Chevy Volt can't save GM
Henderson, Lutz and Wagoner next to the VoltI'm a big fan of the Chevy Volt. I think it's an important step in the right direction, especially for a company like GM. Still, I've blogged over-and-over that the Volt was not an excuse not to build a direct Toyota Prius-contender.
Ultimately, the lack of small hybrid cars coming out of GM - there are none - has perpetually bothered me. Thus, when a web campaign emerged to 'bailout out GM to save the Volt'. I had to say no (Bailout GM to save the Volt: No).
GM's viability, I've believed, had to be about more than the Volt, especially in the short term, and President Obama's task force agrees.
"While the Volt holds promise, it will likely be too expensive to be commercially successful in the short-term," an Obama task report said. The electric car "is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable."
Labels: bailout, Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, Hybrid Vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:00 PM
10 Comments:
At least we are rid of the moron Wagoner.
Hopefully GM will follow.
Noz, you just made me laugh out loud. :)
Nice car but expensive. Electrical cars are still hard to buy, especially in this times.
Dahc-
I've just heard over the news, that the White House is directing GM to chop the Volt from it's revitalization plan, presumably because it's not profitable.
Did you hear anything on this?
Well, I was just listening to Fritz Henderson talk about GM's new plans. I don't think the Volt has been canceled by any means, but GM has to prove viability independent of the Volt so, as Henderson stated 'GM has the money to fund new programs like the Volt'.
If GM's current business can't result in sustainable viability, then GM doesn't have the money to fund the Volt.
It's get your shop in order before focusing on the future too much.
noz,
gm might go into bankruptcy, but only to restructure as a leaner GM. I don't think under any circumstances is GM going to be liquidated - sorry to burst your hope bubble.
I know you're probably right...but that's what it deserves.
New start, new page, fresh beginning...no more GM.
We can only dream of Utopia.
I agree, with the cost that GM is wanting to charge, the average working person will not be willing to even look at this car. I was very interested because it would have served me extremely well for the short distances I drive to and from work, and around the city... but anything over $20,000 won't cut it for me.... I'll just stay with the hybrids or gas engine cars.
You're not the only one Sam. Up front costs are critical to US consumers.
At $25,000, I think the Volt could be a pretty big hit. Hit $20,000 and you forever change the auto industry.
Still, after a $7500 tax credit the Volt will still probably cost $33,000+ (even then most claim GM is still losing a huge sum of money per vehicle).
That's just too high for most consumers, even if all future energy was free.
Personally, I'd pay $33,000 for a Volt - if i were in the market for a new car - but I'm a foreign oil dependence fanatic. I'd be willing to lose money, but expecting the average consumer to lose money to fight foreign oil dependence is not a real solution.
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