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RIP Volt

Discussion in 'Chevrolet Volt' started by coach81, Nov 27, 2018.

  1. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Was a nice run... GM killing it.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    too bad. a decent size increase and lower ev miles might have doubled sales.
     
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  3. Roy2001

    Roy2001 Active Member

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    Sad to see it gone. It is truly a revolutionary car. But it is expensive, small, not so energy efficient, and its reliability record also dragged its sales. If it is something like Clarity that roomy, powerful and power sipping 8 years ago, it would be a hit.
     
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  4. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

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    Great commuting vehicle for those who needed the extra EV range. Would have gotten one if my commute were substantially longer.

    Sadly, the typical solo commuter prefers an SUV or truck. Something much bigger than needed for a commute, anyway. Drivers are paying Volt prices on their new rides, just not interested in the eco-tech.
     
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  5. MMBH

    MMBH Member

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    GM (and apparently Ford) will never learn ... When gas prices go up again, and people are looking for smaller and more gas sipping vehicles and the Asian and European automakers are selling them while the US automakers aren't ... it may seal their coffins shut :( They killed the electric car off once before, so history sort of repeats itself again I guess ... I guess they will need to figure out how to start produce some really efficient hybrid or electric SUVs and mini-vans... Both GM and Ford pretty much are killing off their sedans and hybrid lines... it just seems short sighted.... not everyone wants a gas guzzling cross-over or SUV... :(
     
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  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    It's the same story for pretty much every US based public company. The short term demands for extra profit from the shareholders outweighs the reasoning for less profits now for a more stable future. As soon as gas prices go up, they will fail again. People in general don't seem to have long term memory.
     
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  7. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    Ahhhhh... Corporate America. Most companies are run by bean counters. They only know how to use spread-sheet management, then cut and slash. Innovation is squashed.
     
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  8. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Ford and GM are both investing heavily into plug ins, with even some hybrids. Ford has several partnerships going for autonomous cars.
    Not all their crossovers and SUVs are gas guzzling, and even their large ones are likely the most efficient in the segment. They are also still making actual cars, just not selling them in the US.

    The fact is that sedan sales have been declining, and Ford and GM don't sell those cars in volume like Toyota and Honda. Then new car sales likely peaked last year. Combined with the large supply of cars coming off lease, the industry is looking at a down turn before tariffs went into effect. Then there is currently an oversupply of oil, so barring something like a war, gas prices will likely remain low for the next few years. US corporate mindset is short sighted, but that doesn't mean they aren't planning for the future.
     
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  9. oliwer78

    oliwer78 Junior Member

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    All these years Chevy literally kept putting money on top of each Volt sold, and was making money on each let’s say Colorado.
    Not a good thing.
     
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The name Volt will be dead, but it doesn't mean the concept will. I'm sure GM will continue on with it in some form or another. Now, besides my trouble free Volt, I've also added a Spark EV, which is also discontinued. I alternate between the two, so I always have a charged car waiting for me. ;)
     
  11. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    That "concept" was never clear. In fact, that contributed to the demise of Volt. Enthusiasts tried prompting the "EREV" identifier, but kept changing the definition each time another plug-in hybrid rolled out. Basically, GM had no idea what direction to take. It was obvious 12 years ago, when Volt was first revealed. Almost immediately, we got mixed messages of purpose. Goals were unrealistic and the target market uncertain.

    The true death part though is the simple fact that there is no successor. Tax-Credits were intended to help push a product into the mainstream; instead, GM decided to abandon the technology just as phaseout approached. In other words, GM wasted a massive amount of opportunity. Someday when a realistic offering debuts, GM will have to start all over.

    Sadly, we knew back when Volt-1 was rolled out that the market was gravitating toward SUV choices and that GM had little interest in promoting a compact hatchback. Yet, we saw a Volt-2 without anyone beyond those taking advantage of the $7,500 discount wanting to purchase it. Those owners did what they could to promote, but SUV shoppers couldn't care less.

    It was an ideal example of what not to do. GM took praise for a subsidized niche and let their minions spin Toyota as an automaker "kicking & screaming" in resistance to mainstream offerings. The hope was that GM's silence would go unnoticed, that their reluctance to actually address change of the status quo would be overlooked due to Volt.

    Two-Mode failed to reach ordinary consumers. So did Volt-1 and Volt-2. Now, they only have an awkward Bolt that doesn't appeal to even their own dealers to stock as inventory. Needless to say, GM isn't taking the situation seriously. Making fun of Toyota for their seemingly timid approach will be their downfall. The potential for Toyota's fleet of everyday hybrids... Corolla, RAV4, Camry, C-HR …to later offer a plug is enormous. So what if none are standout vehicles? The point is for the technology to become common.

    In short, ugh. What a waste.
     
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    volt will live on in the hearts and minds of electrical engineers the world over (y)
     
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    It'll be living on in my driveway, too.
     
  14. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Unless the market moves away from larger vehicles it will likely continue to live in mine for the foreseeable future as well
     
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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  16. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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  17. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Notice how the article is missing a number of vital pieces of information...
     
    #17 john1701a, Jan 3, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2019
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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  19. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Yep and now, they're going to add two more. :D
     
  20. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Right idea, wrong reason:

    It sounds like the Bolt might have killed the Volt by being more "halo." Of course the Prius Prime played a role too. That is the problem with a justification based upon an 'image' versus a commitment to a goal.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #20 bwilson4web, Jan 29, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2019