2011 Chevrolet Volt (pre-production model), 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
As many people are aware, GM plans to roll out a limited number of Chevy Volts for sale in late 2010.
Source have stated the exact number is likely to be around 2500.
Even though Nissan has already announced the five markets they plan to introduce the LEAF electric car, GM has remained silent on this issue.
They have previously said they would give special preference to places exhibiting plug-in readiness and have given Washington DC and San Franciso as examples, but made no commitments.
That is all about to change.
GM has stated in a press release that it will “announce plans for initial retail markets where the Volt will be sold” at a press conference at the LA Auto Show on December 2nd. Also the US version of the Chevy Cruze, expected to getup to 40 mpg on the highway will be debuted.
The fact that this announcement is coming in LA obviously indicates California will be among those initial places (no surprise there).
But will where you live? Or me?
We’ll have to wait to find out.
Source (GM)
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm and is filed under Launch, Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Nov 17th, 2009 (2:33 pm)Woo hoo!
Nov 17th, 2009 (2:37 pm)I think we are about to see a feeding frenzy for Chevy Volts – 2,500 in Nov / Dec and 10,000 total for that whole model year?
Has GM figured out how to take pre-orders yet? It might be nice for them to know as early as possible if they should bump production rates for the first year.
Nov 17th, 2009 (2:46 pm)Rent an apartment for 1 month in LA, buy a Volt, and then move it with me back to Ohio.
Hmmm, a crap apt would only be 500 to establish a CA mailing address.
Nov 17th, 2009 (2:50 pm)It’s about time. I wonder if Ohio is one.
Nov 17th, 2009 (2:52 pm)Joe obrien,
It would be cheaper for me to just pick the mail from your PO box on my way to the LA Auto show. Just sayin…Where and how would you service it (The Volt) though?
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:02 pm)Since it’s made here, hopefully they’ll throw us a bone in Detroit and have some Volts stick around from the first wave in december.
Hopefully they aren’t stingy about test drives in 2010 due to availability. I’m going to be determined to drive one… come to think of it, lots of people will. I wonder how the dealers will work with such high demand. Maybe there will be months long waits for a test drive, or maybe they’ll charge for it… no punn intended.
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:04 pm)I know it’s a stretch, but come on Central NY! *Fingers Crossed*
On a related note, the REVA electric car company recently announced plans to create an electric car factory just north of Syracuse here. Link: http://news10now.com/cny-news-1013-content/485855/electric-cars-to-be-produced-locally
Not for me though, I need the independence AND flexibility of the Volt.
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:13 pm)That would be just great in my eyes. Not sure that I could be that lucky. Sigh.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:16 pm)Gee, how about one address for the whole 50,000 on our list? In fact, I volunteer to go to LA, pick them up one at a time and deliver them.
It would be a tought job, but somebody’s gotta do it!
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:18 pm)Would you really need a CA mailing address? If you’re willing to forgo servicing (which I wouldn’t recommend), I’m sure a CA dealership would sell it to you. Or at least put you on the waiting list…
+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:18 pm)When I look at that nice picture at the top with a Volt and Cruze side by side, to me the Volt is far better looking. The family resemblance nonetheless is strong. I can easily imagine the Volt to be an attraction to the dealership.
If, as and when the customer turns pale when looking at the Volt’s MSRP, the sales transition to the similar-looking and much less expensive Cruze may be easily accomplished.
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:39 pm)A good bet they won’t be anywhere near Australia for a long long time. GM Holden has their head up their $%^&! They are still basing all their hopes on huge gas guzzlers like the Commodore.
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:40 pm)Lots & lots of choices coming next year.
+8
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:55 pm)These initial markets are really just a sham and a shame. This is supposed to be a no compromise car but then GM touts plug in readiness. Give me a break. I have been using electricity since I was born. Not very complicated. Cordless drills, toothbrushes, vacuums, laptops,…the list goes on and on. “Oh, but wait, you must be plug in ready before you would be able to handle the Volt. ” Truly ridiculous.
Hawk
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:57 pm)FYI – For those who live in Los Angeles and San Diego:
Chevy Volt Makes Debut Appearance in California’s Leading Solar City
The Eco Investment Club will premiere the Chevrolet Volt in San Diego at a special, event featuring the pre-production version of Chevy’s extended-range electric vehicle. This marks San Diego’s first look at the highly anticipated Chevy Volt. Chevy’s Western Region Environment & Energy Specialist Shad Balch will be available for interviews about the Chevy Volt, which is scheduled to go into production in less than a year.
The Volt is redefining the automotive world with its revolutionary electric technology. Chevy Volt is designed to move more than 75 percent of America’s daily commuters without using a single drop of gas. That means for someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions. Unlike traditional electric cars, Chevy Volt has a revolutionary propulsion system that takes you beyond the power of the battery. It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when you drive beyond the 40-mile battery range.
When: Friday, November 20, 2009
Public Unveiling: 4:00PM – 6:30PM
Private Club Member/ VIP “Invitation Only” Reception: 6:30PM – 9PM – Fresh, Organic Catering by Eco Caters – http://www.ecocaters.com/
Where: Mabuno Gallery
414 N Cedros Ave
Solana Beach, CA 92075
http://www.mabuno.com/
Maureen Cavanaugh, a reporter for KPBS in San Diego, reported in July:
For people who think all that green energy talk sounds nice but isn’t going anywhere, a recent headline may come as a wake-up call. San Diego now has more rooftop solar panels than any other city in California.
Officials say the number of solar panel installations has been steadily climbing here in the last 10 years, and in the last few years has increased dramatically. San Diego has almost 2,300 solar roofs that together could generate enough energy to power 12 thousand homes.
It’s true that San Diego and the rest of the state still have quite a way to go to reach the California legislature’s goal of a million solar-powered homes by 2017. But the pace of installations, plus the rebates going into effect, and the public interest in green, sustainable energy all make energy advocates believe that goal is not impossible.
For more information about the Eco Investment Club and club meetings, please visit: http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com.
For more information about the Chevy Volt, please visit: http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do.
Contact Info:
Yeves Perez, EINI (o) 866.960.9495
Michael Strapazon, MS&L Worldwide on behalf of General Motors(o) 323.866.6081
###
Nov 17th, 2009 (3:57 pm)Great news – in that it is another step closer to getting the Volt wheels on the road. The announcement doesn’t mean much to me personally though, as I’m confident that Milwaukee, WI will NOT be part of the initial roll out. However, I was born in California – does that qualify me?
+11
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:12 pm)I think GM is going about it the wrong way. They should roll it out to the midwest for folks who are interested in energy independence. The plug in infrastructure preference pisses me off to no end. It’s a ER-EV you DON”T NEED any new infrastructure. Cali, DC, and NY are damn near bankrupt so advertise it as a way to go electric without new taxes for infrastructure and at the same time lessen the export of our hard earned cash to oil producing nations.
+2
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:17 pm)As is often the case, patience is the word of the day. Sooner or later, they will get around to Penna and when they do, I’ll have my face pressed against the dealer’s showroom glass.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:18 pm)Atlanta would be a nice test bed. Commutes are almost exclusively done via car and backroad + interstate driving.
Please bring it to Atlanta?
(jtmtrack09)
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:19 pm)The point of looking for plugin friendly areas may be just so people can be touting just how MUCH they can get around without gasoline.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:37 pm)OK, I know this is starting to sound really wacky, but I found a report of “Jeff Belzer Chevrolet” in the Twin Cities, running newpaper ads that want a $10,000 dollar premium (that is on top of the MSRP) to order a Volt (dated Aug. 15, 2009).
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:38 pm)This is all really exciting. It’s really easy to be happy for anyone getting a Volt, because we know the higher volumes are on their way.
Maybe very many of the first Volt owners would visit with us every day.
+2
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:43 pm)I hope my market is among them.
I still don’t understand why they can’t just start taking pre-orders and make it available wherever people want to buy it.
I’d be ready to put down a deposit today for one of the 2010 cars, but with my luck it likely won’t even be launched in Massachusetts
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:43 pm)GM is making the right move, play it cautious for the first year because it can’ afford any real big mistakes. Once everything is in order you will be able to find a Volt at any Chevy dealership, trust me don’t worry folks. If the demand is really there like we all anticipate, you will be able to find one just give it at least a year. Increasing production will be easy.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:44 pm)Btw those are two beautiful cars, GM did an excellent job producing both vehicles.
-1
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:50 pm)Must be nice…but with a price point exceeding 40k it’ll bypass most consumer’s affordability. To be a real hit, it must have a price point in the 20′s! Hollywood tree huggers will be the ones show’n ‘em off.
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:52 pm)Here’s hoping for a Texas connection. (BTW, if you buy a car in one state and import it to another, you pay sales tax twice in most cases.)
I doubt that Texas will be high on the list since we produce and refine that nasty old oil
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:54 pm)I live in a small farm community of about 5000 in Southern Indiana I drive 30 miles one way to work each day and can plug in at work. I also have a daughter who works for GM. I figure my number will come up just about the time I am too old to drive!
Nov 17th, 2009 (4:59 pm)+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:03 pm)wow, they are announcing that they are planning to announce their plan…
let us know when there are real news.
+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:05 pm)Even though the “Inland Empire” area of SoCal has one of the highest densities of commuters driving to L.A. and Orange County, I’m not holding my breath to be on the list. Mainly because we also currently have the highest rates of unemployment and mortgage failures going right now.
They won’t pick us and have VOLT’s sittin’ around unsold for any period of time. Too embarrassing…
But hey! Send us 4 truckloads of the Chevy Cruze ASAP! That’s what we need right now! 40 MPG’s…. Sweet!!!
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:10 pm)Can’t wait to buy the long-awaited Volt.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:12 pm)Ever heard of a little item called “emissions system”? The California system will likely be CA ONLY for registration – yes, the range extender ICE will have to meet emissions standards. This may limit exactly where the initial VOLTS will be sold.
I sure hope metro NY is on the short list…
After all, we have to make sure Lyle gets one!
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:12 pm)Driving a Lexus GS300 now and not buying another car until I can buy a Volt or similar electric vehicle. I would have preferred that the backup to the electric motor was a fuel cell, but at this point I’ll take what I can get. It’s so rare that I drive more than 40 mile in a day. I’m sure my gas will evaporate before I actually use it.
Send some Volts to Fort Lauderdale.
-1
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:18 pm)…a nice crisp -25degree snowy January day in Billings Montana… 20mph wind gusting outta the north. You new Volts been sitting outside all night… Cold start and 40 miles on battery alone? Will the little gen set in the back even start since the oil in the crankcase will be like glue.
GM… make me a believer.
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:20 pm)Hey Corvetteguy,
I remember when I had gotten 34 mpg on a little Cimmaron with manual transmission. My favorite thing about it was that the concept of gasoline was reduced to a twice or three times monthly small expense and that was so really nice!!
(The car was really nice as well).
I understand your marketing preferences for the Cruze at that terrific 40mpg. Owners can really get so much done transportation-wise at 40 mpg!
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:23 pm)With Nissan picking five cities and 1,000 vehicles for each market, it makes me wonder how many cities GM will debut the Volt in and how many of each!?!
With only c10,000 vehicles for the first year and where I’m located its not likely I’ll be fortunate to own one from this lot. Good thing though, my wife just nixed buying first generation anything; that means the Cruz may be out even though its selling in Europe.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:33 pm)That’s why there is a “Zero/W-20″ viscosity motor oil.
Also, there is more power to crank over a Volt than two conventional starter motors to put it mildly.
It may keep itself warm and charged on it’s own in an airport parking lot by periodically running itself in extremely cold climates, it seems to me (maybe even with a CO detector in case of snow drifts going over it, or a snow plow piling snow beside it).
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:40 pm)I posted earlier on where Nissan will initially make the leaf available. It is very likely that GM will choose from some of the same markets that Nissan has selected for the Leaf; Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Phoenix / Tucson, and Nashville or near those markets. May the best car win! Go GM !
GO Volt!
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:53 pm)I doubt they’ll use the same markets. My hometown is one of the 3 TN cities they’ll sell the Leaf in and I don’t expect to see a Volt for years. Sad because the Volt is the car I want.
Nov 17th, 2009 (5:55 pm)You would leave any car outside when 25 below zero?
When I lived ‘up north’ we had block heaters for this kind of condition. I would think that you would want to have the ‘lil gal plugged in and in the garage so she could keep nice and toasty
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:00 pm)Don’t feel too bad if your area isn’t one of the first on the list. Depending on the dealerships in your area you may not want to pay a huge markup for the first ones, anyway. When I bought my WRX (one of the first available), I went around to the local dealers (I’m in the Silicon Valley in CA, by the way) and they were all selling the $24k car at $10k over list! Except one. The Steven’s creek dealers were actually trying to AUCTION them off for even higher markups, whatever in excess of that they could get.
I actually had to fly all the way to Irvine (CA, not TX !
just to get it at MSRP. On the bright side, the 400 mile drive back took me most of the way through the break in period. 
So, even though my market is likely to be one of the first, I suspect I’ll probably have to wait awhile until there’s ample supply, just like everybody else.
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:01 pm)Dealing with upper management can be difficult (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
+2
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:04 pm)I hope GM can/will do something to avoid that kind of gouging.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:12 pm)That’s the way it goes
Happy trails, Tagamet.
+2
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:20 pm)They announced when and where they’re going to make an announcement. So essentially we haven’t learned very much. Only when we might learn something.
-20
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:20 pm)(click to show comment)
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:20 pm)It would be fantastic to get a Volt, but it’s more important that the Volt be a great success. So long as every Volt goes flying out the door I’m happy. In some way it’s like the H1N1 vaccine. Even if you can’t get the shot, you benefit from everyone who does because that makes you that much less likely to contract the disease. Here, everyone who buys a Volt helps you enjoy the benefits of EV driving — less noise, less pollution, less demand for gas — plus it makes it more likely you’ll be able to buy a Volt for a lower price.
A waiting line would be good PR, but I’m sure GM wants to avoid horror stories about pricing above MSRP. Realistically the best way to avoid this is if the MSRP is set at the market price. That, however, might create some other PR issues. If there is a supply issue, hopefully the dealers will understand the long term nature of the technology and act accordingly.
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:24 pm)It’s home state of Michigan should be on the list. All I know is that I need to buy one by mid-2011 or I’ll be buying from someone else. My Pontiac isn’t going to last much past 250,000 miles.
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:25 pm)
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:31 pm)The following is copied from the miller brothers website in Ellicott City, MD.
“Contact Miller Bros Chevrolet about ordering the New 2010 Chevy Volt”
I don’t know if it means anything but it has been on there site, in small print, for a while now.
Also, The photo on this story is great. You can really see the styling of the Volt next to a standard Chevy model. The Volt definitely has its own look.
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:34 pm)#33
I doubt it. To the best of my knowledge, all of the cars and light trucks currently sold in the U.S. are CA legal. If the Volt is CA legal, it will be legal in the other 49 states for certain. CA has a decades long history of having the most restrictive emissions standards in the U.S. Even so, despite the historic whining of the car companies, they have opted to make all of their cars U.S. CA compliant in the end.
+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:39 pm)Sounds like a news report by Fox News, you know their reputation, right???
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:45 pm)To GM
I Have $40K available, I have a 20 Amp outlet in my garage,
I’m in the six thousands in Lyle’s wait list, I’m willing to take a chance on not having a qualified service dealer available,I’m paying my wife’s Nursing Home fee and I’ll probably be broke in four more years so please sell me a Volt soon.
Nov 17th, 2009 (6:51 pm)Well said. I was going to point this out as well. I would bet there are almost none, if not none at posters in this blog that are going to be willing to pay the huge mark ups. I know I won’t. For an example, in 2007 Dodge did a limited release of the new Challenger. Most dealers only got one or two. My local dealer got four and marked them all up by $35,000 making the out the door price about $73,000. Sad thing was, all four were sold at that mark up. Some people just have to have it and are willing to pay. Are any of you?
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:04 pm)I agree Richard, freezin’ is the reezin’.
Western MT could use a couple of Volts as well
Plus, we will run them up and down a couple of mountains now and then… just for “testing” or ski season… I forget which.
Regards
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:05 pm)Is there a Cruze variant with BAS+ which gives (40 + ( 30% of 40 mpg )) 52 mpg ? which is 2k higher priced to normal cruze ( say 17k priced ) ?
Nissan seems to be doing EV gospel like anything and planning to offer multiple range options.
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:17 pm)I live about 2 miles from the proving grounds. I think that qualifies me, right? Right?
+3
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:27 pm)It’s not really gouging. It’s supply and demand. Gouging is when you jack up prices on things people have to have, like food, water, fuel and medicine to make a profit. Nobody has to have a Volt. The only recourse we have as consumers is to try to patronize the dealers that go at MSRP and give no sales to the others.
In all fairness though, everybody expects to get thousands off MSRP but complains bitterly about mark ups. The free market goes both ways.
-8
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:40 pm)Just don’t pick any Podunk towns in Jersey. That state stinks and is nothing but the official dumping ground for New York City. Also stay away from that Penis-shaped state with the abbreviation of FLORIDA.
-5
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:45 pm)Absolutely nothing wrong with selling to the highest bidder. This is capitalism at its finest. The rich ALWAYS have the best toys. So you poor folk on this list better stay the hell outa my way as I intend to move quickly to the top of the wait list. You cheap skates need to get in the back of the line wait for the second gen Volt.
-7
Nov 17th, 2009 (7:49 pm)Wrong. Bring your wallet. If your wallet is bigger than mine, then by all means, you deserve your Volt, otherwise backoff tiny wally.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (8:00 pm)GM should come up with a way to ensure the Volt is not marked up higher than sticker. This would be a great image enhancer for the company. They need all the help they can get to correct the public’s perception of the company. I would suggest going as far as selling the car directly on line and allowing the buyer to choose what local GM dealer to pick it up at. They should do that until production ramps up.
NPNS!
Nov 17th, 2009 (8:26 pm)I thought that that was about cars sold in California? Not that you have to live there to purchase one. That’s crazy.
Nov 17th, 2009 (8:27 pm)This is why GM really should have started with the Converj…
Nov 17th, 2009 (8:38 pm)The key here is who gets to buy a Volt first issue? Why? Because if you put this sucker up on blocks for twenty five years you will have a vintage, cherry, world altering Volt representing the biggest change in the history of transportation – valued at 2-3 million dollars!!!
Let’s see, 40k now… 2.5 million in 25 years…
Nov 17th, 2009 (8:45 pm)Given that Houston is actually ahead of LA in pollution I think it should rank high on the list to get Volts.
And the other day Reliant Electricity announced a deal with Nissan to establish a plug-in network. A Volt launch here would stifle that publicity nicely.
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (9:01 pm)Hope the new Euro hood Volt design is on display in Los Angeles. Something other than the signature color?
=D~
+1
Nov 17th, 2009 (9:25 pm)EXCELLENT point (and analogy). Well said too.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
Nov 17th, 2009 (10:03 pm)Sounds great but 40+mpg for Cruze is hwy. BAS+ doesn’t do much for hwy unless it lets them downsize and/or optimize (e.g. mod Atkinson cylce like Prius uses) the engine. Even then, the mpg boost would be less than 15%. The biggest benefit will be to city mpg.
Nov 17th, 2009 (10:03 pm)Don’t count your chickens just yet. Capital Gains Taxes will more than likely go up to pay for deficits created by all the bailouts our current administration has dished out. But keeping one held back to sell at Barrett-Jackson is a good idea anyway! Good luck.
+2
Nov 17th, 2009 (10:11 pm)What about those of us who signed up and supported the Volt all along. Are we not going to get any kind of preference??
Nov 17th, 2009 (11:00 pm)“… the exact number is likely to be around 2500.”
Um….
Nov 17th, 2009 (11:57 pm)I too think in same lines, looks a BAS+ one may offere 40 city milage but the graph shows it does some optimization on high way speeds also ( the tip part after intellegent recharge ) (may be 40.4/44 city/hwy mpg )
To be a winner as they use 1.4 ltr engine compared to prius 1.8 ltr engine , it should offer 52 mpg (40 mpg may be great but not a winner for sure – It will be like saying “we made great cars but not great enough to sell over other cars because they were greatest )
Times have changed and GM has to set extented targets to be winner.Honda insight (2010 model costs 18500 has 40/43 city/highway ) ratings and people calim they get 65 – 70 mpg. GM has no other go than hybrid around 52 mpg because by the time they are able to market all others will have 50 mpg cars on road
Nov 18th, 2009 (12:41 am)That’s a good car! I’m thinking about importing one to California. After I get the Volt, of course. It would be my “fun” car.
+2
Nov 18th, 2009 (12:46 am)Umm… where would that be? I wish rent here was that cheap. Even for studios in not-super-nice areas I was generally seeing prices upwards of $800. The only places you can get $500 apts with a one month lease are those where you will not survive a month.
In other news… GO VOLT!!!
I’m sure LA will be a major release area. They’ll sell better here than in SF, imho. I just moved from the bay area to LA and people there are even more biased against american cars and GM in particular. Enough so that sadly I think they will pass on Volts even though they are “green”. Nissans and Toyota plug-ins are another story. GM should just forget them and sell all their Volts in LA *hint, hint*.
Nov 18th, 2009 (1:26 am)I agree, the population of the Bay Area tends to be very biased. I think it is due to the population. Much of the Bay Area is in poverty, low-class, or low middle-class. Therefore, people want a good investment in their money. No one wants a car that needs to have costly repairs every month or so.
The negative mindshare of American automakers is directly attributed to a longstanding reputation for horrendous quality and gas-guzzling vehicles. Remember, negative feedback regarding a product spreads faster and sticks to people’s minds for a long time. People in the Bay Area have yet to accept the remarkable turnaround in the last few years. (Chyrsler excepted, I check out their vehicles every few months, and half of them are in my opinion “pieces of shit”. Cheap hard plastics all over the interior.) There is nothing GM can do to change this reputation other than to keep coming with high quality, attractive, and fuel efficient vehicles.
I believe that GM really needs to have Volts everywhere in the Bay Area. The Volt would serve as a “halo” vehicle. People would come and check it out, and be astonished. I live in Oakland, and I tell everyone I know about the Volt. At the first explanation, people are skeptical and jab back with insults at GM. As I tell them more, those insults are becomes “wow, GM is finally learning”. I am pretty sure the people I know will check out the Volt. The high price will probably turn them off, but hey, that’s what the Cruze and Malibu are for. The Volt will drive lots of people into showrooms, and generating solid sales for other vehicles in GM’s lineup.
Despite what I believe, that many people would be turned off by high prices, lots of Volts would still be sold. The Bay Area, especially Berkeley, is one of the most liberal on pro-environment areas of the nation. LOTS and LOTS of people drive the Prius. Middle class people tend to not mind paying some more money to get a product that helps society. There is indeed a large population of lower-class people, but still an equally large population of people doing well. San Francisco and Silcon Valley is home to many companies that employs educated people, with the money to spend on the Volt.
The more educated people on the Volt tends to spread word through family discussions (a Christmas get-together for example). All in all, reputation gets spread, and the negative mindshare of GM’s name is slowly erased. But, the Volt will have to play a large part in reshaping people’s perception. The Malibu nor Cruze is not enough. They are good products, but not game-changing enough to warrant a switch from Toyota or Honda. People would still go to Toyota or Honda if they think its not too different so that they can count on their reputation of quality.
Nov 18th, 2009 (3:09 am)Danny Thai Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Bill: A good bet they won’t be anywhere near Australia for a long long time. GM Holden has their head up their $%^&! They are still basing all their hopes on huge gas guzzlers like the Commodore.
That’s a good car! I’m thinking about importing one to California. After I get the Volt, of course. It would be my “fun” car.
(Quote)
Danny i will sell you my commodore! or mabye swap you for a De Lorean! ive never seen one here in Australia, i would need to turf out the pergot donk and make it voltec platform!!!!!
Nov 18th, 2009 (6:29 am)I’ve had the experience of buying a car in Maryland and moving to Cali shortly there after as well as a buddy buying a car in New York and moving to Taxachusettes months later. In both cases they looked at what you paid in state sales taxes and in both cases their rates were higher so you paid the difference. I just bought a car in Maryland while living in Pennsylvania and I had to pay PA sales tax and nothing to Maryland. I don’t think you’d need to show any proof of living in the state where it is sold and people buy cars accross state lines all the time only to pay their home locations sales tax.
-2
Nov 18th, 2009 (8:48 am)SEEMS, GM DESIGNERS KNOW TO COPY ELECTRIC PACIFIC RIM BUILT CARS AND TRUCKS, SOME SOLD FOR A DECADE ALREADY.
HMMMM, WONDERING HOW MANY DRIVE PARTS IN THE VOLT ARE AMERICAN.
YES, GOOGLE ” ELECTRIC CARS ” FOR FACTS.
Nov 18th, 2009 (9:53 am)GM distribution plans are too slow to capture a significant amount of market share.
The largest mistake is GM waiting for Electric ready cities – it is an EREV! That’s the advantage.
I predict I will be driving a different electric brand before GM has the Volt in my area and I will have saved 2 to 3 years of gas.
Nov 18th, 2009 (9:59 am)Initial markets is not about plug-in readiness. It’s about the cost to roll out a new technology to the dealer network. If Volts won’t be sold in, say, Nebraska then GM doesn’t have to train dealer service staff there. They also don’t have to build out the parts supply chain with Volt-specific parts (including a few very expensive battery packs) to areas the Volt isn’t being released in. This will defer millions of dollars in up-front roll-out costs until GM has sold some and started to get a return on their (substantial) investment. This is a business requirement, not a technology limitation.
As I’ve said before, if you think this is bad, look at Nissan. The Altima hybrid has been out since 2007 and _still_ isn’t sold nationwide. Consider that before you bash GM for taking a graduated approach to the Volt roll-out.
And for electricity being simple, if that was the case, we’d have a wide selection of EV/EREVs already for sale.
You seem to be a prime example of Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk
Nov 18th, 2009 (12:06 pm)I hope they will be available everywhere, sooner rather than later. This could be a turning point for GM. I hope they don’t blow it…. like the money they lost rebadging the Lumina instead of the Holden Commodore as the Impala… Dumping Pontiac, Opel and Saturn now instead of just SAAB and Isuzu five years ago… and finally with the delayed rollout of the Camaro. Think of all the market share they lost to the Mustang.
I am a performance type of guy, and I can’t wait to see what SEMA will have to hop up the Volt. Things I want to see from GM? How about a hi performance compact electric or plug in hybrid. Give me tire shredding torque from ZERO RPM, 0-60 MPH in under 6 seconds, top speed of 80 or more, plug in only range of 50+ miles in a hybrid, 200+ in an all electric. I’ll be very happy to hock the family jewels to buy one. Icing on the cake would be a retractable hard top, a killer sound system, and all wheel drive.
Do all this in your next generation Volt, and you might compete with the Vision diesel hybrid concept, giving BMW a run for its money.
Nov 19th, 2009 (7:26 pm)The volt will change the world but I think GM should bring it out in the spring. How can you introduce such a game changer in Nov. Spring is the time of the car and GM would get a much better impact in th spring.