Chevy-Dealing Congressman: “There Is No Market†For The Volt

What? I thought they were flying off the shelves and ramping up production.

 

The CEO of GM stated there would be close to 4,000 available for October. That in itself makes you wonder, knowing monthly production is now 2,500. Anywho, if sales don't make a huge jump as a result of that inventory, you know the situation is going to turn ugly... especially with plug-in Prius ordering taking place in the meantime.
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Wow impressive that PA is offering $3500 on top of $7500 federal subsidy. Sort of staggering the amount of other peoples money you can get to buy these cars. I was not aware so many states were discounting (VA is not - which is fine).

Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

That he is a member of the Republican party has nothing to do with it.

 

He's not only a Republican but he also has a grudge against GM.

From the CSMonitor.com article linked in the TTAC article:

"For Mike Kelly, that moment came in May 2009, when General Motors, at the behest of the Obama administration's Auto Task Force, announced plans to shut down more than 1,900 dealerships, including Mike Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac Inc., in Butler, Pa., founded by his father in 1953. Mr. Kelly called his lawyer, went to arbitration, and eventually got that decision reversed."

 

Poor Volt.

 

If this is a preview of what's like to be "outside the launch states", it will get ugly.

 

As for being "no market", that is obviously untrue. It may be a small market, it may be a mid sized market, or just a niche market. Time will tell.
As for sales projections, Volts are currently available in about a dozen states? The nationwide rollout is November. So there will be some sales bump. How big of a bump? Who knows.
I do find it somewhat ironic hearing many of the same flawed arguments used against the Prius in the early years now being repackaged as arguments against the Volt
I am looking forward to test driving a Volt soon (I'm in one of those states due to have the roll-out in November).
I do hope the Volt succeeds. Competition is good for the consumer. I am concerned that GM is pricing itself out of the market, but we shall see what happens after the nationwide roll-out.

 

I hope the Volt succeeds, but speaking as a member of the target audience for it, I see two severe flaws that have me turning away from the Volt (even though I was eagerly anticipating it) in favor of the Prius v:

1. The price is excessive relative to the broader market. 45K is just way too much for what it is and the available alternatives, even with the tax credits, etc.

2. There isn't enough cargo room -- effectively the same problem as the EV-1, it's built to be nothing more than a commuter car, but guess what? Some of us want ONE car, on the weekends we need some cargo capacity and passenger capacity. The volt is too sports-car, not enough crossover...

Peter+

 

I can tell you… as far as job creation, the guy who ordered that Volt for my store is no longer in that job. So it actually worked against him. I was told that the reason that car is on our lot is that General Motors told him he had to stock it. I said “let me understand. I told you that under no circumstances were you to order a Volt,” and he said “yeah.” “So, why did you order it?” “Because General Motors told me.” “Is this the same General Motors that tried to take my Cadillac franchise from me? These are the guys you’re listening to, but the guy who signs your paycheck doesn’t have as much influence as the guys who tried to take away the franchise?”

Is it me or does he sound like a prick? Hands up who wants a job working for him?

 

Time will tell nothing. $40K IS a niche market . . . . and for each $10K you throw on top of that, the niche gets smaller & smaller.

 

I don't. Times were very different back then. Gas was cheap. People didn't give a rip about oil dependency, heck the government even encouraged guzzling. There were lots of misconceptions back then which have long since been debunked. GM was leading the anti-hybrid campaign, in fact. Since then, GM has gained lots of motor & battery experience (Two-Mode & BAS). That certainly wasn't the case for Toyota back when Prius was still new. There were no tax-credits available back then either, only a tiny deduction.

Also, GM can't afford the time. Toyota took the slow route because they could... allowing them to refine the design in the process, while having their other vehicles provide the funding for that.
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Were they really flawed at the time? The big one was cost benefit and the argument they were expensive. It was very true at the time. And is true now for the Volt.

They aren't even running a second shift on Volt production because of "efficiency gains" in first shift.

 

Volt requires both the electricity and tax incentives (to battery manufacturing and buyer) to make it worth it for trips under 60 miles range.

The original Prius didn't require electricity to substitute gasoline. It didn't have battery manufacturing incentive. Yet, Toyota made it all work.

 

The Volt is simply too small and expensive. Even if we could afford to buy one, we wouldn't be able to fit in it.

 

the Volt will sell. its a good car, good concept. there were several "better" ways it could have been done and that has been discussed to death

My Nissan Leaf Forum • Chevy Volt

but it will still sell. 50,000 a year?? no. it is a high end niche car that might do well at 10,000 a year at the most. cut the price 10,000 and you can sell 50,000 EASILY

 

All the Chevy dealers I've ever set foot in have had HORRIBLE customer service, and sleazy salespeople. Our local "stealership" has one Volt they don't sell, it's just to get you in the door. The big problem I've heard is that the dealers sell the car amongst each other, to strip the rebate off - other than that - it's like when Dodge dealers had the 'token' Viper targa-top convertible on their showroom floor. No one would ever buy it - but it drew people in.

 

well I, for one cannot say i have experi...oh? wait!!. oic. you have to GO THERE?? oh ok. ya, sorry never been...