I just had the opportunity to interview Jim Campbell who is GM’s newest Chevrolet brand director. I raised with him the issue of how the company will deal with the possibility demand could far outstrip supply of initial Chevy Volts.
Are you worried that since you will be making a very low volume of vehicles and that there may be a very tremendous demand, that the supply demand equation could create a negative backlash if people want them and cant get them?
Clearly those are scenarios that are possible so we will prepare for those. I’ve managed other products in my time in the industry where we’ve had very very high demand and supply that we always wanted to be greater, and there were ways to manage it.
Its always a challenging (scenario) but what I think is the positive side of it is that the fact there is that much interest keeps the enthusiasm high for Chevrolet overall. I think that provides benefits to the Chevrolet brand and all of the other vehicles that people start to notice and get introduced to that maybe they weren’t even thinking about when they started their level of interst in in this case the Chevy Volt.
I’ve had other (vehicles) where there has been high interest. Really it’s a great way to introduce customers to the entire lineup. In some cases, cusomters will stay very focused on the brand they’re interested in. In other cases along the way they will discover other offerings we have and so we’ll be able to meet another need in their lives or a family member’s. So its going to be an exciting year, Im really looking forward to it.
You mentioned three rollout locations. Will they get the very first cars in November? What is the timeframe from going from those locations to the full nation and are you going to go to every market in the nation?
A lot of those details we haven’t revealed yet and I’m not going to make any announcements right now.
Whenever we’ve introduced products, not in all cases but in some cases, we do kind of market by market launches. So that allows us as we ramp production up to sequence the production, focus our communications efforts, training efforts, making sure the delaer network is ready when we go market by market. We have number of examples in our history where we’ve done that.
As we ramp up production then we look for the opportunities to expand the distribution.
Do you think it will eventually be in all the US markets?
Yes, I think it will. (The timeframe) is exactly what we’re working through as we speak. The three initial markets; California, Michigan and Washington DC will be the initial markets.
You don’t anticipate there will be more initial markets?
We’ll see. More to come.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 7:27 am and is filed under Launch. 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.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (7:41 am)(click to show comment)
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:42 am)Well, keep the mystery going. Patience is a virtue.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (7:43 am)If GM thinks the Volt is going to be a halo, they’re mistaken.
The Prius got better milage. The Volt uses a different fuel source. Apples and oranges.
If they wan’t the Volt buzz to spread, they’ll need more EREVs, like an EREV Orlando.
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+8
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:45 am)#1. Well, compared to everything else out there the Volt really is a lot cheaper. The only car that appears to come close is the Nissan LEAF, and not only is it vapor, my opinion is that it is more expensive than the Volt – once the true price is known.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:47 am)“Its always a challenging (scenario) but what I think is the positive side of it is that the fact there is that much interest keeps the enthusiasm high for Chevrolet overall. I think that provides benefits to the Chevrolet brand and all of the other vehicles that people start to notice and get introduced to that maybe they weren’t even thinking about when they started their level of interst in in this case the Chevy Volt.”
———————-
Or, ‘why we can afford to lose money on the few volts we’ll sell.’ It’s called a loss leader.
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+34
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:49 am)I said it before, and I am saying it again now:
I am not buying a Cruze, because GM decided not to make enough Volts………………….
That seems to be what GM is thinking, and it is a mistake IMHO.
And what other cars did GM bring out in limited markets initally? I am just curious, as I can’t think of any.
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+14
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:52 am)From the post: ” I think that provides benefits to the Chevrolet brand and all of the other vehicles that people start to notice and get introduced to that maybe they weren’t even thinking about when they started their level of interst in in this case the Chevy Volt.”
…Makes you wonder why GM doesn’t (apparently) plan to have the Cruze available when the rolls out the Volt. (This based on the earlier post about the dealer order form for 2011). With it’s high mileage rating, the Cruze would be a great alternative for prospects who can’t afford a Volt but were lured into the showroom by the Volt’s gas-saving drivetrain.
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+16
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:59 am)Patiently waiting for my Volt, if the price is right and the timing is right. I am taking very good care of my ‘95 Honda Accord, in hopes that I might can get a last off the line gen 1 or first off the line gen 2! At the moment, I am looking at no other car to purchase (import or domestic)…just the Volt! So hurry up, not interested in the Cruze.
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+11
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:07 am)I echo the “no halo” comments. I won’t buy a different GM model. I specifically want the Chevy Volt. My 2006 Honda Accord should certainly keep me moving ’til Volt 2.0. Frustrating to wait, but any Volt 1.0 bugs will be ironed out by then, the entire nation should have access, and the price should be better as well.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:08 am)Lyle, you should have given us the good information about the photo too.
Where was it taken and what are all those people doing ?
Are they going to “Order Today” their Volts, or queing to see a Volt on display, or are the Volt Dancers putting on another show ?
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+19
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:18 am)Dave, I have to disagree. Before the Volt I never cared about nor considered a GM product. I follow this site daily because of the potential I see in the volt and I guess I’m just a nerd. But even still if I wanted a new ICE car I would certainly check out a GM dealership and possibly give them preference because in my mind I’d be inadvertently supporting the Volt. This is all independent of the bailout mess but even still.
I completely agree with you though that they need the Chevy Orlando EREV. I had to get a new van during the bailout for clunker days and GM doesn’t even make a minivan anymore. I certainly would have given it a test drive if they did.
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+7
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:19 am)Here’s an example of what Campbell is talking about:
When I was looking at the Volt on Chevrolet web site, I jumped over to the truck section to see if anything had changed. Chevy now makes a Colorado with a V-8. I had no idea.
Comparison with replacement for my Dakota however, doesn’t look very good on paper. May not have any choice to switch from Dodge when they drop Dakota next year. Maybe Fiat will spin off the RAM truck line. That might be a good thing.
I will actually be looking at Colorado when replacement time comes (a couple more years) due to the Volt. I wouldn’t have before.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:20 am)GM is definetely counting on the halo effect to pay off.. and they should.
Lyle, you should interview these people over lunch, get them to drink about 3 martinis and so on… but make sure you only drink Virgin Martinis..
http://www.cocktail.uk.com/Cocktail-Recipe/Virgin-martini.htm?reviews=999
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+4
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:20 am)The car might bring attention to the Chevrolet brand and improve their public image. But people wanting a fuel efficient VOLT are not going to walk out with a fuel guzzling 10-15mpg 4×4 or even a standard petrol car IMHO.
I think the car is going to be a ridiculously huge success. I recall 2nd hand Prius in the news selling for more than new ones due to waiting list issues… i can see this happening here… it’s going to be huge!
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+7
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:22 am)Not much to add to the comments thus far. All are solid and direct.
An observation:
Seems like a lot of Honda owners are waiting to buy a Volt. I drive a Honda as well. The demand on the first Volts will start high. And climb from there. Most shoppers will buy the newest and coolest. Rather than a common V6 car.
=D~
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+4
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:28 am)I agree with you 100%. GM’s way of thinking is very pre-internet 1980’s Sales ideology. Why would I by a Motorola Flip phone if I want an iPhone that’s in short supply. I’ll just wait, as I’ll do if I can’t get a Volt this year or next.
Lyle,
Where did you get that picture above? Implies people lining up to “Order” a Volt. Is that what it really is or a coincidence of Ad’s?
NPNS!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:38 am)Herm,
That’s a really funny one. Got my day off to a good start with a laugh.
I think Tag also has a good idea that we should have some sort of a convention sometime, maybe to pick up our Volts at the factory?
Maybe Mr. Whitacre’s comment that Lyle will be on his list to get priority for a Volt, well, maybe that could be extended out a bit for those of us who also are thoroughly-relentless ‘for’ GM.
I’m going to see if I can put a deposit down at one of the local dealers today. I tried two weeks ago, and was told by one of them that they were not yet accepting deposits.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:46 am)The problem could be the Dealers. If they start marking up the price the Volt may be a failure and people will walk right back out the doors. Everyone is aware of bait in switch in the car industry.
GM really needs to keep a close eye on this. I can understand the first few coming off the assembly line. If the dealers do what the Toyota dealers did by tacking on worthless dealer markups that equaled the Government rebate then its game over.
Although if they offered a $7000 GenII upgrade when you buy the car that would be different.
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+5
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:53 am)I’m not sure if anything new or meaningful was gained from this interview. CA, MI, and DC are initial markets. We already knew that.
Paraphrasing “GM has ramped up production in the past to meet demand, so we can do that again.” Whoa, now that’s new!
Will the Volt eventually be in all US markets? “I think it will”. Not definately, not eventually, just, “I think it will”. I am truly inspired.
Okay, Jim, since there has been a revolving door in GM Management lately, let me give you a suggestion to help you keep that big buck job!
“Are you worried that since you will be making a very low volume of vehicles and that there may be a very tremendous demand, that the supply demand equation could create a negative backlash if people want them and cant get them?”
Our objective at Chevy is to make quality affordable vehicles that meet a wide range of customer choice, from trucks and sport utility vehicles to passenger automobiles. The Chevy Volt is an integral part of our portfolio.
However, I’m sure you realize that the Volt represents a paradigm shift in automotive propulsion, and we want to gradually work towards higher production numbers while maintaining a keen focus on quality.
As we become more confortable with our manufacturing processes and quality control, we will be able to ramp up production to meet demand.
A case in point is our Chevy Equinox. Demand for this new fuel efficient SUV has been so strong, that we have added a 3rd shift to our assembly plant in Fairfax, Kansas. We also are evaluating the startup of several idled plants, should it be needed to meet customer demand. We could employ these same principles to the Volt, and add production shifts or look to other plants to help meet demand.
http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2010/01/11/daily5.html
“You mentioned three rollout locations. Will they get the very first cars in November? What is the timeframe from going from those locations to the full nation and are you going to go to every market in the nation?”
Volt production is scehuled to begin in November. It typically takes several weeks after a car is produced before is shows up at your local Chevy dealership.
As I stated, the Chevy Volt is an integral part of our portfolio, and will eventually be available through our entire network of dealerships.
“You don’t anticipate there will be more initial markets?”
For now, I am only at liberty to discuss our announced initial markets of CA, MI, and DC. But stay tuned for further announcements, as we consider the Volt an important step in automotive history.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:56 am)At least now we have another plausible reason for the limited roll-out – to match the production ramp-up with market by market dealer training and local marketing fanfare. I think the idea of bait and switch, with the Volt as the bait, but the Cruze as the actual product being sold, is not as plausible. And I think the idea that the limited roll-out is for the purpose of “beta” testing in order to provide the opportunity to fix problems revealed by the initial users is not very plausible either.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:58 am)As an owner of a 2003 HCHI I concur, although I like three vehicles right now:
Volt (wish it was in a 2-door sport model, but technologically it’s awesome)
Camaro (cool car but 29 mpg would bite the wallet)
Honda CRZ (looks nice but weak hp, weak mpg for a hybrid, made in Japan, etc.)
Nasaman’s comments about Japanese engineering were interesting. As far as I’ve seen with Honda though, the darn thing (Honda Civic Hybrid) has been virtually bulletproof. A water pump went out with no loss of service. Honda recalled the CVT transmission up to 100,000 miles (versus GM extending the warrantly on the 2003 Saturn Vue 4cyl AWD CVT to 75,000 miles, fixing one failure at 74,000 and sticking me with a $2k repair bill at 82,000). There was promise of a class action lawsuit on the Saturn, but that probably became history with old GM.
Volt a Halo vehicle. Oh yea. Reliability and pro-active warranty support is key if it will remain so though.
Note to GM-instead of buying another GM vehicle, the Saturn was traded in for a Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Approximately 2 months after trade-in, the front differential also failed. GM would have lost a few thousand had they fixed it, instead they lost $30k in lost business by not fixing it (and not having a quality competing product available in 2006). The 2010 Equinox/Terrain appear to be decent products.
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+8
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:01 am)Kind of dissappointing comments. I don’t want to hear that if I can’t get a Volt, thats OK because Chevy has a great lineup of other cars.
I want a reliable, reasonably affordable Volt or I’ll buy a Nissan Leaf or some other car. I’ll wait until second half 2012 and then I’m buying whatever gets me the most daily AER.
I understand they want the Volt to help sell their other cars, but I don’t want their other cars.
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+12
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:13 am)If GM thinks that a customer looking to buy a Chevy Volt is going to switch to a gas burning ICE vehicle because they don’t have enough Volts they’re sorely mistaken.
The Volt buyer is buying because they don’t want to buy gas…..PERIOD!
Now, if they have other EREV vehicles in the showroom upon launch of the Volt then a customer may look at one of those but that’s not going to happen.
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+6
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:14 am)Dave G, I happen to think this will be a Halo vehicle.
For instance, I have never in my life purchased a new car. To me, up until now they are merely a way of getting from A to B.
The Voltec drivetrain will be the first new car I will ever buy. I am sure I am not alone in this statement. On so many levels I want this car. Everyone I see I tell them not to buy a new car because the ICE age is over, and they will not be able to trade it in for anything like they want.
I still think the best marketing GM can do is to GIVE each Chevy dealership one Validation Volt to use for customer education purposes, not for resale. The Tesla showed the entire car market could be EV if you wanted it to be and moved all the majors to produce something.
The Volt will IMHO move all majors to start producing their own versions. Sure series one Volt will never be more than one line producing a max 60,000 per year. But Version two should have a couple of lines and the revamped Volt one line to follow. Then the other versions of Voltec will follow as well.
But for now, LJGTVWOTR.
And for another look at that EV grin, and a really positive article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/feb/03/tesla-roadster-sport-electric-car
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+23
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:48 am)Warning: Pre-coffee post. Irrational rant follows.Ignore.
I think that the GM spokespeople need to have an emergency meeting and brainstorm alternative phrases to replace “Stay tuned”. We’ve BEEN tuned in for quite a while now! “Stay tuned” is getting to be like the sound of fingernails on the blackboard. Please assume that we have it down to a science! Maybe “We can tell you more in a month (NOT “in the near future”).
Rationally, I know that GM has been very open about the Volt’s development, and Lyle has been a wonderful conduit for the information. For that, I’m truly grateful, but “Stay tuned” is getting old.
Sorry – /rant off
Be candid,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+12
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:58 am)This is funny. Everyone is not like us on this site. Of course the people on here want the Volt.
The vast majority of people are not like us. Many many will go to test drive a volt and buy a 40+ mpg simular looking Cruse for about 1/2 the price. And without the long wait.
If Chevy dealers are smart they will keep one Volt around for test drives. They will sell many more of the Cruse if they do.
If you have seen a real Cruse it looks like a great car.
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+17
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:03 am)This is NOT your typical new product launch.
GM is introducing a whole new paradigm in transportation with the VOLT. Perhaps the worst thing they could do is to produce them in very large quantities and then ship them all over the USA before the car is virtually bug-free and the dealer network is properly trained and equipped.
What a nightmare it would be, not just for VOLT but for electrification of automobiles in general, if there were a large amount of VOLTS in the hands of consumers that developed some strange glitches that hundreds of mistified service centers could not begin to understand or repair.
Take the Toyota recall mess and multiply times 100 and that’s might come close to describing the public relations nightmare.
One of the most difficult things to diagnose and repair in a malfunctioning car is “electrical problems”, especially those involving any type of computer interface with the additional possibility of “software problems”. Well, the VOLT is totally reliant on new electrical systems like that. It might be considered to be one of the most technically advanced cars ever introduced.
If GM wants to take their time to make sure this launch goes right, I can certainly understand why they feel that way. We will all benefit by their conservatism in the long run.
With VOLT it just has to be right.
Go VOLT!
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:03 am)Mr Campbell says I’ve had other (vehicles) where there has been high interest. Really it’s a great way to introduce customers to the entire lineup
Pragmatically, I don’t see how this halo effect is going to function. I’m not going into a Chevrolet dealership unless and until there are Volts for sale. My wife would never go to a Chevy dealership, except perhaps to please me. One aspect is that the few dealerships left in our area are intensely balloned loud music lots of sales pressure kinds of places that are not pleasant to visit. But, really, there’s not anything else there that I’d like to see.
So I started reading today’s gm-volt topic with very high hopes from the title. I’m still hopeful in general because I think Volts have so much promise, but Mr. Campbell’s comments themselves were one disappointment after another.
From his comments I understand Mr Campbell to be a person who is focused on the broad Chevrolet brand, of which Volt is a minor part, as he sees it, and therefore incidental at best. That is, I don’t think he gets it. He sees Volt as more or less like Corvette, something to look at but not something to buy, not a real car. I remain hopeful that Mr Campbell will someday will have a chance to see people’s interest in Volts as cars to purchase, not just to look at as curiosities, and that when he does see their (focused) interest he will change his mind.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:03 am)Are they going to honor their waiting list, the one that some of us signed a few years ago?
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+4
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:05 am)I hope Mr. Campbell understands that the Volt is the only car that would get me into a GM. They have a window of opportunity here between the introduction of the Volt and when other car manufacturers get a EREV on the market.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:06 am)They will not be too affordable ($40+ K) for the average Chevy buyer making the Volt one of the most expensive Chevrolet vehicles of all time. This actually works well for GM since very few “ordinary folk” will ever get their hands on one in the first three years. Highest bidder will win, as it should be.
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+15
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:06 am)That’s Lyle’s list, so don’t use “their” when talking about it.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:10 am)I think Mr. Campbell is telling those of us on the list that he can get us a really really really good deal on a Malibu, absolutely positively not one bit worse than that given to anyone else. (smile)
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:11 am)Thats exactly how its supposed to work.. a Volt will draw you to a dealership, and there perhaps you will be interested by other cars that you see.. perhaps later you will mention to a co-worker that GM has some nice cars to sell. Without the halo car you or your wife wound have never stepped into a GM dealership.
You are right, halo cars only work if there are actually some of them to see.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:17 am)The larger point you make is a good one, better to take enough time to get it right.
But as to repairing “electrical problems”, a lot of the difficulty comes up if the problem only occurs occasionally. How difficult that problem is to solve depends on the quality and detail of the records kept by the computer within the car. Good computer records (a good “black box”) often removes the need to replicate an occasional issue, the hardest part of solving intermittent problems. Gradually these records are improving, and they could take leaps and bounds of improvement. Maybe that will happen with Volt, which is more electrical from the start of design.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:19 am)GM wake up! The only halo effect I see is potential Volt buyers running to Fisker or Nissan for their EREV / BEV or if GM waits long enough to ramp up production, Jaguar’s EREV. GM never thought the buzz they started & this web site hyper accentuated would rub off on competetors did they? The tech & a quality product are what fans of this site are interested in. If not available from GM they will go to where it is? The loyalty we speak of is in the tech and a quality product at a fair price. Even if GM makes it but in insufficent quantities they may find a loss of potential customers and indirectly free advertising for their competetors.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:37 am)(click to show comment)
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:40 am)I’ve wondered how LEAF’s price will affect Volt’s. Ofcourse they are not going to be in the same markets initially (except San Diego ?). Also if LEAF leases the battery, then the price comparison becomes moot.
If the rumors of LEAF’s price between $30K and $35K are right (before rebates) – will GM try to match or will GM market the additional functionality of EREV as worth the extra money ?
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:42 am)The Halo will work. It may take 2+ years but the word will get out. GM is a good car company at the leading edge of electric cars. And, if you cannot affort that, take a look at their cruze, spark, equinox, etc. etc.
The Halo effect will work. Even for some of you hardened types that willl not visit a chevy dealer unless the Volt is there. That is the tip of the iceberg. And, there are many other people who are less hardened in their opposition to GM.
The Volt is a great car and will serve as a halo for GM.
If the Volt is too expensive and you think you could save money and buy a prius, the same could be said about the Cruze. The Prius is too expensive and you could save money and buy a Cruze.
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+10
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:43 am)I just did that this morning. The dealer claims confidence in having cars by Nov. 1 if not Oct or Sept. But led me to believe there would be no choice of color or options. Did not know price, but expected $40-45K. For a while he let me hang on whether there would be a markup over MSRP as he went to talk to the boss. Came back and said MSRP, no mark-up. Did claim that plans to train the technicians are taking shape – requirement of 2 techs per dealership in order to qualify to sell it – and some dealerships only have 2 techs, so only bigger dealers will qualify.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:49 am)(click to show comment)
Feb 8th, 2010 (10:50 am)I have worked on cars since the 60’s. Electrical problems usually cannot be diagnosed by any computer (onboard or external) since the problem is usually not happening when the tech (me) looks at it. Electric windows, high-tech audio, dashboards, switches and wiring are generally not monitored by the onboard.
It only takes one component, like a little light bulb socket, to really make you crazy trying to find an intermittent glitch.
My father-in-law, who is a master electrician, keeps a piece of telephone flat wire wrapped around his mirror in the work truck. It is there to remind him to check the connectors (small stuff) first.
The point being.. It’s usually something simple and cheap that takes hours to find when working on electrical systems.
Heck, the last ‘electrical problem’ I worked was caused by a faulty emission hose!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:50 am)JohnK
Where are you located?
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:00 am)Salivating over a new car usually guarantees that you get the highest possible price. That’s not usually what you want …
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+7
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:00 am)Dude. It’s a Chevy for cryin’ out loud.
Trolls make me laugh.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:02 am)HaHaHaHaHaHa.
Trolls make me laugh. A lot.
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+5
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:06 am)You’re not. I’m not. But many folks out there might. The point is to get them in the showrooms across the nation. I’m sure they have stats.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:20 am)I’m not a bit surprised. I always thought that, in GM fashion, only the bigger dealers had a chance to have a Volt for the first years. It makes sense to concentrate your sales on a few dealers so they can gather info on car behavior more rapidly and efficiently.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:24 am)It’s a pretty good idea to remain anonymous. Comments like that would not improve your following on twitter it we knew who you are.
Nevertheless, bonne journée !
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:26 am)Completely OT but yesterday I had a bit of time to check out the problem with the Toyota gas pedal issues on YouTube. Very interesting. The problem seems to be that the design is, as you might say, “not very elegant”. Basically the gas pedal is just a flat piece of metal on a spring. In contrast to the assembly in Japan, which is sealed, the pedal in NA is completely open.
The theory is that because the spring and related parts are open to the elements and not sealed, the spring can corrode or otherwise degrade over time. If this happens, when the driver’s foot comes off the pedal the spring hasn’t stored sufficient energy to force the pedal back to the position where it would completely shut off the throttle. The pedal won’t get stuck in the completely open position (the floor mat problem), it just won’t completely return to the OFF position.
The “fix” is to put in a shim. This compresses the spring, making it more likely that the degraded spring which can store less energy will still have stored sufficient energy to force the throttle into a fully closed position. It’s a simple fix but effective. it’s also not very elegant. Where I live I doubt there would be much degradation in the spring because the climate is so mild, but if I were concerned I would not accept the shim fix since if the spring degrades some more the problem would come back. I’d want the sealed pedal which is the right way to have done it in the first place.
Seems like Toyota is not treating its customers that well. First it puts out a lousy part in order to save a buck and then, when the part creates some real issues, it comes up with a less than complete fix to the problem. Reminds me of lousy home builders. Not sure if that is because a real fix would be too expensive or if it’s just because they can’t get as many replacement parts as they’d need. Hopefully it’s the latter.
I hope GM isn’t going down the same path with the Volt.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:29 am)Yes, but the Cruze is not going to be ready until after the Volt or have I missed something?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:32 am)(click to show comment)
+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:33 am)A troll is a troll is a troll. A troll by any other name – is still laughable.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:38 am)Is there a limit on how many EV tax credits one Social Security number can redeem per year? Is there still a chance to have the tax credit go to GM or GMAC directly. And in turn reduce the price of the Volt at the time of sale? What will happen with fleet sales?
I suggest the H&R Block instant rebate system. Where you get the tax refund the same time you submit your forms. Sure this will cost something to the buyer. Most will be okay with this.
Another way to do it is to simply reduce the price of the Volt by $7000. Why not $7500? Because the car buyer will be taxed on a lesser sticker amount.
Let’s get creative GM. Having the salesperson say, “Normally we would charge you the full $39,000 and you would be taxed at the point of sale. But here at Chevy Motors we can lower the price to $32,000 for you today. Would you like to take your Volt home today sir?
Sound like a winner? Little things like this really add up.
=D~
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:39 am)I live in Troy, MI, work in Detroit about a block from the GM HQ. The dealership is about 5-6 miles up a main road from the GM Tech Ctr.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:43 am)I just had a wild idea. What if GM is holding back on the Cruze so that they can make Volts at the plant that was supposed to make Cruze’s (Lordstown Ohio)? Then they would have TWO plants making Volts. Gee, that might even explain why the dealer in Ohio decided to take orders for Volts – maybe they heard something about it. Uh oh, I might be in trouble if two dealers call and say they each have a volt ready to deliver. That would never happen would it?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:46 am)I think that when Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog’s Day, it means 6 more weeks of trolls (he saw his shadow this year).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+6
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:46 am)Let’s hope Toyota’s “software” problems don’t crossover to folks in the showrooms considering the Volt.
I for one am happy GM is taking extra time to thoroughly study the car’s performance before the rollout.
Folks should feel safe buying a Volt, especially with its many software driven features.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:49 am)JohnK,
Are you in Ohio? – OOPS never mind, you answered already. Thanks. Please ignore this one.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+5
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:54 am)If GM actually gives our dealership one of those preproduction models to use in the showroom and/or for demo rides, then we can take orders while basking in the glow of a halo.
But you guys are right. A Malibu, Cruze or Impala is not what a VOLT shopper will switch to if they can’t get one.
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+6
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:54 am)#25
Too bloody right! +1
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+6
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:58 am)#37
Bye. Don’t let the door his you in the a_s on the way out. -1
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (12:06 pm)Don’t encourage him. He’s just a cranky old f@rt.
Edit: LOL, I just scrolled up to see if I was “scrunched” yet, and it’s YELLOW. Go figure.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS’ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (12:11 pm)A very good idea. Clearly mark these with large lettering on the side.
“Pre-Production Demo Volt”
And offer demo drives toward ordering a new Volt of the desired color. Making use of the R&D time and money spent on the demo’s. GM can send crash test display vehicles as well. Win, win, win for all involved. Don’t disrupt the flow.
=D~
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Feb 8th, 2010 (12:32 pm)Thats what I am afraid of, every dealer getting one even the ones who aren’t selling it to bring in customers to the point there are even fewer for sale. Can we say “Bait & Switch”?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (12:33 pm)I fall into the “thanks but no thanks” category regarding any interest in other GM vehicles. However, I cant really blame any GM executive for citing the halo theory.
I am someone who has enough interest in the Volt that I am actually thinking about parting with my man crush love of the BMW driving experience. I would become a first time ever GM customer. Let me add that even though I am a BMW owner, I have never purchased a brand new one (aka. I’m not Richie Rich or some “Anonymous Celeb”)….$40k for any car stretches my limits….
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Feb 8th, 2010 (12:46 pm)Dealers in CT are accepting deposits.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (12:50 pm)This guy does not get it – Volt is a new technology. People who are interested in it will not be interested in the other Chevrolet vehicles or the rest of line up because those are “outdated”. I just bought a LED TV from Samsung. They had plenty of other Samsung non-LED TVs but I did not even look at them. Why would I? They are becoming obsolete as we speak. The same goes for DVD players. I bought Blue Ray not standard DVD? Again, why would I even look at technology that is dying? If people at GM thing that they can sell gas guzzlers to Volt enthusiasts because they attract them to Chevrolet showrooms, they are dreaming…
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:02 pm)I’m tired of the halo talk as well. I regard it as soft-minded marketing-speak. IMO, the halo theory cannot be tested, so it fails the first requirement of a theory. When I hear “halo”, I conclude there is likely some gap in corporate strategy or gap in understanding strategy on the part of the speaker.
Now, the Volt has increased my respect for GM in a very vague sense, but I seriously doubt my interest in any non-Volt GM product has budged from 0 (zero).
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:05 pm)If by your comment you were asking will the Volt be priced like a Toyota Yaris or introductry level Hyundai then the answer is an emphatic NO. Conversely it will be nowhere near the price of Tesla Roadster either. Even if pricing approached the speculated $40K its still within reach of many who are looking for a new car. GM and Ford have sold hundreds of thousands of $35-40K vehicles! I’m convinced GM has done their homework and this vehicle will be priced accordingly. That is to say within reach of many consumers.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:10 pm)I think you’re right.
However, I think once news spreads about how awsome the Volt is in the news, magazine’s and from friends, they might just wish they had held out for the Volt!
(I hope the initial release of the Volt goes well, there are minimal glitches, strong demand and GM ramps up production quickly to meet it.)
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Feb 8th, 2010 (1:16 pm)Your assertion is no doubt true. That being the case, they ought to sell all available Volts to those of us who HAVE been waiting anxiously.
*Sigh*… to live in a just world. I’m a dreamer
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:21 pm)Have you ever heard of a Corvette?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (1:28 pm)Welcome to my world. It’s nice here.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Ge Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:31 pm)Dan Petit #17 Says: “I’m going to see if I can put a deposit down at one of the local dealers today. I tried two weeks ago, and was told by one of them that they were not yet accepting deposits.”
==================
It must be “Go visit your Chevy Dealer Day”!
I stopped by our local Chevy dealer today as well. I am still #1 of the Volt list. All they would tell me today was that they would call me as soon as they have more information. He did ask if I would be willing to put down a deposit. I said as long as it was refundable to me if I did not like the car, I was fine with it. He laughed and said “We don’t keep people’s money if they don’t buy the car!”
BTW, the red Corvette was priced at $86K, so the Volt is sounding pretty reasonable!!!!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (1:35 pm)Off Topic:
Has anyone else sen the Toyota commercial with the calming music and the reassuring voice that says Toyota understands that there is a problem and we are working to make it right….
I think at this point in time, it is going to take more than this type of ad to fix the problem they created!!!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (1:43 pm)Yeah, they had it on during the Super Bowl yesterday. Today they just announced a recall of 300,000 Prius for brake issues.
I guess they really DO care! (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:48 pm)$40,000 is nothing…
Try $40-47K for a Tahoe… $49-55K for a Suburban.
The typical Silverado Crew Cab truck… $33-46,000
Oh yeah… Corvettes run $49,000 to $119,000.
“Affordability” is in the eye of the beholder’s paystub.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (1:52 pm)I heard it this morning. Don’t know if it was TV or drive radio though. Didn’t pay much attention since I don’t own one and never will.
Ft. Worth, TX. USA.
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-15
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:54 pm)(click to show comment)
-13
Feb 8th, 2010 (1:57 pm)(click to show comment)
+8
Feb 8th, 2010 (2:10 pm)Your numbers are a little off. No, a lot off.
http://wardsauto.com/keydata/historical/UsaSa28summary/
Research before posting ‘facts’.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:15 pm)PDNFTT.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ *** Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:17 pm)Well smoothing music may work but my post at #50 suggests why the “we are working to make it right” doesn’t ring entirely true. The “fix” is fast and cheap but not entirely satisfactory in my mind. It’s more like “we penny pinched so you didn’t get the quality part that we use in Japan, and when that came back to bite us we came up with a penny pinching fix which we hope you are too stupid to see through”.
Color me unimpressed. A little honesty would go further with me. I’m puzzled why they don’t do a better job of both explaining the issue and coming up with the right fix.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (2:22 pm)All market research shows that $25K is the magic cut off point for cars, which is why all the manufactures try so hard to hit that number for the base vehicle. I suspect you know that.
How many orders does Tesla have for the Roadster? All of 300 and the number is dropping. I’m not saying that the Volt at $44K (equipped) is a out of reason, I’m saying that you won’t see a lot of volume at that price.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:41 pm)“The average price is $27,958, up 6 percent from last year. ”
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_average_price_of_car_in_2009
‘Average’ means that half of these were over 28k.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (2:52 pm)I cringe just a little when I see “all” and “research” in the same sentence. It may well be the “sweet spot” price, but apparently the average sale is closer to $28,400. At least that’s what the gov’t says. SHRUG.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut11.shtm
Remember, I’m a guy who has never purchased a new car and grew up in the 60’s when trusting what the govt says was not in vogue, so factor that in.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:54 pm)I grant that it may be difficult to measure a halo effect but that doesn’t mean you can dismiss it. (BTW I’m tired of it too). “Halo” is just another way to say mindshare. The sales process is just a giant funnel. More prospects in the top of the funnel means more customers out the bottom. If you don’t have mindshare then you don’t have prospective customers, and if you don’t have prospective customers then you don’t have buyers.
The Volt has made me aware of other GM vehicles, and I have suggested to friends that they look at some of those (LaCrosse, Equinox. Terrain, CTS). They may not buy, but if I hadn’t made the suggestion then they wouldn’t have looked, and in that case they certainly wouldn’t have bought. Selling cars is a long and complicated process but it all starts with mindshare, and where I and Corvette Guy are GM doesn’t have a lot of mindshare.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:56 pm)Average is not median.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:56 pm)LOL, I saw that answer too, but wanted “average” for over a longer term.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********No “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:56 pm)Gm is going to increase compacity of the Volt, they just don’t what to rush it getting it out here.
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+3
Feb 8th, 2010 (2:56 pm)It says that the Volt hasn’t been released yet. And that Toyota’s still selling a recalled vehicle. Not something to boast about IMHO.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (2:58 pm)No, that would be the median price where half were over/under.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********No “Stay Tuned”!
(Quote)
Feb 8th, 2010 (2:58 pm)First, transaction price and base (the advertised) price are not the same. Second, average and median are not the same. Third, what is the base price of a Camaro? A Fusion? A Camry?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (3:15 pm)But at this point, all they’re trying to sell is 10,000 for the first year. They sold more Corvettes than that in 2009. (Which was a really bad year for Corvettes.) I really don’t see price being an issue at this point.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (3:18 pm)First, did you read the citation?. Second, *I* posted a correction for Loboc that the average is not the median (read, I know the difference). Third, What’s the POINT of spouting the base price of 3 different cars!
All I was questioning was the more and more common use of the phrase “*all* of the research”! Some people are very comfortable with sweeping statements like that and I’m not. What’s wrong with that?
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********No “Stay Tuned”!
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+4
Feb 8th, 2010 (3:18 pm)Thats not accurate. Once I visited a Toyota dealership to see the early relase of the Prius. The salesperson kept pushing me to the used car area which I then turned around and left. I complained to Toyota Corporate and the next day the dealership invited me back.
I never went back because the salesperson did not listen when I asked to see the Prius.
The dealerships and car companies have to reinvent themselves. Today’s customer does not need to walk into a dealership to see brochures, test drives and pricing thanks to the internet. They come to the dealership to get a hands on experience.
So this 1960’s idea of bait and switch does not work with the 2010 educated consumer.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (4:33 pm)I stand statistically (if not semantically) corrected.
There are still some portion of these cars that are over 28k and another group that are over 40k.
The point is that 40k for a limited-production first run is reasonable. Other cars (lots of them) sell for well above 40k. Every single Volt will sell for years to come for MSRP or above (at these low production levels).
It won’t matter if fuel savings aren’t ‘cost effective’. It won’t matter if the price is way above a plug-in Prius. It won’t matter if the CS mileage is around 30mpg. It won’t matter if the actual AER is less than 30miles. Probably won’t even matter what the color and options are.
Volt can’t really be compared apples-to-apples to anything else out there. It’s a whole new animal. Every single one for the foreseeable future will be sold before it is built.
And all the hype will draw non-Volt customers into Chevy and GM showrooms. GM is obviously counting on it from the interview with Campbell and other comments by GM officials.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (4:52 pm)BTW, did you notice what his/her name is if you read it backwards?
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Feb 8th, 2010 (4:56 pm)And my wife’s avatar is ‘Cisab Lausiv’. lol.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:01 pm)Without quoting anyone in particular I disagree with the notion that ‘halo’ products do not work.
Almost all companies only advertise their “top of the line” product(s) but most actual sales are the inexpensive or mid-line models.
Although it’s true that truly focused enthusiasts will look at one model and one model only most people will actually look to the right and the left when they enter a showroom and some will buy.
Having said all that, I also think that the high volume Gen 2 Volt will be an affordable halo.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:07 pm)No, WAIT. The quote citation put MY name in. The guy that she was quoting was “redrum noskcaj” (jackson murder). Hope it is just humor.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (5:10 pm)BTW, while I’m still here. Anybody want to speculate on whether Lyle used Photoshop on the ad in the window in the picture for his article? It strikes me that at the very least the lettering is not lined up with the perspective of the picture in the ad. just thinking
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:45 pm)Whatever is highlighted is inserted (at least in IE8) when you press the ‘quote’ link. So, if you searched your name to find something, for example, and JohnK was still highlighted.. bingo.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:47 pm)I couldn’t seem to get a post to the site. This one worked though.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:47 pm)#82
My dad always used to say “My mind is made up. Please do not confuse me with facts”, LOL. +1
They’re always out there lurking. I think that they must have sent out for reinforcements in the light of recent revolting developments.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:54 pm)#105
Yeah, I think it was down for awhile earlier. I had the same problem.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (5:55 pm)OT….
We’ve all speculated on why GM Hybrids did not sell weel. MyddyRoverRob always pointed out it’s because of all the stuff that is “stuffed” into the Hybrid models causing the price to way the he|| up there. I did some searching and found the following site
http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-scorecard/
Someone actually did the research and it’s all because of the “Forced Upgrades”. This tells me it’s a sneaky attempt to “Hide” the cost in with everything else. Seems rather shady if you ask me but it’s marketing I guess.
I guess that’s why the other departments bought a new fleet of Toy Prius’s. Their the Model 1 or stripped down to only a radio and AC/Heat.
Just give me a bare bones car, keep it KISS!
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (5:59 pm)#108
That and the fact that the “BAS” ones didn’t really do much. The BAS Malibu got about the same mileage as the I-4 with the 6 speed automatic. The “hybrid” was just basically “greenwashing”, and the public saw right through it.
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-4
Feb 8th, 2010 (5:59 pm)Buy an ICE with good FE, much better deal for your money. And did I mention that real-world range will be no where near the 40 miles GM keeps yakking about? In cold weather, you’ll be lucky to get 25
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Feb 8th, 2010 (6:11 pm)Well, that’s a comfort (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (6:27 pm)Another disappointing effort by GM Marketing..they have the marketing flair of the US Army.
They should get their press releases checked by Ed Whitacre, he seems to have the knack of saying the right things about the Volt.
Just my opinion of course.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (6:41 pm)I totally agree that $25k is an important target to hit for many working class folks, but there is a significant market for $39k to $69k autos. Lexus, MB, Audi, Porsche still have their doors open.
At our house, we are still pondering whether to ‘buy’ a $40k auto (and wait for the promised gov’t rebate), or maybe lease it, which is how we have acquired all previous cars for my wife.
I like the idea of buying it, with hopes that battery tech will improve where we can switch it out after I pay the dang thing off. I believe by 2017 there will be a 200+ AER replacement battery.
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:03 pm)I listened to a couple of anti GM rants at work today, plus a derogatory remark about the Prius. It seems I would be cursed with my vehicular choices. Also I was asked a sincere question on how I liked the HHR. The questioner seemed genuinely surprised that I actually liked the HHR. He then said a relative had rented one once and did not like it. I asked why, he said they did not like it because it was a GM.
So I have a brilliant idea! Launch the Volt were I work! I would be the only one that wants one.
I did a quick survey when I left. Less then five percent of the cars in the parking lot were GM.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:15 pm)Just got in.
(gasp! no positives? horrors!! LOL, LOL)
I went to visit my favorite Chevrolet Dealer today, Henna Chevrolet, here in Austin.
I was directed to the General Manager, who also believes just as strongly as I do about Volt and Voltec philosophies.
We visited and had a very deep conversation regarding our Volt futures, and, on what to do to get a Volt.
(slight hint; If I were you I’d get my happiest self over to your local Chevy Dealer pronto, and, begin to get to know your friends over at your local Chevy Dealership over the course of very many enthusiastic visits if I were you. /just a slight hint to the wise).
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:16 pm)I think that too many people here are concerned about the price of Volt. Guess what, if GM does not have enough customers in the US, they can sell all their Volts in Europe, where $40K for car this size is no big deal and gas is $7 per gallon…
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:21 pm)hi AllenF #110 …
I used to share this view. The issue of battery fade is true of older battery driven vehicles. Everything from GEM cars to electric bicycles.
What had made me think twice about this now is the effort being put into the battery conditioning system of the Volt. And the possibility that the battery will be conditioned while under garage charge. Conditioning via smart phone command being available as well.
The bottom line is that the temperature maintenance systems in the Volt are designed to provide 10 years of battery life (minimum). The E85/gasoline generator is the 300 mile range back up in the event of battery charge depletion.
Other major EV producers are making cars which are pretty much designed for moderate climates. I would be concerned about a Tesla Roadster or a Nissan Leaf which had been sitting overnight in -20 degree conditions. The Volt is the first all temperature EV.
http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/05/chevy-volt-battery-temperature-control/
=D~
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+2
Feb 8th, 2010 (7:25 pm)I can in fact tell you. I will buy an electric car for my next car. I will buy my next car in the next 18 months. If there is no Volt for me then a Nissan Leaf. Or maybe a Ford/Magna Focus. Leave no doubt in your mind. I have a brother in Michigan and an Ex in California and really want the Volt but another EV will suffice. I have bought my last ICE car.
Take Care,
TED
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Feb 8th, 2010 (7:46 pm)LOL,
The Red Corvette Convertible over at Henna Chevrolet in Austin has a better price at $70.490.
Still, it’s a Volt for me.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (7:53 pm)hi CG #60 …
There are about 6 or 7 Chevy dealers within 40 miles of my home. This is roughly 1 dealership per 100,000 people. GM can very well designate 1 in 10 (or even 1 in 20) dealers to offer demo drives in the pre production Volt. Perspective buyers will have no problem with a distance of less than 60 miles.
The other ways to go are to sponsor a moving demo drive tour. Or wait until the Volt actually hits the showrooms. When the dealer says, “Sir, I can’t sell this Volt to you this week. We’re holding onto it so others can demo drive”. The answer will often be, “Okay, cut the BS. How much you want for it today?”
=D~
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:08 pm)glad the old site is back …
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:09 pm)#121
Not from me, LOL.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:14 pm)Well, GM *did* say they wanted a “limited release”….
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:18 pm)Always good advice. It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:21 pm)And, evermoreso nowadays, it’s
********************************************
* WHO knows >YOU< want a Volt *
********************************************
more than anything else in the world. LOL!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:23 pm)Yeah, that was a long 20 minutes (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
(Quote)
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:38 pm)Your experience with a car dealer is not the point. This is not a bait and switch. Its about perception. Many think GM sucks. If they make a car like the Volt, Cruze, etc…, this perception will change. That is the point. The Volt is the crown on this changed perception and it will help out with some at the margins.
A fraction of people will eventually change their perception of GM and this will lead to more sales overall.
Go GM, Go Volt.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (8:55 pm)So .. let’s see… GM’s big problem is how to please too many new customers… and Toyota’s problem is how to keep millions of previous customers from sueing them… hmmm
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Feb 8th, 2010 (8:59 pm)But if we answer with the typical response to that question: Okay, you can have it for $___________ over MSRP, then the other shoe drops and we are labeled the evil ____ ______ ______s… So, as you can see (and I’ve said this here before) the dealers are gonna be screwed no matter what we sell the first VOLT for.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (9:08 pm)hi CC #129 …
This is exactly my point. An early demo drive program is the only way to go.
Thanks to Noel #122 as well. There will be a small percent of buyers (who have $800k in the bank) who will want this car the day it hits the dealerships. Last year GM said something about a “Satisfied Customer Program”? Demo drive with pre-order is needed. ‘No haggle’ would also take the edge off of the supply/demand issue. It is unlikely that we will see this.
BTW: Remember the long electronics store lines waiting for the newest Play Station? Think this can’t happen with an electric car? I had a coworker who had a 2′x2′ banner in the shop counting the days. 20..19..18.. days to go!
=D~
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (9:08 pm)Off topic,
What is with all the snow down south? I want some up here! Here is a picture from a snowmobile ride a couple of weeks ago.
My offer still stands, show up with a Volt, and burgers and an extension cord are on me.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (9:36 pm)I’m a big fan of the Volt . . . but I think you people have become victims of a hive mind mentality. I think GM is far more likely to suffer weak demand . . . at least until gas prices go back above $4/gallon. People don’t think ahead enough. They will see the high price of the Volt and balk as they do their ‘time-to-recoup-extra-cost’ calculations using $2.8/gallon gas prices.
I think GM will intentionally limit the supply . . . this will help keep up interest, limit their losses (since they’ll lose money on all the 1st year cars), give them time to refine the vehicle, and give time for gas prices to go up. And gas prices WILL go up.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (9:57 pm)It may just be the hive-mind-mentality talking, but it’s not all about the money.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:00 pm)If I am lucky enough to get a very early Volt, I’d be willing to bring it back to the dealer for a few weekends (well, actually, around here they are not open on the weekends), anyway for a day or two a week to let them “borrow” it show the public. I’d probably not want people driving it, but looking at it and sitting in it are OK. Seems like a good way to do a little bit to evangelize.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:02 pm)hi Don J #132 …
The Volt doesn’t cost that much more than other cars. Just a little bigger monthly payment. Few of the 51000 here on the gm volt dot com waiting list have placed a deposit on a Leaf or a Volt.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Oh the drama.
=D~
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:03 pm)A little bit heart-warming to see a few trolls out today.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:08 pm)Just pulled this text from another Volt forum…
Hmmm, so it takes about 25 days to build a car and then a couple of more weeks to get it shipped, that’ll put the first Volts arriving mid late December. That’s very late for a model year 2011 car or are they going to call it a 2012?
=D~
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:21 pm)Surely it doesn’t take 25 days to build a car.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (10:48 pm)According to wiki, by 1916 Ford could build one in ~90 minutes. These days they say 50 to 100 *an hour!*.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:02 pm)This would be accurate around 1910ish. Current production at GM facilities run between 3 and 5 days on average. Most run in the 3.5 range…the Zeta line (Camaro) last I heard was around 4. You got a little extra play likely with the complexity of the Volt, so maybe 5 once it is up and running.
The only time you are looking at numbers like 25, is a front to back on a ‘one-sie,’ or special order if you will…but that is more about trying to get it in the queue.
That being said, the initial run/turn time is not the same as a car in full production…preparedness and pressure/schedule from above is more the deciding factor in the early going.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:07 pm)Are you saying that it takes between 3 and 5 days to make a single car? Maybe it’d be better to ask how many cars they can have coming off the line per day.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:20 pm)I think DaveK was asking/mentioning that someone said it would be late December at the earliest for the first few Volts, if they went into production on Nov 1, based on cars taking 25 days to produce. The number in fact is generally around 3.5-4.
Capacity per day is arbitrary…it is what GM budgets for. The Camaro churns about 450ish currently. One line at DHAM is configured to optimally do about 250, but it is going to average out more like 25 for 6 months or so.
…again, the early runs (speed and quantity) would only be set (more like guess-ti-mated) by people on the inside.
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+1
Feb 8th, 2010 (11:32 pm)It takes way less than that to roll out a car on a running line (more like hours). The problem is lead time. A car being built for your particular dealer’s order is behind all the other orders.
60,000 cars per year is about 7 cars per hour on three shifts. 60,000 cars is not trivial. (Let’s not use 60k. It sounds smaller.) Try this: SIXTY-THOUSAND-VOLTS. Or if you want, write: Sixty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars on a check. It’s a BIG number.
As I’ve said many times before, 300 cars for GM (Tesla’s one-year production) is merely turning on the one line for a week. That small of a run is just training/testing for GM. Heck, they might miss the ’stop’ button and accidentally build a few extra!
Volt is going to be a HUGE deal. GM will build millions of them. Just need to wait for it a little longer.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:36 pm)Somwhow I think with your backgroud you’re have a distinct advantage. Whenever I talk to them they constantly ask me the “what can I do to get you to buy an Equinox today” line.
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:46 pm)I don’t think you want the general public sitting in it. The auto show cars I’ve seen have rough lives. Labels and lettering are rubbed off by all the fingers touching and scratching. Knobs and buttons are routinely pulled and knocked off. 12 volt batteries are routinely drained by folks testing electricals, and just lights from entering and exiting – hopefully a battery as large as the Volts can handle the abuse!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:55 pm)Thanks for the info. When I looked a little closer, the consensus was pretty much what you’re saying about the 3ish days from start of the line to the finish, but when they are really spitting them out, they can come off the line with a new car every 8 minutes. I realize, actually I HOPE, that they take their time initially to get the fit and finish, etc spot on. It needs to be as close to “perfect” as they can get. With the modest numbers they are releasing in the beginning, let’s hope that they can pull it off.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The ***VOLTS ‘ * * * Wheels On The Road!!**********No “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 8th, 2010 (11:55 pm)Simple recognition that demand will FAR outstrip supply. What else can they do other than hope those unlucky shoppers buy something else.
5,000 in the first year will be swallowed up the first day with orders.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (6:03 am)Ohh.. you mean there really is not a line to buy Volts somewhere in a major city?
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Feb 9th, 2010 (6:16 am)By comparing the cost of the components at the dealership parts department.. it appears the 2-Mode large hybrids should carry about a $4000 Hybrid Premium. They really do load them up with options.
The large RWD 2-Mode transmission is about the same an automatic 6 speed transmission at the parts dept. You still need a battery, an inverter and a voltage booster, those are about $4000. These are the discounted prices that mechanics get… GM probably pays lots less than this.
Eagerly waiting until we can get prices on the Volt’s components at the dealership.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (2:33 pm)Hopefully the demand is more than the supply or, GM will soon be out of business. This is not rocket science it is just good business.
If only the “New GM” can maintain their will to make the VOLT unlike their recent stupidity with the “EV1″, we will be lucky. I guess the next trick will be to out price the car so that it can be a Non-Seller.
Go GM!
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Feb 15th, 2010 (4:05 pm)