The Volt’s Euro twin siblings, the Ampera variants, are on track to surpass first-year Volt sales.
This news for the Opel/Vauxhall twins may come as little surprise, but as you’ll recall, GM missed its 10,000-unit target last year after the federal battery investigation and American politics were blamed on slowing momentum to 7,761 units sold.
Well, the Ampera just being introduced has over 7,000 orders, of these a good 60 percent are fleet customers, and the Detroit News reported that Enno Fuchs, e-mobility launch director for Adam Opel AG, said it will be no sweat topping 10,000 Amperas by year’s end.
“We are quite sure that our sales target of 10,000 units (in 2012) is within reach,” Fuchs wrote in an email to the publication.
We’ve been hearing similar things from European GM executives since last year, and even if things for the Volt were off to a rocky start here, the Amperas and European Chevrolet-badged Volts are being comparatively better received.
No doubt it has partly to do with high fuel prices there, and that the Volt has already passed a gauntlet in its home country further proving to progressive Europeans – particularly deeper-pocketed fleet buyers – that the car is a safe bet.
Also not hurting the situation, the Volt/Ampera was recently named the first American car to receive European Car of the Year, and – although priced like a modest luxury car – it is taking sales from competitors, including diesels, even in some countries where no tax credits exist, but a VAT tax does.
Months ago there was some talk of asking GM for more than the first year’s Ampera allocation, so we shall see whether this is deemed feasible in months to come.
The Ampera sells for 41,900 Euros (about $55,300) and it is noteworthy that from the beginning GM has invested in more Voltec variants in Europe than it has in America.
In Europe you can choose between an Ampera or Volt, whereas in the States, we have just the Volt. Perhaps we should also comb news there for test mule sitings or other clues to the second generation Volt?
Meanwhile, Volt sales are picking up here, and GM will sell more than 10,000 in the U.S, having delivered 3,915 year to date through March, and more of these were individual consumer sales.
This entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2012 at 5:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+16
Apr 20th, 2012 (6:41 am)All these volts and Amperas selling in the thousands in the EU and US, but they still have yet to come to market in OZ. come on guys! Oh, and try to keep it reasonably priced… 60k+ is probably a bit high.
+12
Apr 20th, 2012 (7:35 am)First year Ampera sales surpassing first year sales totals of the Volt is great news for G.M., and for electric car enthusiasts. G.M.’s investment in European Voltec variants may eventually result in more options and choices in the United States. This success may also help GM take the Volt to other markets sooner.
+9
Apr 20th, 2012 (7:43 am)This good news for everyone. The more cars on the road in the hands of real world users doing real world things will accelerate advancements and lower costs.
Years/Dacades from now folks will look back at the Volt like the Ford Model T.
+10
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:01 am)Just build the dang things and ship them to the dealers and markets that appreciate them!!!
This is NOT rocket science. Designing the Volt was the rocket science. Selling it is just understanding the markets and the customers. Fortunately for GM, the Volt does a competent job of selling itself. Their pinching tens of millions or less to lose hundreds of millions in sales and a nice market lead. It’s the market leadership that would be the most shameful to lose. Also, ratchet up your lobbyists and publicists to convince congress to make the rebates first come first served. Patience can be a liability in this world economy.
+26
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:06 am)The 2012 Volt sales in the USA were hurt by our own stupidity. We had the press run wild with misinformation, the politicians degrading the car for their own agendas, a strange investigation in to the safety of the vehicle which really turned out to be nothing, and some really terrible advertising by GM.
But still the car survives!!!!
The Europeans see the car for what it is, the best designed, engineered, and manufactured vehicle to come out of America or anywhere else in a very long time.
I am really glad I bought mine, and IMHO, the Volt will be a winner for GM, both here and worldwide! It is just going to take a while longer than we here at gm-volt.com thought it would.
C-5277 – The Best Car I Have Ever Owned, Proudly Purchased In Youngstown, Ohio
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:11 am)There should be no problem with meeting any demand, after all GM has shut down production to match demand, and is only running 1 shift at Hamtramck.
No Limbaug, Fox News, and Republican party in Europe, and what a difference!
Are there still dealerships in the US that cannot get enough Volts? I know there are still some who do not seem to want to sell them and prefer to let them sit with steep markups. I do not understand why. This is a very odd situation, why won’t Chevrolet ship them to the dealers who want them?
+10
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:38 am)I’m confused again (imagine that). I thought these Amperas were made in Hamtrack. If so, why hasn’t the line been humming. GM should be quoting the total (Volts+ Amperas) that come off the line not just Volts.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:41 am)I wonder if there will be an Opel/Vauxhalll version of the Cadillac ELR?
+20
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:47 am)Maybe European consumers are better educated than the U.S. consumer.
To coin a phrase “Educated consumer is GM’s best customer”.
NPNS!
Volt#671
+8
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:54 am)Seems that GM would be happy to sell as many Ampera and variants as they can perhaps because they don’t have a fixed limit on EV credits like in this country. In US they have to make sure they don’t use up their 200,000 too soon and risk a competitor selling similar cars with the $7.5K advantage.
Hopefully GM will lobby congress to change the U.S. credit so that it is not on a fixed number per manufactuer but phases out gradually by calendar. Then GM can come out with Gen-2 and multiple variants!
+6
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:54 am)A lot of these ampera’s are for the dutch market. The dutch road tax system combined with the income tax systems almost lets you drive one of these for free as a business car. A similar gas powered car would cost a 500euro’s more a month just in tax. Add the benefit of lower price per km/mile at you have got a hit. And btw, should I mention we pay 1.88euro/liter eq 9.38dollarUS/gallonUS for 95oct petrol.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:07 am)I’m also curious how it’s all going to pan out in China. Will GM get the Chinese political support they need? Will the CATARC give their blessing? Will China update its infrastructure for EV’s? The Chinese market is much larger than the US or European one.
+5
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:13 am)What I hope is that with the numbers sold growing, each 1000 sold helps to cut down on input costs and thus the eventual MSRP will begin to go down.
Crossing my fingers for a $38,190 MSRP (or less) for the base Volt in the 2013 model year.
+4
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:16 am)I think that is very possible. I also think the loaded Volt will cost the same, but probably more than it did in 2012.
+6
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:17 am)How about a $34,950 2013 MY msrp! Think what that would do for sales!
But because of the 200k limit on credits I don’t believe they really want to sell over 60,000 cars a year.
+5
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:30 am)That type of move would start a 2nd shift at Hamtramck. However, I’d rather see a CUV or other Voltec appealing to families with 5-seats. Equinox or Orlando styled.
-4
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:51 am)Looks like G.M. is walking a tight rope. They are still losing money due to low volume and battery cost. Yet don’t want to make too many due to the 200k limit on credits. Still they want to get enough cars out there to create a momentum for growth while waiting for lower battery prices.
Meanwhile they stopped production last month to lessen losses.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:01 am)Exactly. So we either wait patiently for the credits to expire in many years, or GM lobbies for a compromise that will save taxpayers money and let GM take off with EV sales.
Get rid of the 200,000 per manufacture and make the credit expire regardless of number per manufactuer.
Either expire by calendar date, my preference, or make it a million cars regardless of manufacture (then, Ford, Nissan, Toyata and all the rest will never get 200,000 each and GM could get over 500,000).
+6
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:28 am)GM missed the 10,000 goal not because of “Firegate”, which affected sales in early 2012, but because of slack demand, poor marketing, production constraints, and logistical issues related to the dealer roll-out.
Big deal. That’s in the past. Demand is strong and GM has come up with a great leasing program which makes the Volt affordable by taking advantage of both the tax credit and higher resale value of electrics. If sales in the EU are higher than in NA so be it. Last I looked reducing demand for oil in the EU was as effective at moving away from oil as a sale here.
One of the great problems with creating manufacturing jobs is that we have become so good at it that we don’t need a ton of manufacturing capacity to turn out tons of stuff. The Volt/Ampera is the only vehicle being made on the line, and GM figured out how to make far more vehicles per line than originally thought possible. Also, I think the shutdown has allowed the line to be retooled to make more AT-PZEV vehicles for CARB states.
+15
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:34 am)Europe’s $8 / gallon fuel is probably more of a factor.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:52 am)Hasn’t it always been a CONSERVATIVE ideal to MANUFACTURE AMERICAN products for EXPORT??!!
The current iteration of hypocritical right wing idiots will really have their hands full trying to out-Romney Romney by flipping around and trying to explain how this horrible Obama car is achieving what they have pushed for so long with respect to putting Americans back to work and bringing foreign dollars to OUR shores.
+7
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:57 am)I think the point of a very aerodynamic, 4-seater Volt is that it slips through the air, and has as little weight as possible (I’d like to see an aluminum Volt with more high strength plastics, to get the weight down even further).
To make a 5 or 8 seater CUV or SUV would be a lot more weight (when filled with passengers – apparently, many 7 to 9 seat SUV’s are driven by a single person for the morning commute) and a lot less aerodynamic (coefficient of drag).
You can’t just “wish” the Volt was much bigger and seated more people – that would be an engineering decision, with many performance consequences – less All Electric range, worse MPG in CS mode, worse acceleration, etc.
+5
Apr 20th, 2012 (11:07 am)I hope the optimism becomes a reality, but I don’t want another letdown if sales fall short. I don’t feel comfortable about the high level of fleet sales compared to private party buys, so I’ll keep my chips stacked close my side while the game plays on.
I’d like to see more go to Canada…. how about Amperas for Canada?
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (11:21 am)Yes, in Southern California and all of Canada – Volts are rare on dealers lots. CorvetteGuy said he has seen Volts in Southern California, but with just as you have seen, big markups.
-5
Apr 20th, 2012 (11:33 am)Yes but putting Americans back to work in constructive ways. Not building toys like windmills and solar panels. Or cars that take our freedoms and choices away. Good jobs. Real jobs like oil wells and pipelines that can help America. Building 500 hp cars, muscle cars that’s our tradition, it’s what we do. People don’t want quiet cars, ask any one that loves cars. Quiet cars are a boring dead end.
To wit, some people think that promulgating the lack of a workable vision of the future, can substitute for conservatism.
I don’t care what side of the aisle they are on liberal or conservative, if they are stuck in that position, they are going to enjoy shooting themselves in the foot.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (11:40 am)I’d like to see more go to Canada…. how about Amperas for Canada?
Oh, what a great idea! As long as it cost the same as a volt!
But on the subject of credit, I think the system right now is flawed. I mean a manufacturer could sit and wait until a competitor uses up his credit and then jumps in the game with newer technical advancement and applies the credit to his avantage. Do I make sense?
GM may never be able to use its early advantage to beat the competition with better sales because of this credit by manufacturer instead of a first come first serve basis.
I think congress is going to have to correct this credit as to give a proper playing field so that the electrification of autos’ can get a proper start.
Just my thinking out loud.
Apr 20th, 2012 (11:54 am)Nelson,
You’re plagerizing a old men’s store ad.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:00 pm)Buick Electra/Ampera FTW!
+8
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:00 pm)If GM makes 10000 Amperas next year plus 20000 Volts they can boast about 30000 Voltecs produced (sold).
That sounds pretty good.
Why don’t they tout this number? Why was Ackerman (Lutz?) only talking 20000?
+6
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:15 pm)Absolutely, a CUV will have lower EPA numbers than the Volt. But they will also be far better than an existing CUV in same build-style. An Equinox with 30-mile range AER with 32-35mpg on the hwy using Voltec with “optimal RPM engine mode” would be useful to produce. Or, use a bit more intelligence in battery/motor design to get 35-40 AER out of it to match the Volt.
Most people don’t think in engineering terms. They rarely want to think about math at all. They want “what they want” and what people in Europe and soon in the USA will want are ways to cut down on costs of fueling their vehicles.
People drive big cars because they have a family and one or two cars at most. They’ll commute to work in a Suburban so they can drive their kids on the weekends to travel hockey or soccer. This is dumb, but if they could do it with 30-miles AER and 25mpg, they’d be far happier than today with 12-15mpg. This will be “how things are” maybe 20-30 years from now.
AER is simply based on the number of kWh in the car/SUV. Put in 50-60kWh of battery into a bigger Voltec package and you nicely-power an Escalade/Suburban/mini-van/etc. Tesla is planning on doing it with the Model-X. Stop by any school during a sports event and count the mini-vans and SUVs in the lot. Huge market.
In terms of batteries and electric motors – they vary in size. From diesel locomotives to 1/32 scale RC cars and those tiny-little RC helicopters that sell well at Christmas-time.
+7
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:22 pm)jeffrhe,
Sorry I negged you (you can’t take it back once done), but it was an impulse when I saw ‘toys like…solar panels’. With all my solar, I just knee-jerked…before I saw the bigger sarcasm of the attitude you were relaying (not believing). Yes, these wack jobs apparently only believe in the right KIND of American strength- the kind that kills people in mines, pollutes our waters and makes PARTICULAR (read fossil fuel) magnates rich. Never mind that the wind industry now employs as many people as the coal industry…still just ‘toys’, as you say.
+5
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:37 pm)I accept that the Volt needs OnStar so GM can collect data etc. But do they have enough data so that they can come out with a bare bones EREV without the fancy displays, just a gas gage, a battery gage (i.e. 50% ) and an odomoter that tracks cumulative EV and ICE miles. I also can see the expensive tires, but cut out the other expensive trim.
+5
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:43 pm)Where are fleet purchasers in US? US army and government institutions – should they support oil import reduction and better transportation economy? 2000 units per month of Volt sales for US market is absolutely NOTHING.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:53 pm)I suppose the CUV could be made with not much more weight than the Volt – I was picturing a Volt drivetrain in a Ford Excursion body as ridiculous. Yes, I suppose whatever the AER and CS mpg for a Volt-type CUV, there might be a market for it. Saving fuel is saving fuel.
Since the current Volt has a 16kWh battery, 60kWh is 3.75 times more – and at a rumored cost of $10,000 for the Volt battery, that’s $37,500 for a Suburban sized battery. And as you say, they make bigger electric motors – but they cost more, too.
I think that the consumer DESIRE for large SUV’s is a hangover from the heavily marketed SUV’s of the 1990′s, when gasoline was about $1/gallon and profit margins on truck-based large SUV’s were huge. Maybe people in their 20′s and 30′s in the 1990′s will forever see these large vehicles as “desirable”, but I think it was just a passing fashion. Hence the death of Hummer and the Ford Excursion.
But I could see a CUV based on a modified Volt drivetrain in the near future – maybe a 24kWh battery, 50% larger electric motor, 500 pounds more weight, whatever. There will be some demand for such a vehicle, as you say – even with a worse CS mpg and larger electricity demand and perhaps shorter all-electric range.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:54 pm)Me too.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (12:56 pm)Actually, you cannot see one.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (1:00 pm)Almost did the same mistake. Ended up adding a +1 so it’s all good.
Apr 20th, 2012 (1:03 pm)It’s too bad about Bright Automotive. Their vans claimed the same AER as the Volt.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (1:20 pm)Can someone explain why the Ampera costs so much more than the Volt? I know it cost a bit to ship overseas, and Value Added Tax adds 17-21%, but what else causes the price to swell from $40K to $55K?
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (1:37 pm)Off topic (a little):
Just rode thru Criswell Chevy lot in Gaithersburg, MD. No less than TWENTY Volts on the lot for sale. That’s the most I’ve seen yet. Plus two in the bay being prepped for buyers.
These guys are really moving Volts, from what I understand.
+6
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:02 pm)For those that didn’t recognize it. This IS SARCASM.
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:05 pm)Larry4pyro,
Can someone explain why the Ampera costs so much more than the Volt? I know it cost a bit to ship overseas, and Value Added Tax adds 17-21%, but what else causes the price to swell from $40K to $55K?
Exchange rate causes a big hiccup in price of us versus them.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:07 pm)Don’t you mean this year? They don’t even need 2K/month in USA this year to reach 20K. Less for the year will be very disappointing.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:21 pm)Wow. You should have snapped a picture. I dont know if I’ve seen 20 Volts in the same spot before.
Looks like they still have the $399 lease with $0 down.
http://www.criswellchevrolet.com/New_Car_Specials
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:24 pm)jeffhre,
Lol. I plus’d him on both my cell and my pc. jeffhre is back to -2.
What about needing a huge pickup to haul around a shotgun? It’s a god-given right according to Newt!
I got rid of my pickup (13mpg) and bought a Magnum (17mpg). I put a trailer hitch on the Magnum thinking I would need it because of the missing pickup bed.
Guess what? I never use the hitch. The Magnum cargo area holds everything I have ever bought in the last 2 years.
I’m trading in the Magnum for a Volt as soon as it gets the hail damage repaired. Premium gas at $4 is killing my toy budget.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:25 pm)Yes. Oops
+2
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:28 pm)Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX rarely has less than 7 on the lot. I’ll swing by and get some shots.
Of course the massive rows of Silverados and Camaros kind of obscure the view.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (2:56 pm)I wish we could get the Ampera here. That’s an even sweeter looking car than the Volt.
+2
Apr 20th, 2012 (3:22 pm)The Volt is a great car built on great technology that will benefit the USA. No conservative who knows the facts will dispute that.
Their concern/objection is that the Volt has been adopted by the (moslty political) green movement that also wants to limit US oil production, limit vehicle choices via CAFE standards, and increase the price of energy. To quote President Obama … “”Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket …”
+2
Apr 20th, 2012 (3:35 pm)Imagine – A Chevy dealer actually marketing a Volt – Gee, look at the colors and options! When they’re on the lot, on the street – people notice them. When people notice them – they are reminded of the pain at the pump. When this happens they visit their dealer for a test drive. When they take a test drive they’re sold on the spot!
Gee – I wonder why Criswell is selling a lot of Volts —- hmmmmm….
CHEVY RUNS DEEP — GAS AINT CHEAP! ,
James
Let’s hope other dealers catch on.
-1
Apr 20th, 2012 (4:59 pm)So f__g what! I hate you, you like this. I hate this now? Is that it? That is frickin infantile and inexcusably flawed logic.
BTW, the totally separate issue that should not even be in this thread sounds an awful lot like the arguments made before there were any restrictions on smoking and marketing of cirgarettes. The situations are very, very similar.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (5:45 pm)I think I spotted an Ampera last week in Ohio as it drove by at 55+. (My business is on RT 23 just South of Delaware and North of Columbus. I see test cars all the time as we are about 3 hours south of Detroit. I saw the Charger and Camero about 8 months before they were on sale.) IMHO the Ampera looked great and stood out a little more then the Volt (spotted the Volt 3 months before you could buy one). If I had a choice ….. it would be the Ampera.
+2
Apr 20th, 2012 (5:48 pm)For those that haven’t seen this forum post yet or don’t go there often, this is a touching story and very well worth reading IMO.
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?13270-My-Volt-Story
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (6:39 pm)Stay frosty, my friend. Ignorance is curable. Someday they will understand. Be patient with the uninformed…
Apr 20th, 2012 (6:58 pm)Patient with the uninformed, mad as he!! and not taking it any more from the illinforming.
+3
Apr 20th, 2012 (7:09 pm)I am giving your posts +1 because I have an 2009 Equinox (absolutely superb vehicle with no problems in three years) and I also wish for a EREV Equinox. GM already had a head start with the 2008 Fuel Cell Equinox, which has a EV drivetrain but no ICE (unlike the Volt). If the battery were larger and the fuel cell smaller but able to use any fuel (solid oxide cell type), then GM will have the perfect EREV CUV or SUV. The solid oxide fuel cell can convert any fuel (gasoline, CNG, methane, ethanol) directly to electricity with no “burning” and no ICE losses. Besides the only moving parts would be pumps and fans. Thus the maintenance cost will be much less than for the Volt.
If anyone from GM Engineering is reading this post, remember my name and idea so I can buy one of the first EREV Equinox!
Raymond
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (7:34 pm)I totally agree. I think they should allow the Ampera in the US. Just a soft ware change I would think.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (8:46 pm)I agree. It’s called guilt by association. Flawed logic you bet, but sadly both left and right do it all the time.
It’s why Rush dislikes/distrusts the Volt project. It’s why liberals here lump me in with other “hypocritical right wing idiots”. In the last election, it even caused liberal entertainers to disparage Sarah Palin’s children for laughs.
Guilt by association is very common. I’m surprised you’re so shocked by this one case.
+2
Apr 20th, 2012 (9:20 pm)Shocked? No. Annoyed and no longer accepting? Yes.
Your right, it happens all too often and the passive acceptance just feeds more. Expect better, demand better and we’ll get better. A lot of people spout Rush Limbaugh’s or other political commentator’s nonsense but ultimately those entertainers will follow their audience.
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:08 pm)See the new 2014 Buick Ampera, on sale now…(sigh)
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:13 pm)I think I did a great job there. Think Rush would hire me.
Well, half of it was sarcasm. It’ll get a + or – depending on which part folks think is the sarcasm.
+1
Apr 20th, 2012 (10:16 pm)LOL, all good, It’s sarcasm that uses an opposing argument that is hard to refute without having real numbers at hand. That should make folks angry. It should also make them think instead of just joining in to sing along with the choir.
+1
Apr 21st, 2012 (12:04 am)===============================
Truman:
Chevy has already thought about this……….
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/chevrolet-volt-mpv5-electric-concept-car-news
I am ready to buy one for my wife, if they would put it into production!!!
C-5277
Apr 21st, 2012 (10:25 am)Jiim I,
Thanks for the link. I notice this this writeup was done in 2010, which means this thing is well on it’s way.
Apr 22nd, 2012 (2:10 am)phillips chevrolet outside of chicago has over 30 volt cars in stock. they also have a solar powered charging station that is free to all volt users.
+1
Apr 22nd, 2012 (2:20 am)i tend to disagree, while i like the rear end styling of the ampera a bit more, i definitely like the front end styling of the volt more and rather dislike that of the ampera. as a general comment, i would say that the volt is a WELL designed car, inside and out. probably my biggest knock on the car is that the sight lines aren’t so great, but maybe it just takes some getting use to (i think that is true in general any time that you switch cars in that you have to get accustomed to the vistas afforded by the new car). while i’m listing nits, i am in the camp that would have preferred pushbuttons in the center stack to the touch sensitive stuff; but the touch sensitive panel looks a lot better (pushbuttons would actually look rather cluttered when i stop to think about it). in my opinion the volt looks especially good in the blue topaz color and the black trim looks good with that color – better than any other i would say.
+1
Apr 22nd, 2012 (6:14 am)Amazing how the Fix news lies, cooked up stories with very little basis or with very little oversight or very low or no journalistic standards led to slow start for Volt. A well built car which rides well and has the right stuff to compete with the likes of BMW but bad publicity from the GOP including Mitt Romney (none other than a presidential candidate) almost led to demise of the car. How lies, aggressive political slant for their own selfish reasons to bring down an excelent American product.
Fix news and its supporters did everything to bring down GM and wanted GM to fail cuz it was bailed out by O. They did not care what economic impact it wud have and now look back at some success GM has in selling Volt and trying to export Volt to other countries. In No other country Fix news will survive except in a communist country. It is a propagnada channel and now Fix news is under pressure from UK where they did illegal reporting (thru bribes to the Police etc) and this scandal may erupt in US. Of course Fix news is safe here under the patronage of GOP but for it to flourish here ( as a propaganda channel under the guise of alternate point of view – what a joke that is) tell something about this nation.
I hope Volt sells well in other countries where oil price are far higher and commutes are shorter.
+1
Apr 22nd, 2012 (3:43 pm)OT (more later);
A Volt (2012 or 2011) is on display at Atlanta’s “Dogwood Festival” in Piedmont park:
The highlight is that someone knowledgeable is there explaining the car to passers by.
(I saw it there yesterday, but there’s no reason why it wouldn’t still be on display).
If you’re in Atlanta and want to see it, hurry; the festival closes at 6PM EDT (other things to do there too, BTW
).
First post from new computer!
Apr 22nd, 2012 (11:41 pm)xiaowei1,
I agree. 60k is way too high. Given exchange rates the volt should be sub 50k in Australia. Unless Holden (GM) Australia just want to claim the “Eco” credentials without doing the heavy lifting of a reasonably priced product.
We’ll see.
Apr 23rd, 2012 (7:30 am)What price for a Holden Volt?
A right side drive Volt (what other Volt market is right side drive) that complies with Australian design rules, as well as batch produced for the production line and for shipping optimisation, will result in a unique cost base probably more than for other existing markets.
The sales volume for Australia will be low because of market size and maturity for the values that the Volt represents. Holden’s overheads in sales, marketing, and supply chain will be disproportionate compared with the volumes sold in other markets.
The transfer pricing we can only speculate about. With shipping costs, longer inventory and floor plan financing, other holding charges for those parking lots, as well as GST and drive away charges above recommended retail pricing, rebate provisions, risk/contingency provisions, all tend to make $50k difficult to achieve.
Of note is that a base/full spec Prius is $37.8k/$44.9 Australian drive away. Camry Hybrid $38.5k/$45k. Base Audi A4 Sedan $62k drive away.
Holden needs a halo car in it’s showrooms to attract new buyer base from other brands. Could they do it for $55k rather than the muted $60k? I hope so.