For a rock-bottom evaluation of how the Volt is doing sales-wise, one need only look to the so-called “green” cars in North America, among which the plug-in Chevy is ninth place out of around 58 alternative-energy cars whose sales are regularly tracked.
More specifically, the Volt was number one out of seven plug-in cars – or if you include the Fisker Karma, Tesla Model S, and Coda Sedan, which do not see their numbers reported but did not exceed the Volt’s 1,849 units sold, it’s first out of 10 plug-ins and over 60 total green cars.
The first pre-production 2011 Volt rolls off the line, March 31, 2010.
Further, if the Volt were compared to diesels in July, it sold more units than 11 other models, with only the VW Jetta and Passat diesels selling more units, with 3,787 and 2,171 respectively.
Fox News ran a headline last week saying the Volt is a “best seller” and in fact it is, not just among the very slim number of plug-in cars (the next closest was Prius PHEV at 688 sold), but it holds its own among all North American attempts to replace regular gasoline as a fuel.
Compared to the biggest alternative category, hybrids, the Volt would rank seventh out of around 38 hybrids sold in North America. Cars that outsold it were the Prius Liftback (est. 10,080 sold), Prius c, (3,065 sold), Camry Hybrid (3,197), Prius v (est. 2,810), Chevy Malibu Hybrid (1,938), Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (1,888).
Also worth noting is Inside EVs reported the 30,000th Volt rolled off the line, but many key people who were involved in developing and bringing the car to market are now gone.
As our friend Jay Cole notes, these would be Bob Lutz, Jon Lauckner Rick Wagoner, Fritz Henderson, Frank Weber, Denise Gray and last but not least, Tony Posawatz.
“Thankfully, the new Volt management team, and CEO Dan Akerson, seem just as committed to seeing the Volt through to success as was their predecessors,” said Cole.
Cole – also known as Statik here at GM-Volt – further notes the de facto liaison, Lyle Dennis, moved on from GM-Volt, turned the reins over to VerticalScope and yours truly – but Dr. Dennis is back at it with his and Jay’s new solid effort, Inside EVs, but then you all knew that.
As for the Volt, it also bears mentioning that out of the eight alternative energy cars that outsold it in July (six hybrids and two diesels), the Volt had the highest percentage gain compared to June 2012 of all of them.
Its July increase was only a modest 5.1 percent, but it bucked a generally declining market and the only other cars in this leaders’ list that saw gains were the Sonata Hybrid at 0.2 percent, and Passat Diesel at 1.1 percent.
All in all, not bad. I’ve reported this kind of number comparison here before, but thought it would be good to do it again so we can all keep a reasonable perspective.
The Volt is not a same-class competitor as the Cruze, which some people have compared it to. It is an extended-range EV and fits within a very slim market in which the respective July “take rate” (or percentage of total market share) for these vehicles was, hybrids: 2.75 percent, plug-in electric: 0.26, diesel: 0.83 percent.
Fuel prices have been a major factor in how these vehicles do month after month in what is still a reactive North American market entrenched in old habits. In this new alternative energy market, as the Volt enters its third model year, it has risen to the top 15 percent.
Some had hoped the Volt would take the world by storm. Not everything went according to that plan, but the technology is winning enthusiastic drivers and awards besides. It has yet to see spin-off models, and is a radical departure in the eyes of some, so it may be worth remembering that Rome wasn’t built in a day either.
This entry was posted on Monday, August 6th, 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.
+13
Aug 6th, 2012 (6:48 am)“Some had hoped the Volt would take the world by storm. Not everything went according to that plan, but the technology is winning enthusiastic drivers and awards besides. It has yet to see spin-off models, and is a radical departure in the eyes of some, so it may be worth remembering that Rome wasn’t built in a day either.”
So true! I’ve NEVER believed that “pure EVs” make sense for most car owners, and the sales data that Jeff reports here today indicates to me that American car buyers are gradually coming to that same conclusion. Our own Bonaire says it very well in his post #7 from the previous (wknd) topic, which is well worth repeating:
“…Tesla isn’t extended enough for me. If I am doing the drive I am to do today, Philly to Niagara Falls, that is 370 miles. For the infrastructure between those two places – it will be years before any fast-charging exists in the rural setting of central PA to support the occasional Tesla that passes through. Some say EREV is transitional. I say, it is here to stay because of the logistics involved in the infrastructure rollout and eventual cost-containment of EREV parts making people choose it over EVs due to their driving profile. We only have to look at the Leaf sales profile to see that the Volt is the typical consumer choice over Leaf. Tesla is just too expensive to become commonplace. But they’re quite a nice ‘niche’ machine.”
+13
Aug 6th, 2012 (7:33 am)Thank you Jeff for the very informative article. It is quite interesting to see the sales comparisons.
On a strictly anecdotal level, I am seeing more Volts in the Lansing area. A year ago, any Volt that you saw was one those of us early adopters who had signed up with the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Community Project. In the past week alone, I have seen three other, new Volts. It also seems that the number of gawkers increases with the price of gasoline.
Aug 6th, 2012 (8:47 am)Looking forward in the long run, many people make the decision at the 35,000 mile mark as a decision point regarding the purchase of extended warranty. This time is coming ever closer to the Volt owner if the extended warranty was not purchased in the beginning.
My research proves how incredibly well-designed the main OEM vehicles are, especially if you like to be proactive for maintenance. If you have a “keeper”, you may be interested in pushing the iOEM for a 120,000 mile extended warranty.
I would look for a 120,000 mile extended warranty to be available for any vehicle that has specialized components. Being patient for the OEM field and internal research to catch up to support such an extended warranty contract would be important as well. So it would be important for current Volt owners to extend their warranties out all the way just to be prudent.
+4
Aug 6th, 2012 (8:59 am)No, the Volt didn’t take the world by storm, but in between conception and delivery was the Great Recession, GM bankruptcy and $4 gas prices leveled off a bit (though every little hiccough now in the Midwest seems to be an excuse to jack up prices). Maybe if GM had been in better shape, they could’ve eaten some of the R&D cost and priced the Volt around $30K, which I think would’ve have really helped some. When the topic of price tag comes up, a lot of non Volt enthusiast friends have mentioned that to me right at the top of the conversation.
@James, I’m just down the road from you (in Kzoo), but I’ve only seen a couple, even though I understand our mayor owns one and the coffee shop where my kid hangs out has two charging stations. This on top of one of the managers at our local dealer telling me they can’t keep them in stock.
+4
Aug 6th, 2012 (9:00 am)This shows what we have known from day one–the Voltec technology is the clear choice in the EV market for the vast majority of those interested in the electric option. And I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future.
Aug 6th, 2012 (9:10 am)Are any Opel data available?
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (10:11 am)I’m pretty surprised that the piP is doing so poorly. I hear it’s supply constraint but I’m not too sure.
As an owner of both a Volt and a regular Prius I would offer the following explanation:
Where does the Prius do the best compared to the Volt???
On high mileage trips (from a MPG point of view).
Where is the plug in part of the Prius the LEAST effective???
On high mileage trips.
Therefore if one chooses the Prius over the Volt it is really not worth the extra $$ for the plug in part. Just buy the regular Prius.
+2
Aug 6th, 2012 (10:18 am)I wish that the Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid sells more, and becomes the number two vehicle (after the Volt). I have seen two Chevy ads about it. One was the guy who turns off the music so all of the passengers (who were singing) can listen on how quiet the eAssist is. It is a bit silly but works. The second one was the young guy who takes his grandparents to the airport and doesn’t need their money for gas since the eAssist saves, but finally he takes it. The next ad should explain more how eAssist works for the Malibu, LaCrosse and Regal, so potential customers can understand how it does save on gas (and money).
Raymond
+2
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:18 am)As a Californian, the only people I know personally that has bought, or is considering purchasing a PiP, did so for the benefit of the carpool sticker. None of them cared about the electrical aspect of the PiP.
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:20 am)“Also worth noting is Inside EVs reported the 30,000th Volt rolled off the line….”
With approx. 18,000 Volts sold in the U.S., can someone provide an accounting of where the other 12,000 Volts are?
+2
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:27 am)… and another possible explanation:
The PiP is too little, too late.
Back before the Volt, a proof-of-concept of the Prius Plug-In had been demonstrated, but not by Toyota. This would have been a nice, evolutionary development for the Prius, but Toyota simply wasn’t interested. For this, it took the goading of a Tesla Roadster and Chevy Volt; but by this time, the idea of a PiP was years old. The era of Plug-Ins might have come earlier, and Toyota might have been it’s leader, but they let the decade of it’s most probable era pass unchallenged: the PiP has already been bypassed by history.
+10
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:27 am)I’m praying for each and every car that lessens the problem of importing foreign oil. A $2 trillion dollar Iraq war, when the US isn’t even the biggest importer of Middle East oil is insanity truly defined. Add the other $400 billion annually we import of oil, and the message is loud and clear. Rid us of this problem.
+2
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:31 am)Jeff,
I think you meant to write in the headline, “top 15th percentile”, ie, above 85% of alternatives.
KNS
+5
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:32 am)Hopefully the $10,000 per vehicle credit will pass. That will move many to afford an purchase now. Some can’t afford to wait to tax time. I certainly will move my 2nd EV purchase up.
P.S., great picture of the car.
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:53 am)I haven’t heard of a $10K credit. Is this to replace the current $7,500 credit?
+2
Aug 6th, 2012 (12:00 pm)#11
Amen. +1
+4
Aug 6th, 2012 (12:04 pm)“Rome wasn’t built in a day” indeed. I too look to the day when the EREV technology spreads out across the product line and the cost becomes more competitive. When that happens, the competition had better look out.
When te reality of 52 mpg CAFE really hits home GM will look really smart for being the leader in this brilliant way of saving fuel.
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (12:25 pm)Glad to do it. I’ve seen a fair number of Volts in SE PA, and even saw a Fisker Karma the other day on the highway here.
I see varying definitions of percentile so I just changed it to avoid the term. Thanks.
Also, the Volt’s been in this position for a solid quarter now. May – 9th place, June, 8th place, July 9th place.
Jeff
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (12:29 pm)The Volt is definitely getting more traction, proving that Jon Lauckner was right in coming up with the EREV concept and that Bob Lutz was right in fending off engineering which wanted a parallel hybrid more like the Prius.
It’s a lovely and fun car to drive and it gets great MPG (on voltstats the median Volt driver gets about 175 MPG).
+3
Aug 6th, 2012 (12:58 pm)Shit, did I have too much Kahlua in my coffee or is that first graphic blurry as hell?
I agree with Jackson PIP is too little too late!
Aug 6th, 2012 (1:00 pm)Is this for CARB states?
$7,500.00 Fed rebate + ~$2,500.00 CARB States = $10,000.00??????
Just making sure cuz non CARB state folks might get upset if they can’t get that……lol
Aug 6th, 2012 (1:47 pm)I am amused/confused by the drivers on that website that have 20K+ miles on their Volt, with lifetime EV% of only ~15% or even less. Are they never plugging in, and/or are they commuting 120 miles/day?
+5
Aug 6th, 2012 (1:55 pm)IMHO, the sales numbers have everything to do with upfront cost of the car, and the price of gasoline.
In the Great Lakes area, gasoline has spiked in price over the last month. They are blaming it on a pipeline issue or some other nonsense.
http://www.chem.info/News/2012/08/Plant-Operations-Refinery-Problems-Spill-Drive-Up-Great-Lakes-Gas/
In any event, it has raised the price of premium to over $4.05 in Youngstown, OH. The BP station down the street is at $4.19!
The real beauty of the Volt? I filled up last month, and didn’t even notice, until I was stopped in traffic and happened to see it. I shouldn’t need to fill up again with my next 8 gallons until mid September!! So even though the price is up almost $0.40 / gallon, that will cost me an additional $1.60 per MONTH, because I am using about 1 gallon per week.
So I am again getting asked lots of questions about my car. People are amazed when I tell them how little gasoline I use and how little my electric bill has gone up. The only thing stopping major sales is that $40K – $45K price tag. It is just too much for the anyone that does not make enough to be able to take advantage of the $7500 tax credit. If that was changed to a rebate that took place at the time of sale, a $32.5K car sale is manageable.
It will be very interesting to see what GM comes up with for Gen-2. If they can wring out some costs, but still keep the quality up, they will have a sure fire winner, because I sure don’t see under $3.00 gasoline ever happening again.
And I saw my first red Volt last weekend at Lowes. Really nice!
C-5277 – The Best Car I Have Ever Owned!
Aug 6th, 2012 (2:04 pm)I’m tellin ya, they need a Stripper!!!
Aug 6th, 2012 (2:17 pm)Or at least some free passes to Hooters!!!
Better than a stripper model Volt…………..
+6
Aug 6th, 2012 (2:24 pm)It is a “crooked path” GM is on with the Volt. Many turns and twists before we can finally say all the things we have come to believe about the Volt and know it will be accepted as truth. Taking the world by storm is not necessarily the best way to gain long term position. A slow, steadily increasing path led the Prius to its lofty position today. The Volt may very well follow the same path, if GM can stay the course.
Give success and time, everyone will come to believe in the gem we have in the Volt.
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (2:47 pm)#26
True that. +1
Remember when people, GM executives in particular, used to laugh at the Prius and say that the American public would never go for such a car? And we all believed that they were losing money on every one? Not so much any more.
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (5:21 pm)In other news the average price of a new vehicle in 2012 is $30,303 http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/05/10/average-price-of-a-new-car/
+3
Aug 6th, 2012 (8:29 pm)Very good article Jeff… thanks… in spite of unfair trade .. the Volt is getting known… more and more owner salesmen spreading the facts… putting to shame the misinformation machine.
The Volt would “take the world by storm” if it had a level playing field… how many Volts would sell in the UK if it was sold for $39K instead of $79K? and this goes for Germany Japan Korea etc…
they could not build enough ….
The biggest problem … is the trade problem … it is holding back innovation… innovation is negated by UNFAIR TRADE.
-6
Aug 6th, 2012 (8:53 pm)The “too little, too slowly” concern was about delivering an affordable solution for the masses. Rollout of a vehicle heavily dependent upon tax-credits and no expectation of mainstream volume until the next generation is what?
That being said, we can move on to the problem at hand. The same problem we saw years ago is back: MONTHLY SALES. People are gauging demand on just a small sampling. Add to that the omission of plug-in Prius availability information (only in 15 states currently offer it), a priority-check is needed… rather than just distracting with monthly sales.
With $4 gas, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out there’s a big push for so-call efficient traditional vehicles coming. How does waiting for the next generation help?
What should we expect for next year?
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (9:09 pm)More Volts and the arrival of the Volt-clones! Remember the PC-clones of the 1980′s? The Chevy Volt is the next “industry standard” and every other company will make a copy. The Fisker Karma was the first “Volt-clone”, and the PiP is another but weaker. We will see more!
The final proof is the establishment of a standard for battery case shapes and sizes, so every “plug-in” manufacturer will be able to swap in the capacity that the customer needs, like the present automobile battery that gasoline engines need for starting.
Raymond
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (10:37 pm)No one said “too little, too slowly” in this thread until you did, just now. No one here should care what you meant years ago when you coined it. What I said was “too little, too late” as a description of the most probable reason for the PiP’s pathetic showing so far. There is no “we” in your “problem at hand,” you ridiculous prepuce.
“A vehicle heavily dependent upon tax-credits and no expectation of mainstream volume until the next generation is what?” It’s a clear step further down the road than any you allowed for, or believed in. What will the next generation of the PiP offer which can change it’s current fate?
Just think, John. All of your years here; Deploring, Dismissing and Denying, all for nothing: the Volt is well on track to become the success whose prospect you could never tolerate. It must be galling. I hope.
-3
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:14 pm)The auto task-force stated that as part of the bankruptcy recovery, I just repeated it.
Look at GM’s stock, it’s down 40% since the IPO and our government is stuck with continuing to wait to sell back their 500 million shares.
More & Faster was for ending dependency and returning to high-volume profitable sales, rather than moving the goal posts.
+1
Aug 6th, 2012 (11:40 pm)If you have your druthers, GM will never reach that point. The only proper role for a US company is to abandon new groundbreaking tech to our Asian betters, right?
This attempt at a Right-Wing rebellion doesn’t really suit a Prius fan, but you’ve tried everything else …
-1
Aug 7th, 2012 (12:07 am)What about the nicely under $30,000 target?
Notice how FORD has embraced it, not just Toyota.
Volt as a long-term investment is great. But in the meantime, there’s a huge product-gap between it and the next most efficient offering. That’s not good business.
Aug 7th, 2012 (2:48 am)What are these?
Year World Japan North America U.S.[81] Europe Other
1997 0.3 0.3
1998 17.7 17.7
1999 15.2 15.2
2000 19.0 12.5 5.8 5.6 0.7 0.01
2001 29.5 11.0 16.0 15.6 2.3 0.2
2002 28.1 6.7 20.3 20.1 0.8 0.2
2003 43.2 17.0 24.9 24.6 0.9 0.4
The Volt is on pace for 20+k sales in 2012, its third year but only second full year. Sure would be nice if the Volt had fair access to the third column (Japan) so that it could help reduce worldwide gasoline consumption even more.
+2
Aug 7th, 2012 (6:17 am)Still the finest car I have ever owned or driven. 35,400 miles 2011 Chevy Volt #1506. Nuff said.
Aug 7th, 2012 (5:04 pm)Yep! Here is how I would summarize how each of these vehicles is best for a certain type of driving pattern:
* PiP: Short commute (in town), occasional long trips.
* Volt: Average commute, occasional long trips.
* Leaf: Average commute, *no* long trips.
* Prius: Long commute (stop-and-go), occasional long trips.
* VW TDI: Long commute (highway), frequent long trips.