Looks Like The Chevrolet Volt Is A Dud

[dales]

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.

Read more here:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/0 ... -the-volt/

[Crackpot]

I'll wait to see what happens when gas prices start spiking again.

[dales]

The break even point for a $40,000 car would be fairly long.

There are far better alternatives on the market right now.

The Prius hybrid cost less to buy and has been on the market for over 10 years.

I look for the Volt to cease production within the year.

[Crackpot]

Volt runs primaily on electricity Which no other hybrid does. I wouldn't count it out just yet.

[dgs49]

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.

[Crackpot]

Government has nothing to do with it Dave. Just another variation a car company wanted to be first to market with.

[Scooter]

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.

[Crackpot]

Actually I believe thay are selling them at a loss

[Scooter]

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.

[Crackpot]

I don't think they have the ability to take that much of a loss. I recall it being about $5000

[dales]

Just to keep the thread sputtering along...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/0 ... n-a-month/

From the article:

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!

[Crackpot]

And the leaf is trailing them both

[dales]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/0 ... /#comments

[Crackpot]

Just off the top that's a totally asinine comparison the cars aren't even in the same size class

[dales]

Specs for Chevrolet Volt and Cruze?