’t sell them short.
Did I mention that they have deep pockets !
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:06 pm)#20 solo said:
This begs the question of government meddling into the auto industry. What if a well financed company wanted to buy Hummer, and just make Hummers, regardless how big or small the market is.
The company would be unable to sell the product in the U.S. because they don’t have ’small’ cars to offset the fuel economy standards. This limits light vehicle production to large multi national companies and effectively locks out startups or investors who may want to buy pieces of bigger car companies.
==================
Well, in the case of HUMMER it shouldn’t be too hard to meet the standard…after all they have only sold 827 of the ‘land whale’ H2 so far this year. Now that they are in the country, they can certainly import a few crap boxes to offset the H2’s number.
The bigger issue (in this case) I think is; Does this open the door and also give a domestic footprint/dealer base to a Chinese automaker/company to pretty much do/import whatever they feel like?
What potentially ‘could’ be even worse for the domestic (and current foreign) automakers is that ‘landed’ Chinese made EVs are not something any automaker contempted/allowed for….and it is not priced into their projections. Not saying this is what is going to happen by any stretch…I’m just saying.
/China knows how to make a cheap car, even that are decently reliable (and do now)…and they know how to make a lithium battery (and do now)…and they have a ton of lithium reserves (they aren’t Chile or Bolivia, but they are a solid third).
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:12 pm)Good riddance. I wonder if they will take Ahhhnold with them? So much the better if they do.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:16 pm)A 100 MPG Hybrid Hummer would be totally awesome.
A true Volt killer. I would buy one in a New York minute.
Remember in China 2009 is the Year of the Ox.
And you know what that means…
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:19 pm)Really wish Schwarzenneger would just stay out of the limelight on all issues where conservation is concerned. He’s such a lightning rod of hypocrisy that it just ends up as a maddening distraction. I’m not saying he is or isn’t a good governor or anything like that. I’m just saying if he starts talking about saving fuel it turns into a “do as I say, not as I do” thing to pumped up ironic proportions.
Keep your mug out of it Arnie. Get somebody on your staff to handle this area.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:24 pm)#24 statik:
It’s gonna happen, it’s just a matter of time. If we aren’t smart enough to buy American products, we are going to get what we deserve in the end.
I heard Ron Gettelfinger interviewed on NPR yesterday. He said that, in 1979, GM employed 469,000 workers represented by the UAW. Today it is 61,000 and, after all of the announced plant closings and layoffs are complete, it will be 38,000.
My current hope for survival for GM is that there is some sort of irreducible minimum they can reach where there are enough “buy American” die hards (of which I include myself) left to keep them alive.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:26 pm)#24 statik – You are obviously right that you don’t buy a brand so you can sell 100 vehicles a month. I’d love to have a 100 mpg Hummer but I’m thinking the transporter might be more fun.
In all seriousness, i wonder though how many brands the market can bear. Thirty three brands and a ton of excess capacity is not a recipe for a profitable industry.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:28 pm)Basically, a chinese company just bought access to the US market. And the technology necessary to build cars to compete in the US marketplace. And, unlike GM and Ford, they can import small cars to meet regulatory requirements.
Am I the only one depressed about this?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:29 pm)#12, jeffhre,
Quit posing – what you wanted to say from a position of authority was “!st”? Don’t even try to lay that internet group grope tripe on us, you just wanted to win pole position. Nahners!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:32 pm)#27 carcus1:
It’s OK, you can say it. He’s a horrible Governor!
The environmental hypocrisy which you so correctly point out is just the beginning. The state has one foot in bankruptcy and the other one on a banana peel. This after he ran on a platrform of “post partisan politics”, and “kutting up ze kredit kards”. It would be funny if it wasn’t such a disaster.
And I’m a 62 year CA resident, so I’ve seen a lot of “nut state” politicians come and go.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:33 pm)I think that is an excellent thing for the Chinese to do! Make Hummer into a lower-carbon utility vehicle.
BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS TO YOU, SICHUAN TENGZHONG !
We would not have been able to do anything there with the Hummer, and, Tengzhong would be the perfect way for it to be moved over into the more carbon-friendly category.
As the Chinese have been very realistic and reasonable in the way that Beijing is managed, I see not any problem whatsoever for Americans working in those plants with the Chinese.
It will be very interesting to see the technical developments which Tengzhong brings about for the Hummer. Whatever it takes to kill carbon dioxide production, and, to kill it off as quickly as is possible is the critical mission now for all of us. We have all run out of time to cut carbon! There is no time left for worrying about anything else. NONE.
AGAIN, BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS, SICHUAN TENGZHONG!
and.
WELCOME!
Dan Petit Austin TX.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:33 pm)They are going to make an electric Hummer, but you will have to shovel coal into it.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:33 pm)LauraM,
While the number of people working for the US auto industry has gone down, the number of Americans working for all automakers has gone up, because Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, etc. have all built assembly plants, dealerships, parts centers, etc. in the US.
Now well financed Chinese corporations will provide jobs in America along with other Asian and European nations.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:34 pm)#28 Noel Park
Unfortunately, the auto industry is based around economies of scale. There may not be enough diehards to keep GM and Ford in business. And there certainly aren’t enough to make them able to compete in terms of R&D or product development. Or develop a profitable Volt.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:39 pm)@Dan Petit 33
Holy Guacamole!!!!
Dan used S P A C E S!!!!!!
I’ll have a drink to celebrate!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:40 pm)I hope the Chinese have success with the Hummer
At least as much success as I have had with my Kung Fu Hang Job.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:41 pm)#31
Jason M. Hendler
__________________
OK, you’re on a roll now! Seriously, you can check all my comments; they’re all !st is great but it’s all about the site anyway.
I’m sure you have far more pressing matters to attend to though!
#35 … and send boatloads of hard earned capital back to their homelands.
________________________________
Noel Park… I don’t think anyone could govern this mess!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:43 pm)28 Noel Park
I heard Ron Gettelfinger interviewed on NPR yesterday. He said that, in 1979, GM employed 469,000 workers represented by the UAW. Today it is 61,000 and, after all of the announced plant closings and layoffs are complete, it will be 38,000.
================
I’m not sure on those current #’s, but if true, they are really going to have to raise those union dues to pay for Gettlefinger’s salary (and all the other “leaders” / lawyers/ lobbyists)
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:44 pm)#37
CaptJackSparrow
@Dan Petit 33
Holy Guacamole!!!!
Dan used S P A C E S!!!!!!
I’ll have a drink to celebrate!
_________________
Dan are you OK! Maybe you should lie down or something.
In all seriousness – that’s very readable, thanks!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:48 pm)#28 noel park — A big reason for the reduction in force is that manufacturing is very efficient. The sad truth is that industries with the highest employment are the least efficient. Areas like law and accounting use a ton of people because we do those tasks very inefficiently.
#32 noel park — Ahnold is the least of the problem. At least he’s constructively engaged. Because of redistricting and the primary system CA has more wing nuts from both sides of the aisle than any state can bear. And the wing nuts ensure that a reasonable compromise is not easily within reach. The “Jungle Primary” would be a very useful thing so there would be some chance for moderates to be elected.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (12:57 pm)There’s an even smaller H4? I think I’ve seen one before; it’s called a Jeep. If they keep shrinking that thing, pretty soon they’ll be teaming with Vespa. But it will be a very rugged Vespa, mind you.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:02 pm)#42 Don C:
I disagree with your claims of inefficieny in areas like law. The workers do work efficiently (they have to; their clients pay by the hour and demand efficiency), it’s just that so many cases require unique approaches. It’s not analagous to churning out 100,000 Cobalts or widgets a year. The same is the case for engineers and architects. When every project is different, you need simply more people. I don’t consider that an efficiency issue, since it is wholly non-analguos to manufacturing.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:08 pm)35.
Jason M. Hendler Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 12:33 pm .LauraM,
While the number of people working for the US auto industry has gone down, the number of Americans working for all automakers has gone up, because Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, etc. have all built assembly plants, dealerships, parts centers, etc. in the US.
===============
Automation and plants going to Mexico eliminated a lot of jobs. GM/Ford/Chrysler also pushed more work to their suppliers so less had to be done by Union labor.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:09 pm)# 43
Jim in PA
44 The workers do work efficiently (they have to; their clients pay by the hour and demand efficiency), how do you define efficiency when despite prolific amounts of writing and court appearences most law is in practitioners minds?
__________________
Hilarious, that’s certainly when I’ll consider a Vespa/Hummer for my frequent runs to Lowes.
LauraM – I used to say Lowes/Home Depot until I sold the HD stock after getting sick of Nardelli skimming the cream off the top.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:12 pm)This is great news! Take my name off the volt list, I’m buying something more useful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:12 pm)#35 Jason M. Hendler
The number of people working for the auto industry has gone up because the market has expanded. (There were mroe cars sold in 2007 than 2006 and so on.) The domestic dealers employ more Americans per market share than the foreign transplants. (Not necessarily directly, but through parts, etc.)
The American companies buy more American parts on percentage basis. Additionally, a much larger share of the R&D jobs, product development jobs, and the administrative jobs are here. And the majority of their profits (when there are any) stay here. Finally, if any car company was going to export a car made in the US, it would be a domestic company. Not a foreign transplant.
Also, Japan only built factories in the US to get around protectionist sentiment (and import restrictions). Once our domestic companies are gone, there’s nothing to stop them from importing all of our cars from outside the Us. (They would almost have to at first to deal with the effects on the domestic suppy chain.) And a Chinese company would certainly transfer as many jobs as possible to China as soon as they could since they’re all involved to some degree with the Chinese government.
Additionally, since China is now involved, I’m worried about quality fade and safety controls….
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:37 pm)#45, k-dawg,
Yes, suppliers kept moving up the value chain, culminating in Magna buying Opel and becoming a major automaker themselves instead of a Tier 1 supplier.
Market forces continue to do their work, regardless of whatever moral implications you put on them.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:37 pm)I thought Kalifornia was the home of the Hummer. I know the Governator drives one. It would be ironic if the Hummer disappears in NoCal and SoCal only to become the world’s greatest EV-SUV. I would relish a 100+ mpg Hummer. IMHO, Arnold is the best thing to happen to California. The Terminator should start eliminating all those overpaid and underworked state employees immediately. California and New York are the two biggest welfare states in the world and they do not represent the USA at all. They would be a much better fit in Europe.
No charge for the education, I consider it a public service.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:41 pm)#48, LauraM,
Actually, Toyota built a proving grounds in Arizona, so it’s not exactly true to say all jobs that went from American automakers to foreign automakers went from white collar technical to merely blue collar.
In this instance, I expect China to maintain or expand the technical automotive expertise in the US, as it simply doesn’t exist in China and it would take time to develop. I do predict some partnership with Raser as well, maintaining their domestic expertise.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:49 pm)I see nothing wrong with Hummer. Why dont people curse Ferrari and Bugatti for making low MPG cars? There are plenty of people in this country and in the world with money that would love to drive one if biuld right (tru lux, strong engine) and priced outside the reach of the regular person. Hummer sould have left with GM as a limited volume brand. Why do you think China is intersted, cause they know once this thing with recession is over they will be making tons of money selling it in China, Russia, South America and US.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:53 pm)American’s were buying SUV’s in droves back when gas was cheap.
If you make an SUV that is cheap to fill (electricity), why wouldn’t they go back to buying SUV’s? It’s like having your cake and eating it too (southpark iraq war episode). I don’t want a small death trap, but I also don’t want to pay $50 to fill up my vehicle. If I could get an E-REV hummer (that I could afford) I’d be all over that!
GM, don’t get rid of all your SUV capacity. We don’t all want shoebox cars.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (1:55 pm)#51 Jason M. Hendler
Yes. Toyota has some engineering done here. So does Honda. Just as GM used to do a lot of their engineering in Germany and Korea. (It may change now that they don’t have ownership/control of Opel, and Daewoo is questionable). It’s about percentages.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:03 pm)@ #26 RedHeat,
>> A 100 MPG Hybrid Hummer would be totally awesome.
>> A true Volt killer. I would buy one in a New York minute.
Even if it was $80,000*? Because, odds are good, it would be! Probably even more, if you wanted a 4-wheel-drive version.
* = a totally-guessin’ number I’ve pulled out thin air, based upon relative sizes and battery needs.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:05 pm)Selling to a Chinese company would give that company a fast foothold into the American auto market place. Just think about all the technology inside a Hummer that could be used by that Chinese company in other consumer and military applications. The consumer side is bad enough, but the military side could cause serious trouble down the line. But, not to worry. I am sure it has been fully blessed by the current administration the same way missile technology was during the period 1993 -2000. You give me something and I will give you something.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:11 pm)#46 jeffhre
From a profit perspective, I think one definition of labor efficiency could be revenue generated per manhours worked. In that regard, law/engineering/architecture is fairly efficient. If you have a small number of people but your profits are low, then your company is inefficient. But if you have a ton of people and you make high profits, then your company is obviously efficient no matter how many people you employ. I don’t think an employee head count is a good measure of efficiency, since it doesn’t take into account the demand for services and the profit made.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:12 pm)Wicked Alfa Romeo concept cars that Fiat / Chrysler may produce:
http://evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1707
I agree with the articles author, Fiat / Chrysler should drop a BEV / REEV propulsion system in any of these and sell them like hot cakes. Don’t miss the slideshow link at the bottom of the article.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:13 pm)#17 Rashiid Amul
The only thing I like about the Chinese are the women.
——————————-
You are like me. I like all women from all countries. That is one “commodity” that will never go out of style. Well, at least I hope not.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:16 pm)The question is, can Chinese management fair any better at running an American car company any better than the Germans did? The Japanese haven’t always done so well working with Americans either. Will they be more hands off or will they come in like conquering hordes and drag a bunch of their substandard, weird looking vehicles at Wal-Mart prices with them? Do they want to run an American car company or do the just want an outlet for their hokey wares?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:20 pm)Its funny that when GM owned Hummer they were evil. But now that a foreign company owns them, everyone is excited & happy about the Hummer, and what a great car it is.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:21 pm)#56 N Riley
You should be concerned, but your concern should spread to both politcal parties. I have clear memories of GWB’s first couple of months in office, when the Chinese forced down a US surveillence plan flying in international airspace off their coast. GWB issued the standard apology to our masters and they released the airmen. Apologized. For forcing our plane down. The Dems and Repubs are both controlled by big business, and big business LOOOVES China for its cheap labor and market size. Oh, and they own all of our debt. So don’t look for the Republicans or Democrats to stand up to China anytime soon.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:25 pm)#30 :LauraM
Am I the only one depressed about this?
—————————–
Depressed? Lately that is the only way I have been feeling. It is becoming “normal” for me. I am just getting about sick of it all. Time for some better, brighter news. But where, oh where can we find some?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:27 pm)#60 DaV8or Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
The question is, can Chinese management fair any better at running an American car company any better than the Germans did?
————————–
The irony is that the Chinese don’t plan to manage an American business. This will be a standard information extraction process, where they develop the design and manufacturing know-how, get American guidance in construction of a Chinese facility, and then gut the American operations. As someone who has done business with Chinese comanies, I can tell you that you are making a grave error if you in anyway equate a Chinese business with the German business mindset. Germans and Americans simply don’t do business like the Chinese do…. we consider many of their business practices unethical (right down to their rampant and unapologetic industrial espionage).
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:28 pm)N Riley Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:25 pm .#30 :LauraM
Am I the only one depressed about this?
—————————–
Depressed? Lately that is the only way I have been feeling. It is becoming “normal” for me. I am just getting about sick of it all. Time for some better, brighter news. But where, oh where can we find some?
—————-
First day of Summer is only 2 weeks away.
(or you can start drinking.. nothing like a depressant for depression)
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:30 pm)#32 Noel Park
It’s OK, you can say it. He’s a horrible Governor!
——————————-
But, wasn’t California about down the toilet before Arnold came onto the scene? I would blame the legislature before placing the blame on a governor. Same for the U.S. congress and president. They say California leads the way for the other states, but I sure don’t want to follow California’s lead anymore. (Actually never did want to do so.)
But, good luck anyway. If any state deserves what it is getting, it has to be California. I am not happy having to say that.
Maybe Obama could sell California to the Chinese.
Edited: You say “And I’m a 62 year CA resident, so I’ve seen a lot of “nut state” politicians come and go.” I am 65 years old and I have seen a lot of “nut state and federal” politicians come and go. Mostly they come and never go away.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:31 pm)Maybe I’ve been in the bay area too long listening to anti-SUV vitriol, but EREV hummers are not what we need. We need smaller cars up to midsize suvs so that the batteries will be affordable.
In any event
美国，中国，日本 ， 欧洲 都 需要 电车！
And the developing world needs electric 3-wheelers/bikes!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:34 pm)I see GM is trading under GMGMQ.
Up 23% today.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:47 pm)#40 k-dawg
I’m not sure on those current #’s, but if true, they are really going to have to raise those union dues to pay for Gettlefinger’s salary (and all the other “leaders” / lawyers/ lobbyists)
————————————–
That is what the new card check bill will take care of. If it passes, and it probably will, it will allow the UAW to unionize the foreign auto companies with just very little effort. I may take a couple of weeks to catch each auto company employee in a situation where they can’t refuse to sign the “card”, but it will happen. That is why the UAW is not worried. The high life style of the union bosses will continue through dues extracted from many, many new union members. Unionism will sweep the nation withing 10 years. Union membership is poised to increase 1,000 fold and more. It is just the beginning, my friends. We will sign you up whether you want it or not.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:47 pm)This company will use this to get a toehold in the American market.. about time, there is great need for sub $9k cars in the US.
It would be easy to make a 4wd Hummer, just use four high torque motors.. driven by a genset and a small battery, lets say 5-10 mile range.. that would keep the cost down and it would create the ultimate high torque bulletproof 4wd off road vehicle.. and unlike what GM says it is trivial to design. No complex and delicate 4wd transaxles plus the gas economy of an EREV.
Make extra battery capacity optional and you would have a winner for towing or off-road usage.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:48 pm)The more EVs the better – small, medium, big, & super-sized!!
GO EV!!
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:50 pm)N Riley (#56):
“Just think about all the technology inside a Hummer that could be used by that Chinese company in other consumer and military applications.”
I wouldn’t worry too much. They called it “Hummer” to evoke the Army / AM General’s HMVEE, but there’s not a common nut or bolt between the two trucks. I recall early detractors calling the Hummer “a Trooper II with an industrial refrigerator body” (particularly apt then, not just for the styling but for quality and reliability issues).
What I wonder is: Will “Hummer” come to mean something less like an over-the-top, para military ‘box on wheels,’ and more like “Hummer” as in “It Hums.”
China-Hummer could eventually mean anything — even electric SUVs.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:54 pm)73rd yay:
I don’t understand why anybody would want to produce the hummer unless for military reasons.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (2:54 pm)A guy on my hockey team owned an H1 Hummer. He sold it to some unknown person in Texas. A goup of Chinese men flew up and bought it with cash. I’m not joking.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (3:00 pm)#62 Jim in PA
I can not argue with you on that. We are all in a small boat and the oars are on the beach with the politicians of both parties and they could care less if we ever reach shore.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (3:02 pm)#65 k-dawg
First day of Summer is only 2 weeks away.
(or you can start drinking.. nothing like a depressant for depression)
——————————
Sounds more like something Capt Jack would say. You been drinking the same beer as him?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (3:06 pm)76. N Riley Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:02 pm .#65 k-dawg
First day of Summer is only 2 weeks away.
(or you can start drinking.. nothing like a depressant for depression)
——————————
Sounds more like something Capt Jack would say. You been drinking the same beer as him?
————————–
Not yet.. i’m getting ready to though! RedWings Stanley Cup hockey tonight will help. Soldier Field on Saturday will too. If you dont hear from me on Monday, you know what happened.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (3:09 pm)#77 k-dawg
Soldier Field. Ah, the field of dreams. Good luck.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (3:21 pm)#62
“big business LOOOVES China for its cheap labor ”
You forgot to mention the American consumer who buys cheap stuff. The problem is we are in love with cheap goods but we can’t see the harm they’ll do to our economy. This is why there’s some price resistance to the Volt. We want good products, cheap but we resist paying a fair price for someones labor.
GM is doing an end run around this problem by providing a product unlike anyone elses. If you want the best in EV technology then the Volt delivers.
GM will keep its lead in EVs for sometime to come with better design and batteries over the years.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (4:08 pm)RZ – Rasor Technoligies was at $3.76 – - – now up to $3.90
I think if our Chinese friends put in a big order, or better yet, invests a dump truck full of money into them, how quickly do you think they could jump up to $9.00 per share?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (4:22 pm)Went into moderation again. Not saying anything to cause moderation to pop up its ugly head. This one will go into moderation also. Once you get “flagged” for moderation, you keep getting sent into moderation for all following comments for awhile.
Oh, well. I am heading to the Bass Pro site and look fishing boats. Bye, moderation.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (4:24 pm)Thanks Cap’n Jack. Although it takes me awhile to get the idea of “spacing” placed all throughout the “cubbyholes” in my brain to make things more readable, I sometimes get too involved with my consumer education to remember to space. I want whatever anyone buys regarding a BEV or EREV, or whatever, to work for you as well as does any extremely well built car made nowadays.
That’s what matters to me most. And, when some marketer who wants to sell us all some really bad technical deal that will only make them money at your expense, well, that deal needs to be examined for what it is, to make sure it is not just a money grab.
Have something with a mellow buzz for me.
I’m having something on doctor’s suggestion.
(Get the good cholesterol back up again. Wine cooler didn’t do it as well.) (W/ 10 minute treadmill).
I went back to:
Cranberry-Black Cherry (from WalMart) with Skyy.
Really nice, but just one, lots of ice, very slow, at home.
Cheers.
Dan.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (4:42 pm)______________________________________________________
Mitsubishi Becomes World’s First Automaker to Mass Produce an Electric Car:
“On Thursday June 4th at its main plant in Okayama Japan, Mitsubishi Motors has become the world’s first automaker to begin mass production of an electric car…”
Source:
http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1021240_mitsubishi-becomes-worlds-first-automaker-to-mass-produce-an-electric-car
_____________________________________________________
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (5:12 pm)CDAVIS @ 83
“Mitsubishi Becomes World’s First Automaker to Mass Produce an Electric Car”
__________
This is a very big deal. Hat’s off to our Asian friends at Mitsu for GETN-ER-DONE!
Looking forward to purchaser’s real world reports (hopefalee in anglish) on range and performance in the near future.
Add:
Speaking of range and performance. It occurs to me after playing around with the Aptera2e simulator that GM must surely know all the performance numbers of the volt by now to within just a few percentage points. (I’m assuming there is no more major mechanical redesigns). I’m sure they’ve got very sophisticated software that has taken all the data in from the mules. All that’s going to change now would be a little bit of weight, aero, and some temperature numbers from the mule to production intent. Things I’m sure they can plug in with a high degree of accuracy.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (5:25 pm)#56 N Riley,
There is just nooooo sort of any kind of technology in the Hummer that would be of any value to anyone. When electronic ignition systems had been out for 29 years, the Hummer was ignition-fired with the old “points and condenser”, in the (grossly unlikely event) of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse, that presumably would have made ignition electronics more likely to fail.
The strong value to the Chinese here are the assembly lines for the body and interior. This sale gives the Chinese a way to prove that they can and will produce products of close reliability to what Americans demand. If a GM-comparable warranty is there, then I see no problem at all that what they would like to prove to us (quality), then, at least they would have a second and third chance to “get it right”.
They have as much right as any other corporation to do everything possible to satisfy whatever vehicular demand in a far, far more carbon-friendly manner.
I have a hunch that the things that will transfer back over to China are going to be mostly our democratic methodologies as apparent within the various organizational structures that the new management will begin to have the opportunity to appreciate
*here*
in America.
They could not as easily appreciate the energy that the freedom of democracy promotes, as viewed from there in China, nearly as much as observations of that energy as perceived when exposed to our wisely-crafted governmental Constitutional systems right here, in America,
being friends with employees and customers.
I say:
Welcome them all warmly.
Dan.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (5:41 pm)How much did they pay for Hummer?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (5:48 pm)Let the Hummer go to China. We need them off our roads so they won’t crush our little smart carsl
Thinking of crush, wouldn’t it be ironic if GM crushed all the Hummers. After all, the President has the clout to make that happen.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (5:55 pm)Sorry but it annoys the heck out of me that such a cool vehicle is chopped off and another country makes it’s efficient.
Why in the world couldn’t GM do this….Sheeesh.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (6:25 pm)ThombDbhomb 86,
I believe the figure was 500 million. Hummer was worth 2 billion just a few years back.
=D~
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (6:29 pm)500 million?
Sweet! Where’s my check?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (7:10 pm)#24 Statik said:
The bigger issue (in this case) I think is; Does this open the door and also give a domestic footprint/dealer base to a Chinese automaker/company to pretty much do/import whatever they feel like?
#30 LauraM said:
Basically, a chinese company just bought access to the US market. And the technology necessary to build cars to compete in the US marketplace. And, unlike GM and Ford, they can import small cars to meet regulatory requirements.
Am I the only one depressed about this?
=================
We are on the exact same wave length again, lol
This is just like what Wal*Mart does to everybody else in the world, when they can’t get in. For example: In Canada they couldn’t get in…until a big retailer started to hurt, for us it was Woolco in ‘94. Everyone was excited ‘woohoo’ saved jobs, and 122 stores…now 15 years later there are 400 of them and they have obliterated half a dozen big retailers (most notably Eatons) and small town stores/city centers (you know that drill in the US too, lol), and cut whats left to shreds.
Not saying it is right or wrong, I’m just saying that is what happens.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (7:15 pm)#86 ThombDbhomb said:
How much did they pay for Hummer?
—————-
#89 Dave K said:
I believe the figure was 500 million. Hummer was worth 2 billion just a few years back.
=D~
===========================
Doesn’t GM wish, lol.
It got disclosed in China yesterday, 550 million yuan…thats about 80 million.
/they were lucky to get that…that was obviously the ‘Chinese premium’ to let them access the US market, because it was only worth a $1
Linky:
http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010756/Tengzhong-may-build-new-Hummer-plant-in-Chengdu.html
Sidenote: The are already starting a plant in China….and they signed a deal to keep making them/keep jobs in the States until 2010. I wonder whats gonna happen in 2011? lol
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (7:17 pm)#83 CDavis said:
Mitsubishi Becomes World’s First Automaker to Mass Produce an Electric Car:
“On Thursday June 4th at its main plant in Okayama Japan, Mitsubishi Motors has become the world’s first automaker to begin mass production of an electric car…”
Source:
http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1021240_mitsubishi-becomes-worlds-first-automaker-to-mass-produce-an-electric-car
=================
Guess we should carry this forward to this thread, because this is a significant achievement.
Love the iMiev or hate it (everyone knows I love it), it is a very good day for the EV business….at the very least they are going to start hitting the roads and people will actually start believing EVs are for real.
/enough with the press releases and concepts already
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (7:50 pm)#93 statik
Thanks for the link.
The race is on.
You don’t have to be first to be the best.
For my needs, Voltec is the best of all, & will be soon enough.
Dan.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (8:30 pm)What is price preeze for iMiev ?
Want big discount.
Me pay cash.
No pay stickah price preeze.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (8:44 pm)@ #95 CorvetteGuy,
I just read somewhere, the sticker price for the iMiEV is somewhere around $31,300 USD. Thus, if it can get the full gov’t BEV rebate it’ll be about $24,000 after that. I don’t know if it can get the *full* rebate though (if it’s eligible at all) because I don’t know how many KWh capacity its batteries have. Should all be Google-able info, though.
EDIT: The story at AllCarsElectric that
StatikCDavis linked says it’s a 16KWh battery, so it should qualify for the full rebate (if it qualifies at all, for whatever other reasons affect the rules).(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (8:48 pm)Jim in PA #64
You are too right and people don’t recognize this nearly enough. We have been pilfered for the last 15 years or so and the politicians, bussinesses, and citizenry have just accepted it like zombies. Actually, it has been aided by the success of the likes of Walmart and the outsourcing by corporate America. The “cheapest” price mentality by sooo much of our purchasing influence hasn’t helped either. And don’t get me started by our politician’s ignorance and incompetence in this area. There will be little left of Hummer USA in 3 years other than the dealerships.
It is time to wake up and realize we are experiencing death by a thousand paper cuts. Cheaper prodcuts alone will not stilmulate our economy in any meaningful long term way.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (9:01 pm)iMiev is good for the market but don’t belive ALL of the hype:
-$31K in Japan, not US
-100miles range with 100% DOD 16KWh (160Wh/mile) – No way, Jose
-rated battery cycles?
-47KW motor less than Volt’s average power generator
-2000 is first mass production but Tesla has been producing 25-30/week
Like I started out saying, the iMiev is good for the market but let’s be real about it.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (9:05 pm)N. Riley @56
- worries that the hummer could be used for military applications by the chinese.
Jackson @ 72
- “. . .there’s not a common nut or bolt between the two trucks.”
——–
Who’s right?
N. Riley @ 56
These 4 wheel enthusiasts got a chance to crawl all over the mil spec version and compare.
From the article:
“So what did we find? For starters, military and civilian Humvees are basically the same underneath. Same diffs, same axleshafts, same transmissions, same transfer cases, and same basic suspension components. The only functional variants include three engine choices and 12-volt electrical systems for civilian models (one engine choice and 24-volt electrical systems for the military) and slightly different spring rates, shocks, and tires. In fact, a representative at AM General told us that all Hummer chassis come off the same factory line and are then finished differently depending on their final destination. So when your buddies try to convince you that civilian models aren’t as strong, tell them you know better.”
http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/roadtests/military_vs_civilian_hummers/index.html
So there you go. Another freaking brilliant move. We just sold off the major work horse (and symbol) of the U.S. Army to the Chinese.
/ and who does China sell arms to? Basically, any piece of shlt third world rights abusing despot who’s got oil or gold to pay with. (welcome to the club, boys)
//this just keeps getting better. I CAN’T WAIT to see what happens next!
U$A! U$A! …..
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (9:35 pm)#99 add
– if someone can find info that the H1 stuff didn’t go with the deal to the Chinese then your can disregard. Otherwise, the rant stands.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (9:52 pm)#99 add
Addition to rant: Apparently, GM is going to build the H2 and H3 here for at least the next couple of year. So the Chinese can hang out in our factories and learn every little detail about how to put stuff together, while they’re shipping the old tooling/jigs etc. for the H1 on a slow boat back. That should put them in good shape for a fully Chinese manufactured HMMWV line by 2012.
Hummer–Tengzhong: A Military Link?
http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2009/06/04/hummer-tengzhong-a-military-link/
Am I the only one depressed about THIS?
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:08 pm)Stopping dollars from going into fossil fuels of all sorts is going to be the very best way to stop the financial losses. Even greatly reducing or even stopping completely any possible usage of any fossil fuel is the quickest way to getting us all back into the financial “green” (pun intended).
Worry about non-controllable aspects of public policies of the past can not help us now. We have absolutely run out of time for lamenting past losses. Attempting to hold onto past benchmarks as a permanent nostalgic “greatness”-reference-point for anything at all, is and had been the very reason bankrupting fossil-fuel-policies have utterly failed us. And, the carbon resulting will terminate our existence.
As we attempt to clamp down on unnecessary carbon dioxide production, there are folks who are “kicking and screaming” and verbally threatening us, abusing our public servants on a regular basis (I know of this happening still), and are attempting to cause a lot of financially-dangerous things to be brought about.
If I did not tell you who I believe it is (get ready for another bombshell), you would think that America is being attacked from the inside out in the most insidious and cancerous manner. I think that possibly we are, and that there is a carbon-cancer that might actually wish to somehow weaken the EV changeover.
When I went over to the link regarding Robert Zubrin’s Hydrogen Hoax (very technically-accurate as to about 50 serious hydrogen impossibilities as to automotive propulsion), there was one thing there that kept my attention.
Carbon fiber pressure tanks are brittle to impact. This would be the same problem for compressed natural gas to be contained in them.
The electricity alone needed to compress the natural gas for an ICE would be about the same energy to go 15% of your 40 miles.
Just about all of the maintenance for ICE would still be required, as opposed to 95% of all that maintenance going away for that ICE as when it is to only be a “sometimes Genset” in a Volt.
I got over to a site that revealed that the natural gas industry is the one that is adverse to electric vehicles. I think that explained everything to me, as to why I had been harassed several times by unknown sources at those times. It is clear which interests it is by now.
Maybe directly related to the above, maybe not:
Exxon, has an ad on PBS to tell us that they had discovered a way to get enormous amounts of natural gas (or unless it is sea-bottom-methane) to heat millions of homes. Exxon also has another PBS ad and disclosed they want to make a thin-film insulator for hybrid vehicle batteries, as we were told by some engineer. Hmmmm. I now have a problem with that one too.
Then last night I finally got around to reading the Pickens Plan.
**********************
BULL
**********************
it’s a “plan to put plenty o’ pennies in Pickens’ pockets”.
There is increasingly insufficient technical AND financial practicability of compressed natural gas. Why?
In Austin, for example, natural gas fires up half of our electric generation, which is perfectly OK by me. (MORE natural gas ought to be brought to baseload instead of coal ASAP) IMTO.
The Cap and Trade effort to reduce CO2 will bring the price of coal up somewhat. This will force upward pressure on the price of natural gas, especially in the Winter heating season.
So, you can take your pick,
get price volatility from higher gasoline prices in the Summer as Summer driving demand increases, or
You can pick Pickens Plan and get price volatility for higher natural gas prices in the Winter, when home heating drives up the price of natural gas for Winter demand.
So, you see how the safest financial bet you can have is to relentlessly email your State Representatives and get publicly-owned Wind generation online. Pickens also has Wind energy coming, but Pickens will control the price of it.
I completely disagree with the Pickens plan. It is all fossil fuel marketing in the name of energy independence, which we really no longer need if we treat other peoples with dignity and honesty.
It has been awful what has been going on here in Austin Texas, and their communications ought to be monitored by appropriate agencies 24/7.
And, No-one better mess with my Voltec battery insulator film.
Dan Petit Austin TX
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:25 pm)$24,000 after rebates is not bad. I was just watching the Aptera video on Jay Leno’s Garage… I had heard some time ago that Aptera was shooting for a $29,000 price tag, but in the video, Jay mentions “he hopes it will come in under $40,000″… The Aptera is more interesting looking but I’m not sure about all the stares it will generate while driving it. It’s gonna be tough waiting another year to find out final pricing on a VOLT and its competitors.
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:25 pm)The Humvee was somewhat effective in battle over the last 10 years. And will become less effective. The thrust of selling this vehicle line is to lean down the new GM for robust profit and transition to E-REV technology.
Have you ever been in a Hummer? It is a metal box. The sound system may as well be screwed into a trash dumpster, very metallic sounding. I would take a Rubicon Jeep Wrangler over a Hummer any day.
Let’s get E-REV rolling.
=D~
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:40 pm)Dave K. @ 104,
“Have you ever been in a Hummer? It is a metal box. The sound system may as well be screwed into a trash dumpster, very metallic sounding.”
___________
It’s not what the Chinese can do with the sound system that I’m worried about. And believe me, your Rubicon Jeep can’t do this.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/hmmwv.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/images/avenger-dvic410.jpg
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (10:51 pm)#98 koz said:
iMiev is good for the market but don’t belive ALL of the hype:
-$31K in Japan, not US
-100miles range with 100% DOD 16KWh (160Wh/mile) – No way, Jose
-rated battery cycles?
-47KW motor less than Volt’s average power generator
-2000 is first mass production but Tesla has been producing 25-30/week
Like I started out saying, the iMiev is good for the market but let’s be real about it.
========================
You are probably right about the US price being higher when it comes here….after all everybody upped their MSRP by, er…about $7,500 about 10 months ago, lol. I’d be thinking $34,995ish.
As for the range, the average US tester is getting about 80 miles, the lowest I’ve seen on a full depletion test to stop is at 72 and the high at 87. This, like everything, is at the whim of the driver. No way your getting the 160km/100 mile range, that is rate for the 10-15 Japanese system…unless you are being really anal with your driving, you have no shot.
The production is significant, off a ‘production line’ to start…they are making those 2,000 by year’s end, in 6.5 months. At least 5,000 in 2010, and 15,000 in 2011. The 2010 and 2011 projected numbers are likely on the low side as they just decided to add/fund another plant and expect to be able to double pack output. Worth noting, Mitsu has upped its own production number twice already this past year…so they have a track record of underpromising/over delivering (and on time).
I don’t want to knock Tesla…because I think they have accomplished a lot, but Tesla is really not in the same league/class. Tesla makes a high priced conversion off of a lotus Elise platform by hand with available laptop batteries for 110K a pop, and have only now delivered car #500 since the first one went out in Feb. 1st of 08…thats 17 month it took them. Although you are correct that production now seems to be churning decently…on April 1st they were at #320…and did 180 in the next 2 months. They are like a high-tech, well run/well funded chop shop.
Mitsu is starting out day one producing almost 300/month off a scaleable line, and making their own packs to boot. (400/mth in 2010, and 1,250/mth in 2011)…and making EVs accessible to the ‘common man.’ So, I guess it depends how you define ‘production’
As for the 47KW motor compared to the Volt’s 53 KW generator…the iMiev weighs in at about 2,300 pounds to the Volt’s 3,500. The iMiev 0-60 is billed as under 9 seconds…so not that much difference. (63HP/133 pound feet of torque)
I think the reality is they will sell everyone they can make from now until 2015. They have no one competing against them in 2009, no one in 2010, very few in 2011…and to boot, they are to market at $31K, which is a big chunk cheaper than anyone else is ‘projecting’ their projects to be.
/Mitsu is definitely number 1 in this business today, (with Tesla solidly in second)…and Mitsu is the one to beat going forward
(imo)
(Quote)
Jun 4th, 2009 (11:04 pm)statik 106,
“I think the reality is they will sell everyone they can make from now until 2015″
I agree, the car lots are currently stocked with dusty hybrids with EV of all kinds being back ordered.
Car companies, you getting the idea yet? EV and E-REV are instant sellers. ICE @ 30 mpg remain in stock. The new generation wants to drive fast without burning oil. Plug in to Daddy’s garage outlet.
Take the plunge, a full E-REV line for 2012. Cruze, Trucks, SUV, Volt, Mail delivery vehicles, Ambulance, Security vehicles and Off road.
GMAC will need to hire extra people to keep track of deposits.
=D~
(Quote)
Jun 5th, 2009 (9:34 am)All across china millions of H1 orders have been rolling in seams like there Generals have been watching CNN and H1 hummers rolling all over our enemy’s lands and like what they see !! Even chairman Mao has a his and her model pick out. , Maybe Obama can get a two for one and sell off the A1 Adams tanks production . It seams we don’t need a military any more with Obama getting the whole world to lay down all there arms and joining hands in world wide peace and harmony , flowers ,love beads , I might as well start smoking weed and close my business and fire my employes ! What in the world was I thinking working 70 hours a week (with out pay) trying to reach for the Gold ring for the last 25 years !
(Quote)
Jun 5th, 2009 (10:13 am)#91 Statik
China bought much more here than just access to the US market. They bought the technology that will enable them to compete here. And help them kick GM and the other foreign companies out of the Chinese market. If I were GM, I’d write Hummer off (they can since they’re in bankruptcy), before selling it to a Chinese company for 80 million. They can site miliary applications if they must. No. I don’t blame them for doing it. I blame us for letting them.
For the record, I support free trade between the US and Canada. And Mexico and Europe for that matter. It’s the one way “free trade” we have with Japan, Korea, and now China that I’m worried about. And, China’s the one I worry about the most.
SIdenote: I hate Walmart. As far as I’m concerned, they should be called “the evil empire” instead of Microsoft, since IMHO, they’re much worse. (Of course, I’m not a computer specialist, so there may be things I don’t know about Microsoft….) If any company needs to be unionized, it’s them. I won’t shop there under any circumstances. I think they’re ruining the US. (And, now, apparently Canada.)
(Quote)
Jun 5th, 2009 (12:49 pm)There should be no such thing as a Chinese electric hummer. Furthermore, now the Chinese startups will want to peddle their econoboxes to us. GM should have just let HUMMER die gracefully as a sign of the changing times. It also shames me that our own government did not buy HUMMER for military purposes to continue making the Alpha, as that is where it originated from.
(Quote)
Jun 5th, 2009 (4:56 pm)Anybody see the series “Firefly” recently?
If not, you owe it to yourself to check out at least 3 episodes (it’s out on video now, no longer on tv).
You’ll see what the future holds vis-a-vis our new masters.
(Quote)
Jun 5th, 2009 (5:42 pm)Statik #106
I hada big, detailed response respone tapped out on this POS tablet but it got dumped while posting, from a lost connection. Anywho, I agree with of most of your comment. I see 50-100K annual worldwide maket and 5k NAM, IMO.
80 miles range seems realistic for 16KWh DOD. Is pack 16KWh total? What is the warrantee? 65 miles would be realistic daily range for 80% DOD if 16KWh is pack total.
Didn’t realize 2k production was for rest of ‘09, I thought it was 1st year but the more the merrier. Either way, you are correct Mitsu is in another class production wise and they are producing on their own high capacity line.
2300lbs and 47KW with <9s does not match up vs 3500 and 110KW with @8.5s. Something seems off with the physics.
(Quote)
Jun 8th, 2009 (4:53 pm)e-ride is an electric vehicle that looks like a mini-Hummer and it is already manufactured in Minnesota, in the United States of America.
(Quote)