33,000 buyers supposedly signed up for GM Volt

[bac]

Originally Posted by jayman

Awwwwww those two guys like each other. They should take a quick trip to Canada and get hitched

Nicely done!

... Brad

[JimN]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

Being an ex-Buick driver and the current owner of one, I agreed with most of what you said until your prediction.

Do you honestly think Toyota would be willing to sit on a good thing that long? I mean, if they have the technology within my lifetime why would they wait to roll it out?

Tony, I'll bite. Without any serious competition Toyota has no incentive to manufacture a Prius with increased fuel economy. Rule 1 should be "Don't cannibalize your own sales." Selling the same thing as long as it continues to sell well reduces overhead. Anyone with at least 3/4 of a brain would continue R&D. (Those with 1/2 a brain scrap & forget their R&D.)

If other manufacturers were about to debut mid sized cars EPA rated at least close to 50mpg then I am sure we would see a plug in, or bigger or better batteries from Toyota to regain or maintain bragging rights to the most fuel efficient car.

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by JimN

Rule 1 should be "Don't cannibalize your own sales." Selling the same thing as long as it continues to sell well reduces overhead. Anyone with at least 3/4 of a brain would continue R&D...

As long as Sienna remains a strong seller here, keep refining the design of Estima (the small HSD minivan available only in Japan). Then when the market here is finally ready, jump on it!

.

[FL_Prius_Driver]

Originally Posted by JimN

Tony, I'll bite. Without any serious competition Toyota has no incentive to manufacture a Prius with increased fuel economy. .....

Two points.
1) Why even develop the Prius to begin with? (Answer-Someone was considering the future of society, not the plans of other car companies.)

2) Company success may depend more on anticipating the future of oil than on anticipating the future GM vehicles.

[hill]

Originally Posted by FL_Prius_Driver

Two points.
1) Why even develop the Prius to begin with? (Answer-Someone was considering the future of society, not the plans of other car companies.)

2) Company success may depend more on anticipating the future of oil than on anticipating the future GM vehicles.

1) Fear that GM would have a product that would leave Toyota in the dust .... just dumb luck iow.

2) Profits often blind companies from planning better.

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by hill

2) Profits often blind companies from planning better.

Don't you mean planning at all?

Look at the disaster Hummer turned out to be. GM dismissed the need to compete against Prius in favor of pursuing monster-size SUV profit. Now, they are desperately trying to sell Hummer off and paint a green image with Volt.

Those darn quarterly reports place way too much emphasis on short-term gain at the sacrific of investing in the future.

.

[JimN]

Originally Posted by FL_Prius_Driver

Two points.
1) Why even develop the Prius to begin with? (Answer-Someone was considering the future of society, not the plans of other car companies.)

2) Company success may depend more on anticipating the future of oil than on anticipating the future GM vehicles.

1. Toyota wanted to join the SuperCar program but was refused. Fearing something saleable would come of it they went with their own R&D project. The difference was that the Big 3 didn't want to go into production so only 4 prototypes were built (One from each company & the US government). Toyota went into production.

2. True but everyone keeps an eye on everyone else. If you are the leader & the competition isn't even close then incremental changes suffice to maintain market share. When the competition gets close it is time for the next generation.

[Jimmie84]

I'm on the list for the Chevy Volt. I'm #645 on the list which means I will get the car in 2010 or hopefully a bit earlier.

This has to be a huge success for GM otherwise the future of them is in danger. They now realize there is a HUGE market for fuel efficient cars.

Although I'm glad gas has gotten cheaper but I wouldn't mind paying $1.25 per US gallon like I did in 2000 when I graduated high school. I would still drive considerably less and conserve if it did get to that price level.

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by Jimmie84

I'm on the list for the Chevy Volt. I'm #645 on the list which means I will get the car in 2010 or hopefully a bit earlier.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but GM is planning limited rollout the first year... starting in CA, then DC, then FL.

And that makes sense. It gives them extra time to continue tweaking the design for less friendly climates. Extreme cold, like MN, introduces seasonal difficulties for Li-Ion which those in the south won't be exposed to.

.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by Jimmie84

I'm on the list for the Chevy Volt. I'm #645 on the list which means I will get the car in 2010 or hopefully a bit earlier.

John is right...and that list is really pretty meaningless. There's ZERO assurance that GM will pay any attention to it at all and if they do it doesn't mean they'll go in order. It's a cute fun list that shows interest, but no assurance of getting a Volt any earlier than someone not on the list.