Can the Chevy Volt Make a Dent in Prius Sales?

"Shoppers"? How many sales? Oh, about 2,000 since launch, right?

I've shopped for a huge number of cars I've never bought, from an Altima to an RX8 to a Honda Pilot, etc. list goes on. Article is right, the pre launch hype helped bump up the interest.

 

Funny how the authors wrote that Volt interest has been sustained without advertising. NOT.

Super bowl, anyone ?

 

Funny how the authors wrote that Volt interest has been sustained without advertising. NOT.

Super bowl, anyone ?

By the way, how did the 'Compete' company get ahold of Edmunds' hit statistics ?

 

This is the key quote from the article.

Volt won't be made in sufficient numbers to dent prius sales. In fact lack of production, not competition is what will reduce prius sales this summer.

 

Oh but I am sure there will be articles about Prius not selling well despite gas prices being high...

 

If the Volt has Japanese content it may be affected as well. I expect to see April & May Prius sales plummet like flying sheep.

 

I think it will take sales away from Prius... But will diminish once Prius finally comes out with their plug in...

Read article today where most of the 1st buyers of Prius Hybrid will be among the 1st buyers of the Volt / leaf...

 

Per http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet...isrupt-supply-of-chevy-volt-transmission.html, the Volt's transmission is from Japan.

 

^^ yeahh, the transmission origin tidbit somehow does not get much attention. It would be hilarious if it was made by Toyota.

 

I'd really doubt Toyota's behind it. I suspect it could be Aisin. Jatco seems unlikely.

 

Is Aisin partly owned by Toyota ?

 

Aisin is the likely manufacturer of universal gears. They also supply gm with other transmissions. Aisin is 30% owned by the Toyota Groups and is run by a member of the Toyoda family.

Toyota used Aisin to produce the psd in gen I and gen II prius, but took manufacturing in house in gen III. They may still buy parts from Aisin though for the psd.

 

If Aisin was only supplying a generic gear I'd expect a lot more models than just the Volt would be affected.

 

The volt may not be affected at all. The GM Canyon and chyrsler colorado were the first production stoped at gm for aisin parts.

The transmissions are not generic but many use common parts and are produced by the same machines.

 

There are more Prii in the parking lot at work than total Volt sales in Illinois. Make that, the Midwest. Dent?

 

The "Product Specialist" guy at the test drive told me that it'd take six weeks to deliver a Volt if I ordered one today, and that no dealer around here has one for anybody to even look at, much less test drive. He also said they'd make only about 10,000 this year (2011).

 

yes, and Aisin Seiki is also major source of profits for Toyota, together with Denso.

Aisin AW is 50% owned by Toyota and is actually largest manufacturer of transmissions in the world, supplying everyone, including Porsche, Audi, etc

 

I think Volt could overtake Prius and every other vehicle if GM chose to make their pricing competitive; price trumps even technology, but not at $40+K, for what it delivers. GM definitely missed the price-to-buy target. I think the only Volt buyers right now are the early innovators.