GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

On Tuesday, hot on the heels of receiving a 86 million SEK ($12 million-ish USD) grant a week earlier, the Saab ‘coalition’ debuted the 2010 ZE Saab 9-3 electric car. It is a shame it will likely never see the light of day.

The ZE Saab (ZE stands for zero emissions) had twin electric motors putting out 335 HP, propelling it to 62 MPH in around 6.5 seconds. The car was estimated to have a range of 150 km (93 miles) on a 26 kWh battery supplied by Boston Power, with additional/larger batteries reported to be in the works for the future.

The Saab coalition had announced 100 units to be produced in 2010, and predicted up to 10 billion 60,000 by 2020.

Unfortunately for the ZE 9-3, the wheels fell off the bus at Saab on Friday, with the announcement that GM’s replacement suitor for Koenigsegg, namely Spyker cars, could not come to a agreement to buy the beleaguered brand. GM Europe President, Nick Reilly made this statement:

“We regret that we were not able to complete this transaction with Spyker Cars. We will work closely with the Saab organization to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner.”

GM did further explain the failure of the deal by saying, “Despite the best efforts of all involved, it has become very clear that the due diligence required to complete this complex transaction could not be executed in a reasonable time. In order to maintain operations, Saab needed a quick resolution.”

I basically interpret this to mean that GM is once again paranoid (see Opel deal) about giving up control of newer/future platforms (and the intellectual property that goes with them) to a small shell company, that is backed by a huge Russian banking group (this time the Konvers Group)…which as far as I can tell is controlled by the mob (or something not too dissimilar to it).

A fellow by the name of Alexander Antonov controls the Konvers group, whose business practices just happened to make him the recent target of a assassination attempt this year on Moscow streets. (He was shot half dozen or so times…no death) Reuters reports the attempt was a result of his, “professional activities.” Probably not the best partner.

/good call GM

In a way Saab will still live on. Chinese auto maker BAIC acquired the rights to three current/old generation Saab vehicle platforms. The salvageable parts of the technology will move from Sweden to Beijing for integration into BAIC’s lineup. BAIC expects new products from Saab technology as soon as 2011. The new models on this platform will not be marketed as Saabs.

Most exciting promotional video of a upcoming electric car ever (it is like they knew):

Toyota is known to be developing a strategy that uses the Prius name as a brand for an upcoming family of hybrid vehicles. It is believed a sports coupe and MPV will eventually be produced under the brand.  Toyota hopes to profit by leveraging the popularity of the car and its recognition for fuel efficiency.

GM has a similar opportunity with the Volt, since it too is a name that has garnered a lot of attention and recognition. They could produce a line of Volts perhaps under different brands, different configurations, and different sizes that use the Voltec powertrain.

As interesting as it seems, that  idea apparently isn’t in the plans according to Global Chevrolet Director Brent Dewar who was asked about it recently at a Reuters summit.

“Our thought is to take the Volt technology to other products,”  he told the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit.  “The Volt was the original vehicle that we started, but I wouldn’t see that as a brand marketing direction for us.”

The only other Voltec products we know GM is considering producing is the sporty and stylish Cadillac Converj which would be tweaked for performance, yet offer the same 40 mile range, and an extended range electric version of the Chevy Orlando MPV which is expected to launch as a gas version.

Source (Reuters)

For a long while we have been under the assumption that the Saturn brand would live on under the ownership of the Penske Auto Group. We even heard about a new philosophy about sourcing cars people want from various different vendors, even electric ones.

Well, it looks like none of that is going to happen.

GM issued a statement tonight that states “Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn.”

Apparently this decision came because Penske was unable to source products beyond those that GM would continue to build for the next year.

As a result of this decision GM will be winding down the Saturn brand and dealerships.

And so the Saturn brand once exciting and new will now be laid to rest along with Pontiac and Oldsmobile before it.

Is this good or bad? Certainly less competitors means more sales for the brands that remain. Bad though for Saturn dealers and their employees.

On another unrelated but not cheerful note, Bob Kruse who is GMs director of hybrids and EVs has decided to leave the company. He had executive oversight of the Chevy Volt program. He apparently decided to use his experience and knowledge to start up his own EV consulting firm, to help other automakers get successful EV programs (and government grants) off the ground.

He will be replaced by Mickey Bly who actually was involved with the Volt program even before Kruse. All of the other key execs including co- creators Jon Lauckner and Bob Lutz, Tony Posawatz and Frank Weber remain committed to the program.

The loss of this one person, who will rapidly be replaced will have no effect on the Volt program whatsoever.

“There’s no good time to lose good people,” GM spokesman Rob Peterson said. “But that said, the Volt team goes way beyond one person.”

And the show goes on.

On Friday, GM announced that it had chosen an Orion Township Michigan assembly plant as the location it would build a new upcoming subcompact car.  Stamping for the car would be done in Pontiac Michigan.  The move takes this future vehilce away from China where it was originally planned to be built.  The move stateside was a concession to the UAW for its agreement to exchange its debt for equity.  67% of GM’s vehicles are built in the states, and shipping one from China adds $850 to its cost.

“Small cars represent one of the fastest-growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world,” said Troy Clarke, president of General Motors North America. “ GM will be the only automaker, foreign or domestic, to build small cars in the U.S . , and we believe Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping are well suited to deliver a high-quality, fuel-efficient car that competes with anything in the marketplace.”

Clark said the new subcompact also known as a B-class vehicle would not be the Chevrolet Spark that most had speculated, calling it instead, “a yet-to-be announced product.”  The current Aveo which is slated to be discontinued is GM’s current B-class car. Some speculate the Chevy Viva will be the new car.

“We’re thinking the B-car will sell north of 100,000 vehicles,” said Clarke, though he acknowledged only about 40,000 Aveos are sold yearly now. “We’re thinking this segment will grow because of higher fuel prices as well as the attractiveness and utility of the vehicle.”

There are no indications the car will be a hybrid though GM says the car “will add to the automaker’s growing portfolio of U.S.-built, highly fuel-efficient cars, including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt.”

Production will begin in 2011 and 1400 jobs will be restored by this plan.

Source (GM)

Months prior to GM going into bankruptcy proceedings, the company had stated its intentions to sell Saturn, Saab, and Hummer while ending the Pontiac brand.

Since June 1st the sell off has been happening fast and furious.  First we heard that Tengzhong of China will buy Hummer, then it was reported that Penske Automotive plans to buy Saturn, and now it has been announced Swedish supercarmaker Koenigsegg plans to buy Saab.

The Saab deal will be funded in part by $600 million in capital from the European Investment Bank and guaranteed by the Swedish government. GM has stated in a press release that it will “continue to provide Saab with architecture and powertrain technology during a defined time period.”

Koenigsegg is known for producing low-volume million-dollar ridiculously fast supercars, in fact their staff of 45 only built 18 cars last year.  A new report indicates that Koenigsegg is actually planning to use the Saab production facilities to build among other things electric cars.  In particular, the company had previously unveiled a 512 hp solar-electric 4 seat supercar concept called the Quant at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year.

This vehicle uses two large rear-wheel electric motors and incorporates solar panels into the hood and roof which won’t generate significant energy except to help run on-board peripherals.  The same company making the panels however, NLV of Sweden, has also developed a new type of battery for the car called “Flow Accumulator Energy Storage.”  This device has an energy density of over 170 wh/kg, can store up to 300 miles of range and be recharged in 15 to 20 minutes.

Koenigsegg stated at the time of the reveal that it hoped to be able to produce the car in a few years.

It is now being reported that the company’s new access to Saab hardware, resources, facilities, and technology will enable it to actually bring this car into production.

This news is on the heels of Tengzhong China indicating it intends to make fuel efficienct new green Hummer models and Penske’s plans to sell electric Saturns.

So it seems the discarded parts of the old GM may very well blossom into advanced technology electric car companies of their own rights.

Who would have thought?

Source (Edmunds) and (Autoblog)

GM’s successful restructuring hinges upon the ability to focus on its four core brands. Since the bankruptcy filing, GM has already announced it is in the late stages of selling the Hummer brand to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd of China.

Today they have announced that they have a proposed contract with the Penske Automotive Group to acquire the Saturn brand. The price tag will be between $100 and $200 million, and the sale, expected to be completed by the fall, would save 350 dealerships and 13,000 jobs.

GM would continue to produce the current Aura, VUE, and Outlook for the brand for the next 2 years, discontinuing the Astra and Sky. After that Penske will look to outsource vehicle production and is already in talks with several global automakers with the most likely appearing to be Renault Samsung Motors of Korea.

“This is the combination of two iconic teams: Saturn and Penske,” said Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak. “GM had the vision to create Saturn and has the desire to see it succeed in the future.”

“There has been a groundswell of support for Saturn, with our retailers and owners urging us to save the brand,” said Lajdziak. “We heard their call loud and clear, and it inspired us as we worked to secure Saturn’s future.”

“We have agreed upon a framework that we believe will build momentum for the Saturn brand,” said Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske. “Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network. For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths.”

In an interview, Roger Penske suggested that among the first cars the new Saturn might outsource could be electrics.  “Electric vehicles will be right at the forefront,” he said.  And in new agreements with foreign supplier those cars “might be the first vehicles produced in the U.S.”

Source (GM), (Bloomberg)