This week’s news that GM would stop production of the Chevrolet Volt for the third time in its brief lifespan came roaring out of the proverbial blind spot. Having watched the Volt’s progress closely from gestation through each month’s sales results, it was no secret to me that the Volt was seriously underperforming to expectations. But in the current media environment, anything that happens three times is a trend, and the latest shutdown (and, even more ominously, the accompanying layoffs) was unmistakeable. Not since succumbing to government-organized bankruptcy and bailout has GM so publicly cried “uncle” to the forces of the market, and I genuinely expected The General to continue to signal optimism for the Volt’s long-term prospects. After all, sales in February were up dramatically, finally breaking the 1,000 unit per month barrier. With gasoline prices on the march, this latest shutdown was far from inevitable.
Many more hybrids in the pipeline from othe car makers. Looks like "The General" has screwed the pooch, yet again.
Keep in mind, if the Government didn't push this car, GM would never have brought to the showrooms. While it is an interesting project, the economic viability of a true electric is still in the future.
There is nothing wrong with it, it is simply not worth the money.
dgs49 wrote:Keep in mind, if the Government didn't push this car, GM would never have brought to the showrooms.
Except for the fact that GM was committed to the car long before it went into bankruptcy. The mistake they made was not following the example set by Toyota with the Prius, be prepared to sell the thing at a loss for a few years while it built market share, and eventually the production efficiencies would make it turn a profit.
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
When the Prius first came out in Japan, they were selling them at $17,000 when they cost $29,000 to make. The inflation adjusted price has not increased from then to now, but now they are making a profit, because they found the production efficiencies necessary to do so as sales volumes increased. That's the magnitude of loss I mean, one that would have allowed them to build market share.
Of course, if GM is already losing $15,000 or more on every model they sell at $40,000, then they had best scrap the whole thing.
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
The comment that the Priuc c sold more cars in three days than the Volt in a month is most likely a subtle ribbing in the direction of Detroit. There, GM CEO Dan Akerson had claimed that “Toyota sold about the same amount of Prius in its first year as the Volt in its first year.”
Look for the Volt to be discontinued by the end of this year, another gigantic FLOP from GM!
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
