When the Volt concept was first unveiled Ed Peper was the manager for Chevrolet. He was replaced in 2009 by Brent Dewar who only held the postion for a couple of weeks. At the same time Maria Rhorer was given the new position of Chevrolet Volt director of marketing. She was reassigned after the infamous Chevy Volt dance. Next Jim Campbell was named Chevroelt brand manager and most recetnly Tony DiSalle was named product marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt. DiSalle previously was the VP of OnStar and it seems likely he will stay in place though the car’s launch.
Mr DiSalle recently was profiled in a GM YouTube video and provides us with some insight to his line of thinking and plans for this critical last push to the finish line of getting the car into consumers’ hands.
DiSalle says the overall marketing strategy for the Volt is to “inform and educate customers,” who themselves “will then inform and educate others.”
He says the car has a tendency to inspire people who understand how it works to want to talk to others about it. Thus, he says, “if we can get the car close to key influencers..they will go online and write about it.”
The reason GM chose Washington DC, California, and Michigan as initial launch markets , he explains, was to put the car “close to people who would have a strong propensity to talk about it.” This group as GM sees it includes “influencers, early adopters, politicians, and other high profile people.”
The burning question of when GM will finally announced the official price was sort of answered.”We’ll announce pricing late this summer or early fall,” he said.
DiSalle also says the Volt ownership experience will be unique, starting with the “connected customer concept,” created by the rich content of the dual screen displays in the car, extending outside the car through smartphone app interaction, Volt-specific OnStar diagnostics, and an innovative “web-based owners site with “with some pretty neat functionality as well”
“Its a total connected customer experience,” he adds.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:26 am)The first year I won’t be able to get my hands on it so I’m not that interested in the price. The original price is most important in setting the ‘first impression’ of is this car for the masses or not.
What will the price be when they finally start to ramp up production in 18 months, and what will the Gen 2 price be?
My burning question is when will they be readily available in Ohio?
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:33 am)Chevy is rebranding itself as a performance division. Who knew a Chevy Impala had such moxy….
Here is the Link: http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/38006d83-1bdd-4fc4-aa8b-e7e77d6e680d/News/6-3-Car-catches-fire-after-flying-over-toll-booth
+9
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:33 am)DiSalle says the overall marketing strategy for the Volt is to “inform and educate customers,” who themselves “will then inform and educate others.”
He says the car has a tendency to inspire people who understand how it works to want to talk to others about it. Thus, he says, “if we can get the car close to key influencers..they will go online and write about it.”
That’s about the smartest thing I’ve ever heard a marketing director say. This site is a testament to the tendency of people to want to discuss and talk to others about the car. I’ve probably discussed the volt and all its benefits with over 100 people and most seem to get it once the benefits and design are properly explained. The only sacrifice with this car is the potential cost of ownership. If GM can keep it around 27-28K after the tax rebate GM can keep all the marketing dollars they would have spent and use it to double the volt line capacity.
+9
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:34 am)So basically they are going to try viral marketing instead of traditional venues. This somewhat explains why there is nothing in the car magazines, however, for me personally car magazines are a good source of information about cars (duh).
It really doesn’t matter how they market it. Volt will sell out every copy with these small build volumes.
+5
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:42 am)From the article:
DiSalle says the overall marketing strategy for the Volt is to “inform and educate customers,” who themselves “will then inform and educate others.”
Well then, better make it cost effective or the masses aren’t going to care enough to be educated.
Also, the more cars available, the more people will hear about them. So crank up the plant.
Demand will be very high.
+14
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:43 am)I’m starting to find this lack of pricing to be very odd. What are they waiting for? They’ve tooled the factory, they’ve secured the battery contract, and they should be certain of the manufacturing COST. Now it seems like they are wating to gauge certain market factors before announcing the PRICE. Factors like….
-Cost of oil/gas (GM should be sending a nice Christmas card to BP this year for that one)
-Buzz for their competitors’ products
-Breakthroughs on Gen II batteries. Maybe they are on the cusp of a major cost reduction?
Either way, I am scratching my head at this point.
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:52 am)I agree. I have two deposits at dealerships. One is a dealer in Ohio, one here in the Detroit area. Something just feels like there may be cars in Ohio (and the rest of the country) sooner than we know. It is always possible the the three initial delivery areas may only lead the rest of the country by a few months. What determines the roll-out timeline? I’m sure that Lyle will be on this issue as with every relevant issue. Overall volume of production is the big bottleneck. I guess the difficult thing to deal with is how it is possible to get the volume of the Cruze so high and not the Volt. Economics is a big factor, I’m sure.
-12
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:56 am)(click to show comment)
+37
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:56 am)I agree with just about everything Mr. DiSalle has to say except for this comment:
This group as GM sees it includes “influencers, early adopters, politicians, and other high profile people.”
So we are supposed to believe politicians and movie stars? No one believes anything that the politicians have to say in Washington, DC these days. That was simply a bribe to the people that bailed them out. So why don’t they just say so. And if GM thinks that some 19 year old “star” is the reason that I am going to buy a Volt, they are clearly off the mark……………
People like us have already been talking to other people for the last three years about how the Volt works and the benefits it will bring to the transportation world. But how are we rewarded by GM? We get to wait for another two years or so. Thanks GM!!
Sorry, but like I have been saying here for a long time, I think this entire marketing idea is a mistake.
The pricing should already have been announced. To show that GM is serious about this project, three shifts should be scheduled at the plant to build at least 50K units for the first year. Take pre-orders. And scrap this silly limited release area plan.
If you want to sell cars, have them available to be purchased. I think that is from marketing 101!!!!
JMHO
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:04 am)Predicting the future price of gasoline is like predicting the weather. Only less accurate.
Gasoline in my area hit $2.36 yesterday and is in a downward trend.
http://www.fortworthgasprices.com/
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:04 am)It’s about the IPO…. If they provide a price and the marketplace (investment community) perceives it as non competitive, it may hurt the offering. The Volt is GMs vision of the future and a less that favorable reception can/may have broader impacts to GM and it’s current owners.
+25
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:05 am)OK, I’m starting to think I will not get a Volt living in the Pacific Northwest, unless I can get Bill Gates to go on Larry King and talk about me and the Chevy Volt – and I don’t think that’s going to happen. So now, if I think I’m going to get my car I’m going to have to come up with a very clever strategy…
MY STRATEGY TO GET A VOLT:
1) Win Lottery – Go to Arizona -bid for one at Barrett-Jackson in January – perhaps I can get one of the first Volt’s and they’ll give the 1,000,000 clams to charity.
2) Go to Northwestern University, take acting, move to LA and bum around Hollywood waiting tables, washing cars, doing casting calls and maybe some softdrink commercials – get discovered, make a few B movies about giant tarantulas until I get my big break co-starring in a Summer blockbuster of yet another Marvel comics remake of a Marvel comic remake. Make millions. Meet Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – or better yet, hook up with a Hollywood “bad girl” – or Miley Cyrus. Note to self: “Gotta Get On Leno and Letterman”…
3)Get to work immediately on my law degree, working with community organizations until I can finagle my way into city politics. Always pander to special interests until I can move up, maybe get a name for myself bleeting to the media my new plan to cut some major taxes, and how I sincerely believe illegal gay aliens should be able to marry their dog. If that doesn’t work, plan B – get some dirt on a major player and ride it all the way baby – to the House, or Senate!
4)Start my own website, in which I advertise the fantastical virtues of General Motors, and how they always have had the common man in mind – building the best vehicles with the best technology known to mankind. I’ll electronically visit Facebook 100 times a day and I’ll Twitter how GM wants us off Big Oil. I’ll make sure and stroke all their executives with extreme superlatives and make sure thousands on my site can also extol GM’s many wonderous virtues and how they believe truly GM will change it’s stripes and really mass produce the whiz-bang technology they so skillfully parade before mankind. A prerequisite for participating on my “Clog” ( car-blog ) would be severe badmouthing of any car company starting with a “T”, and their dubious clunker of a hybrid that starts with a “P”.
5) Take it upon myself to sell a Volt to the President, Tiger Woods, Lady Ga Ga and get one on the panel as a “guest car” on American Idol. Convince a major network to run a primetime TV show named “Dancing With The Volts”.
6) OPRAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
7) OK, if all that fails, knowing GM thinks of Volt as, not the future, or a way off oil, but it’s ultimate “halo” —- and knowing GM is only going to make a short run of them before it pulls Volt’s plug due to “it’s high expense and low interest”………..
………..Maybe I can just steal one………….?
RECHARGE! James
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:07 am)Later this summer or early fall? So basically he still hasn’t narrowed it down. I think that GM as a whole is still a little shaken up and no one feels secure in their job enough to do something agressive like Nissan has done with the Leaf by announcing price, trims, and beginning sign up lists. I can see why they don’t want to start the sign up sheet after the Camaro fiasco, but why can’t they tell us the price?
Maybe they really still don’t know exactly how much it will cost them to make, I know the price is set on supply and demand, but right now they could have competing ideas on how to price it. Should it try to make a profit at the expense of PR since they’ll be built in such low supply? Should they just totally do this as PR and place it within the lineup charging somewhere between the price of a Malibu and the price of an Impala as someone suggested yesterday?
They also could be trying to figure out ways to avoid an embarrassing situation where they are sold out at every dearlership for years and there is actually negative backlash because they’re viewed as idiots because they can’t make their own car fast enough. People will think they don’t know how to run their own company and they’ll be mad because the public owns it now.
It might be that they are going to hype the Volt right before the IPO so as to spruce up the window dressing, at least I hope that’s why because they could also be waiting until after the IPO…
Of course it might be none of the above, GM just yesterday announced the Cruze pricing, maybe they just like to cut it really close to the product launch time.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:13 am)Price is important and I think the ballpark price has been suggested in the many postings. I think that GM should be looking at keeping the prices down such as on line buying to avoid those unfair markups and seek service at any GM dealer for maintenance. Have we also figured in the cost of upgrades such as software, hardware, batteries, etc??
+3
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:15 am)We all know the price rumor history associated to the Volt. Two years ago it was suggested that it would sticker at about 29k. A year later it was revised to 41k. Six months later it was rumored to be 39k. Three months ago it was mentioned that 37k is realistic. All the while GM spokespeople seasoned their price targets by saying sticker price depends on market conditions and the price of a barrel of crude oil.
The last six months have been a rehashing of Volt functionality. Smartphone app interaction is being hyped. CS mode being R&D’d and rumored to be about 50 MPG. Multiple demo drives confirm the stable handling nature of the Volt. Very quiet and smooth ride quality. With power feeling very acceptable, but short of “sporty”. Interior room and comfort score high.
We have heard several memorable quotes as well: “Feels like flying” “Makes my Prius feel like a toy” “Finest luxury car I have driven” “Sticks to the road” “First time I’ve considered buying an American car in years”.
Even with all of this. The Volt offers extended range (normal driving experience). With efficiency bettering that of a moped.
=D-Volt
+10
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:20 am)What’s a “magazine”?
+6
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:21 am)What’s the worst that could happen to an uneducated buyer? They never plug it in and get 40mpg highway and 60 or so mpg city. Man I’d talk about that. Probably wouldn’t take long for them to try plugging it in either. Just sell the darned thing.
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:22 am)Bottomline: With any Gen1 cutting edge technology it will be expensive unless you scale for volume!! Gen1 is too expensive to scale probably because the financials were/are being worked out on a limited production run and Gen2 (if Gen1 survives) is where the numbers would be made to work.
Imagine this scenario at GM pre bankruptcy..
- Lutz tells engineers “Give me a Prius beater. I want to leapfrog the competition”
- Engineering Team: Let’s build a prototype leveraging what we learned from the EV1 project
- Engineer Team: But the EV1 was financially a non-starter.. What should we do?
- Engineering Team: Let’s not worry about the ROI.. Better get something out there before Lutz goes x!@%GGH
- Lutz wants a vehicle for an upcoming auto show. A concept car to stick it to Toyota…
- The Press: Old GM is on the right track. Question to Lutz “When will we see it on the road?”
- Engineering Team to Lutz: This a prototype, is not ready for the market (due to cost like the EV1) and bean counters have not reviewed the costs
- Bean Counters: Unless fuel costs increase by 30% over the next 3 years, this may not work
New GM knows that without internals subsidizing of the cost (low cost lease) this engineering miracle may not survive.
Scenario Possible?: yes Probable?: yes If not, why would GM not provide a range ($35K – 50K) depending on options?
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:27 am)I like the cautious approach they are using. The Volt that is produced is really Volt 1.0 and it has a high probability of having problems. This is a fact that cannot be ignored. A major recall after selling 50 or 100 thousand of these things will not be good.
Many cars are rolled out slowly. My old Colorado, which I bought in 2004 (first year) was sold as an Isuzu (identical truck) overseas in 2003. This helps find problems early. Even with this, the car had two recalls and one involved tearing the engine down some. (the head had to be removed).
I just got a recall notice for my 2010 equinox.
The Cruze is driving around in Asia right now in large numbers. This helps with some of the debugging for the US market.
The Volt will be released right away into the US market. I like the idea of playing it safe with limited numbers on Version 1.0.
Version 2.0 will be a better car with less bugs and more optimized parts (i.e. cheaper and lighter and probably a better battery) and hopefully a cheaper price. Version 2.0 is where production should ramp up. GMs plan makes perfect sense to me.
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:44 am)For the 2012 model Volt, I hope they consider a stripped down trim option that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles.
This is supposed to be a mainstream car…
+13
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:58 am)From the article,
“DiSalle also says the Volt ownership experience will be unique, starting with the “connected customer concept,” created by the rich content of the dual screen displays in the car, extending outside the car through smartphone app interaction, Volt-specific OnStar diagnostics, and an innovative “web-based owners site with “with some pretty neat functionality as well’”
Some of us just want a car. I personally don’t need an “ownership experience”, I just want something to haul my fat ass down the road without using oil.
BTW…How much is the damn thing going to cost? Is that such a hard question to answer?
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:00 am)GM should go for a low price. They aren’t going to make or lose enough money in the early stages for it to really make a difference. If they can get the cost down over time, they can sell the first 10 or 20,000 (or more) at a small loss to build momentum, keep the price the same and as costs come down, start making money.
+6
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:08 am)Whatever marketing they’re doing, the metrics comparing the interest in the Leaf as compared to the Volt indicates that they’re not doing it very well. In defense of marketing, the inability to generate press may be tied to a slow moving organization that has difficulty coming up with a price and a process for selling the car.
Nissan also has a direct sales process that engages decision makers. GM doesn’t. If they suggest that people go down and talk to their local Chevy dealer the PR campaign will not work because for most people going to a dealer is as attractive as hanging out at Best Buy. Seems like a PR campaign right out of the 50′s.
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:13 am)Sounds like you are in the CJS boat (.. the Black Pearl?)
I’m happen to be on the opposite end of this spectrum (i like all the gadgets & leather), but can appreciate your view. It would be nice to take out a lot of stuff if it actually reduces cost so that more ppl can afford this car. If GM had more Voltec cars I think these trim levels would be more apparent. With only the Chevy Volt, being the Voltec flagship, i think GM want’s every driver to be overly-impressed w/the design/build (at this point in time).
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:16 am)What? I actually like hanging out at Best Buy and playing w/all the toys. Bad part is can never leave w/out spending $ on something.
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:20 am)Here is a way for GM to save several $M on marketing research and advertising expense and achieve all DiSalle’s objectives and get some cash flow.
GM dealers are building an early production sales list for the Volt. Initial vehicles will be sold for $40,000 and a 50% deposit will put you on the list in order of receipt. Understand that when the initial vehicles are sold the MSRP will be lower than $40,000.
Put me on the list for #2 after Lyle.
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:22 am)To #15, DaveK: What is your state-by-state data source? How about numbers for the rest of the 50 states?
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:34 am)This statement is consistent with the “we will have more to say later this summer” comment, so our expectation of September 23, give or take a week or so, remains viable. September 23 is the first day of Fall.
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:36 am)The chart you see was posted here at gm volt dot com in 2009. It’s a good indication of demand and location of interest. The numbers you see are probably low by at least 20%.
=D-Volt
updated list:
http://gm-volt.com/wait-list-data/
+7
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:36 am)==============================================
What they are doing is cautious, but at the same time could backfire, because of whom they are going to sell the first cars to.
Who do you think would take a hardware/software problem better on their brand new car – Jim I, nasaman, Tagamet or Nancy Pelosi, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Paris Hilton?
So if caution is the method of the day, why isn’t GM going with early adopters that they know will be willing to put up with what it means to be a Beta Tester for this new vehicle?????
Again, JMHO
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:37 am)I’ve posted it before, but I’ll say it again. The GM rep I talked to in May in Austin said six months. The GM plan is for the three initial delivery areas to lead the rest of the country by a six months.
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:41 am)Well, I’m sort of relieved.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:42 am)Seems like according to the list above that there is a huge following in Florida. Sure would like to know what happened to rolling out in Florida as was first mentioned. I sure would find that alot more agreeable than having to travel to Michigan to but a Volt.
Take Care,
TED
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:53 am)Latest from the GM-Volt.com “Want List”:
Take special note of the interest in D.C.
State Name Number of People
……………………waiting for a Volt
California………………3672
Texas…………………..1634
Florida………………….1539
Michigan……………….1269
New York………………1177
Illinois…………………..1085
Pennsylvania……………826
Ohio……………………..822
Washington…………….779
Virginia………………….767
New Jersey……………..757
Arizona………………….642
North Carolina…………619
Georgia………………….618
Maryland………………..541
Massachusetts…………507
Colorado……………….468
Indiana…………………..468
Minnesota………………458
Missouri…………………452
Wisconsin……………….435
Oregon………………….356
Tennessee………………329
Connecticut…………….328
South Carolina…………244
Alabama…………………213
Kansas……………………200
Iowa………………………197
Nevada…………………..193
Utah………………………188
Kentucky………………..182
Oklahoma……………….175
Louisiana………………..149
Arkansas…………………142
New Hampshire………..140
Nebraska………………..133
New Mexico……………116
Hawaii…………………….89
Idah……………………….81
Mississippi………………81
West Virginia……………81
Maine 77
District of Columbia 70
Rhode Island 68
Delaware 65
Alaska 54
Montana 42
Vermont 40
North Dakota 29
South Dakota 26
Wyoming 26
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:55 am)The thing that impressed me most about driving the prototype in NY was how easy and normal the car was (plus quiet, plus power, plus outstanding handling, etc). With the limited functionality of the prototype displays, the gee-whiz aspect didn’t really add (or detract from) anything. I looked at the course. “The true electric car has finally arrived,” I thought.
After watching the video above, I have the feeling that GM has taken it’s engineering tour de force’s emphasis from “mainstream” back to “public demonstration/experimentation” mode; albeit on a much larger scale than EV1 and The Lean Machine. The “connected” technology seems like more and more of a “disconnect” for people who just want to drive electric. It is diluting the essence of EREV with the bells and whistles of their newest OnStar. GM won’t quote costs or take orders; and their “viral” campaign seems destined for obscurity. Why do I feel that point #7 on James’ otherwise hilarious comment is now closer to reality?
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:00 am)I admit I prefer Best Buy to the dentist! I sympathize with the problem of not leaving without buying something.
But while playing with toys is one thing, suffering uninformed sales people is another (Corvette Guy excluded obviously). It’s hard to go to a car dealership and just play with the toys.
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:03 am)I think GM is going with early adopters by default whether they have thought about it or not. They are not going to give a little exam to buyers to see if they qualify as early adopter types. They are going to sell in those markets to whoever shows up first at the dealers and has money. By definition, the people who spend 30-45K on this new and relatively untested 4 seater electric drive E-REV are early adopters.
At least this is the way I see it.
+3
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:09 am)(continued from above)
If GM wants to turn the Volt into a grand “hey look at us” social experiment, let them; but they had better make good the original promise of a mainstream, everyman’s car in some other form, or model.
Announcing the NEW Chevrolet Sparrow, EREV for the rest of us! (Shown in Black Pearl).
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:13 am)“Chevy Volt.”
[click, thump]
“It’s not for everybody.
So send us your resume … “
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:15 am)======================================
I hope you are right, but for the areas GM has chosen, I think it will be a “must have” fad type of thing. The DC people will buy it to show off to the people back home how green they are in this new world. Except for a handful of people in Hollywood, like Jay Leno, the Volt will be seen as the newest fashion accessory item. And if it has any problems, they will be screaming on Access Hollywood about why this is why they prefer a BMW! All they want is to get their faces shown on TV and in the magazines. They could care less about promoting GM and Voltec.
I guess only time will tell………..
+9
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:17 am)Without a solid and positive review by Road and Track, Car and Driver, and MotorTrend magazines, VOLT sales will suffer. And it really concerns me that they have not already given those guys a pre-production model for review. All 3 of those would certainly underscore that they were not driving a showroom ready car in their reports.
People STILL read magazines. Have you been to B. Daltons lately? There are at least 8 solid rows of them. Websites will only get GM so far, and with all due respect to Lyle and GM-VOLT.com, I would still like to read what the ‘experts’ have to say about it.
I do not expect the VOLT to win ‘Car of the Year’ right out of the gates, but it could. And I would like to remind the General that most press is good; as long as they spell your name right; and your car is not suffering from a ‘sticky’ gas pedal.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:20 am)May seem low, until you add in the Virginia and Maryland numbers for the region.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:39 am)MotorTrend had a supervised demo drive. This is plenty until the real deal is ready to be delivered. MotorTrend shared ideas and concerns with GM. A minor concern, mentioned by MT, was the smoothness of acceleration. The electric drive provides a more fluid acceleration rate than a piston/cam drive car. MT went on to say that this trait should be fine with 98% of buyers. A pretty good review of a mostly hand assembled car (in 2009) which was still in R&D stage.
=D-Volt
+7
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:39 am)I just re-read my earlier posting and I have to make a correction:
I should have used the term “automotive press” instead of “experts”. I know that many of you here are engineers and you are the ‘experts’ when it comes to electrical systems. I just remembered that guys from NASA post on this site too.
But I sell cars for a living, and what the ‘automotive press’ says goes a long way in my world. No offense intended guys.
+8
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:42 am)It’s this new cool thing that you download to your iPad:
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:43 am)Michigan is the surprise to me. Florida & New York both have twice the population of Michigan, but the Volt interest is the same. (of course Michigan is the home team).
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:46 am)Suppliers.
+3
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:52 am)Just asking, but have these guys driven the Leaf yet? I’d like to hear some gearheads’ opinions on something like the Leaf.
+4
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:54 am)and CANADA ?
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:56 am)Cool! I wonder if I can hook a printer to my Ipad so i could print it out… you know, like on paper.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:58 am)CorvetteGuy worte:
“I do not expect the VOLT to win ‘Car of the Year’ right out of the gates…”
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Why not? After all the Dodge Neon did. The “experts” got that one right, right?
The only thing keeping the Volt from winning C/Y is production numbers. To be honest I don’t believe GM’s comments on production numbers, they have always understated planned production numbers on “limited production” or new model vehicles. Many times the GM rep would tell me it would be a long time before I’d get a certain vehicle in our smalltown dealership, only to have him begging me to take more of them before the model year was up.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:59 am)Well, Geez, maybe they want to see if the following really happens http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-human-condition/2010/06/03/even-more-bad-news-about-the-oil-spill-slick-to-travel-up-the-atlantic-coast.html Just several short weeks from now, the Volt may command a higher price as folks along the entire east coast find themselves swimming in oil.
BTW, this blog needs some programming help; I have no idea who that photo is assigned to this comment, but it ain’t me- and I didn’t tell it to post one either
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:59 am)================================
But then you would not be a tree hugging greenie, who seems to be the people that will get the first Volts!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:04 am)If the VOLT does not win the ‘Car of Year’ award, this only means that the judges are ignorant. Frankly, I think GM should not bother with these automotive magazines.
+5
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:07 am)DiSalle also says the Volt ownership experience will be unique, “EXPENSIVE & STANDARD”
starting with the “connected customer concept,” “EXPENSIVE & STANDARD”
created by the rich content of the dual screen displays in the car, “EXPENSIVE & STANDARD”
extending outside the car through smartphone app interaction, “EXPENSIVE & STANDARD”
Volt-specific OnStar diagnostics, “EXPENSIVE but OPTIONAL subscription – first year free”
innovative “web-based owners site with “with some pretty neat functionality as well” “FREE !!!!”
“total connected customer experience,” he adds. “You always pay for EXPERIENCE where I work”
I know I will get thumbs downed on this one, but I am pegging the Gen 1 price at $46,900 – $7,500 means the first 250,000 units go for $39,400 your price. I am saving this in an archive to see if I am right!
+5
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:13 am)From the article:
DiSalle says the overall marketing strategy for the Volt is to “inform and educate customers,” who themselves “will then inform and educate others.”
#5 Rashiid Amul states –
“Well then, better make it cost effective or the masses aren’t going to care enough to be educated.
Also, the more cars available, the more people will hear about them. So crank up the plant.
Demand will be very high.”
——————————————
SO … IF… “This group as GM sees it includes “influencers, early adopters, politicians, and other high profile people” AND the initial production for the VOLT may be 8-10K cars GM will FALL WAY SHORT of meeting its own goals.
Rashiid is very correct noting GM needs to Build Build Build this car.
Early adopters may be GM’s best salespeople.
If there is limited production for awhile, the competitors will have their cars to market sooner that anyone expects.
AND early adopters will not wait if just a few VOLTs are built… they will move on.
GM. you have a LOT of dedicated “early adopters” that WILL BUY THIS CAR NOW at a reasonable price and THEY WILL BE YOUR BEST SALESPEOPLE.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:17 am)Me too. But I’ve been avoiding them for the past year or so in the interest of not buying stuff I really don’t need…
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:27 am)Hmmmmmmmmm. A gearhead driving something without gears. Very interesting. lol
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:28 am)#21
Amen. +1
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:31 am)Legally I don’t know how GM could not sell to someone out of state or area from initial dealers. But, I am wondering if the dealer would sell to someone out of area. Just from the stand point of GM not having dealers outside the purchase area trained for maintenance. Say no one in Florida is trained and something bad happens. Do you put your car on a flatbed truck and send it to a dealer hundreds of miles away? My dad had that happen in mid-1970′s. Before Chevy & Olds standardized engines, transmissions, etc and before dealers sold multiple brands in northern rural Wisconsin. He bought an Olds about 150 miles from home. Transmission went out after 3 months. Local Chevy could not fix and closest Olds dealer the guy 150 miles away. FLATBED! What if you are 1000 miles from Volt dealer. I know someone will say what if you are on a trip and are just as far away. I suspect that will happen, but on a day-to-day basis, I bet GM will want the Volts sold close to the initial dealer.
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:50 am)
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:50 am)“The reason GM chose Washington DC, California, and Michigan as initial launch markets , he explains, was to put the car “close to people who would have a strong propensity to talk about it.””
Aw man, that’s cold….
Did the rest of you hear what he just called you? He just said yall not smart enough to pass on or act on the good, so yall don’t get the rollout!
propensity
A noun
1 aptness, propensity
a disposition to behave in a certain way; “the aptness of iron to rust”; “the propensity of disease to spread”
/yeah, I had to google the word….
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:56 am)#57
A lot of us are struggling not to do that these days, LOL. +1
+7
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:06 am)Since 1999 the public has been blatantly mislead by the press. And burned with false reports of all sorts. I work closely with people of all ages. The younger generation knows the difference between nightly news reports and the web blog. Unfortunately, like many of us here, they will choose price over origin when buying items related to entertainment and transportion. I example is a fellow employee who I turned toward a Chevy dealer during cash for clunkers. He was looking to buy a low end economy car. He didn’t get the deal he wanted at Chevy. So he literally crossed the street and bought a Scion (20k) the same day.
One voice I hear over and over are Volt demo drivers saying they are willing to switch from their Japanese car to a Volt. GM needs to realize this. This change of sentiment is HUGE. The Malibu isn’t doing it. The Equinox isn’t doing it. The Volt does it.
Tests and demos show the Volt delivers. In 2012 the question of most sedan buyers will be: “Another 6 cylinder Accord, or a Volt?”. The Volt will come out on top. And Japan and Korea know it. Watch for multiple copy cat Volt products soon.
=D-Volt
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:10 am)AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!
No Power Windows
No Power Adjust Seats
No Power Side view mirrors
No Power Sunroof (Actually No Sunroof at all!!)
No Power Door Locks
No Power Trunk lock
No Radio (Remember that fiasco? – Get an iPod)
No Heated Seats
No GPS (My Phone has one and it WORKs!)
No OnStar!!! Yuk, Phoey!
Back to basics boys!
I’ll take my Volt BEV with No Generator, No ICE, ShAkEn not StirreD…
The ICEAge is over, Embrace the VoltAge!!!
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:10 am)Experts smexperts, just sell the dang thing.
Total count to date;
1) Volt – Dunno,
2) Leaf – Sold out world wide in pre-sales.
Chevrolet’s biggest job until release – Dunno – public is confused and will rely on early adopters, Lyle’s website and everyday experts like Jim I in Pa, plus politicians; translation = dunno. Example of the best related quote, “40 miles, who wants a car that goes 40 miles?”
Nissan’s biggest job until release – build as many more cars as possible to keep up with worlwide demand.
GM you’re killing me with this (and yes, I get that what this non expert thinks doesn’t matter). I wish Jerry Tarkanian would just throw me a towel, this looks pretty bad for the home team. Time will tell.
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:13 am)Well, technically it needs gears in the differential unless it is using wheel motors.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:22 am)Well that just goes to show what I know…..nothing, nada, zip.
Thanks for the correction, Loboc.
+5
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:26 am)“It is a total connected customer experience.”
Yawn.
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:27 am)Would you take someone out of your area to court for not selling you a car? Seems like a lot of trouble, it may help to show that there is demand for the car…
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:31 am)================================
Jim in PA is not Jim I. Jim I is in Ohio……………..
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:38 am)Potato……….Potahh-to
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:38 am)I think they should be using the waitlist from this site. gm-volt.com started the unofficial wait list and these early supporters should be rewarded with early deliveries. Take the first 5000 people on this list and put a car in their hands and see what happens.
I say this because I was in the first 2500 or so if I remember correctly.
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:38 am)Does that mean they’ll have a nationwide roll out by 2012? In that case, they’re going to have substantially up their planned production numbers. Or they’re going to have a lot of unhappy people on waiting lists.
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:43 am)I was wondering this too.
But then I shrugged my shoulders and thought……..Caveat emptor.
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:54 am)They can’t charge over $40,000 minus the tax credit. No matter what happens. Not after consistently saying it would be under that price. And, IMHO, there’s no point in charging a lot less unless their production plans are a lot higher than they’re telling us.
If they have some unexpected cost savings, they can always reduce the price in a few years when they’re ready to raise production.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:04 pm)==================================
Yea, sure.
But what if someone said that Kahlua tasted like Miller Lite?????
How would you feel about that one????
I’ll bet those would be fighting words….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:07 pm)GM is about to set the standard in EREV, I’m sure they have already worked out all the bugs that came to mind in these past couple of years, but why I think GM is waiting until the last minute to annouce the price is simple…. To catch the competition off guard.
The Leaf set a price that was very competitive, so now it’s up to GM to razzle everybody when they declare what the price will be for the volt. In this way the competition will have little time to work out a new pricing for their product and thus giving GM an extra edge on them. And if the Gen II comes out with , ..let’s say a batery pack that get’s between 50-100 miles per charge with a slight cost increase for the car, the competition will be knock out of the ball park.
The disaster in the gulf just shows how much we need this car to hit the market as soon as possible.
Frank
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:07 pm)=======================================
GREAT IDEA!!!!!
Since my # here is 1196…………….
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:07 pm)Technically they can’t charge anything minus tax credits. They have to charge the full price and whatever markup each dealer wants to slap on, if any.
Same with any other State or local gubbment rebates or incentives. You pay full up front…….at least for now.
A lease, as I understand it from the LEAF propaganda emails I get, will help a customer take full advantage of the fed rebate of $7,500.00 immediately. I would be surprised if GM doesn’t follow this lease method/model.
Not that I would lease anything but some folks will. A sell is a sell.
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:11 pm)My apologies. Well then both of you fellas, and all the people that made it clear what the Volt is. GM has yet to hit on that clear message that takes them beyond the early interest groups.
The Volt (Chevrolet progress?) commercial has a lot of ideas presented together. Progress, more models with EPA estimated 30 mpg hwy than either Toyota on Honda. A line up of hybrids that fit the way you live. And one day Chevy Volt. A car that can go up to 40 miles before it uses any gas at all. They don’t have that one clear concept that resonates to take the Volt to the next level. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL8F98-x6rs ) How will it all fit together, dunno.
Just seems frustrating that Nissan is past all this and knows exactly what they must do now, with a much simpler vehicle. Put on their game faces, make more cars. Ramp up, finish Gen II, build more cars.
GM seems to be defining the most difficult path at each step, in an effort to rise above any potential problems, with a more complex concept. Yet the numbers are so small, just get it over with, just allocate the measly 8000 units and go on to the next problem.
Information to the Chevrolet dealers – Nothing.
Information to the Nissan dealers – Here are your customers and their choices, this is a hassle free way to make money selling cars.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:17 pm)lol, that’s just being mean to the liquor. That be ALCOHOL ABUSE!
/gonna call A.P.S. (Alcohol Protection Services)….
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:19 pm)In New York, I asked Bob Boniface about this exact scenario. He said he thought that there was no way a dealer could not sell to an out of state buyer, and that GM would have to provide service at any Chevy dealership. But I would wonder how long that car might have to sit in the shop waiting for parts and a tech to show up to fix it.
So I have no plans to drive to Michigan or DC and come to Youngstown with a Volt. When I can go to Sweeney Chevrolet on Market Street and buy one, is when I know that GM has decided they want to sell Volts all across the country….
But this has to happen by mid-2012 at the very latest. I will really need to buy a car by then. I wonder what else will be available to look at by then?
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:33 pm)… and in significant quantities.
Are you listening, GM?
Jun 4th, 2010 (12:46 pm)Well I think that the number 26485 ought to be pulled off our list completely at random.
Well, kind of at random …
/Well no, not really. I’m out for Gen I. Hopefully I’ll be better off by Gen II time.
Jun 4th, 2010 (1:30 pm)The rep told me they would roll out to the rest of the country six months after the first markets. That would mean dealers placing orders about June 2011. The rep also said the chevrolet.com/Volt interest list might mean something at that time. That’s all I can say.
Jun 4th, 2010 (1:35 pm)Hi Michael. I’ve been using just “Michael” to post here for quite awhile (~2 years). Would you like to add an initial or something, or do I need to change mine. Just asking.
Jun 4th, 2010 (1:49 pm)That’s half the risk. The other half is that you don’t get what you need. The last two times I went to Best Buy I left with an internet phone system that saves me a bundle and some powerline ethernet devices which makes accessing the office VOIP more reasonable.
Jun 4th, 2010 (2:55 pm)No, I haven’t been to a mall or a big bookstore lately. Maybe the people who still go to them (rather than just ordering what they want Online) are the people who still read magazines?
To be fair, I do subscribe to a couple of magazines. Magazines are an incredibly slow way to disseminate information, so I don’t subscribe to any newsy-magazines or any product-review magazines. I subscribe to magazines that have in-depth technical articles that I might like to reread again in a year — like Fine Woodworking, Home Power, or Make Magazine.
I haven’t seen too many “how to bleed your brake lines” or “how to chat with your car’s ECU or PCM” articles in popular car magazines lately, so they’re of limited interest to me. I’d rather get my reviews at full-speed from blogs — including this one.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (2:55 pm)They sure did with the EV1
Jun 4th, 2010 (2:56 pm)No, I haven’t been to a mall or a big bookstore lately. Maybe the people who still go to them (rather than just ordering what they want Online) are the people who still read magazines?
To be fair, I do subscribe to a couple of magazines. Magazines are an incredibly slow way to disseminate information, so I don’t subscribe to any newsy-magazines or any product-review magazines. I subscribe to magazines that have in-depth technical articles that I might like to reread again in a year — like Fine Woodworking, Home Power, or Make Magazine.
I haven’t seen too many “how to bleed your brake lines” or “how to chat with your car’s ECU or PCM” articles in popular car magazines lately, so they’re of limited interest to me. I’d rather get my reviews at full-speed from blogs — including, but not limited to, this one.
It would be interesting to look at the ages of the people who browse/buy things in the magazine rack. I’m in my early 30s, and I suspect that people my age and younger are a lot less likely to touch magazines than the 40+ set.
Jun 4th, 2010 (2:57 pm)The plans I’d heard of are are ~10k in 2011 for the limited rollout and the 50k-60k a year thereafter for World allocation (not just US), although based on what Michael says, it may be happening about 6 months early. It’d be nice if they would push those numbers higher, but the exec heads seem to be sticking with (and totally comfortable with) the 50k a year till Gen 3 (2015?) Halo talk they’ve been preaching for years (not a good sign, since they won’t be able to just double or triple battery production relatively easily and quickly like they can the rest of the vehicle).
You’re right, it seems like there will be waiting lists everywhere for years and potential customers waiting to be lured away by other providers – hopefully it unfolds differently.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (3:09 pm)You mean if Megan Fox says she loves her VOLT, that won’t sway you to buy one???, LOL!!
Bad marketing move I think, however I’ll believe Lance Armstrong before I believe Ms. Fox, LOL!
GO EV !!!
-1
Jun 4th, 2010 (3:14 pm)Nobody else thinks this is a good idea?
Jun 4th, 2010 (3:31 pm)Well, we see your picture. Can’t we just call you “Flannel Mike?”
Disclaimer: I am allowed to make flannel jokes… I live in Pennsylvania.
Jun 4th, 2010 (3:47 pm)“Its a total connected customer experience”
Crap, that sounds expensive… but then we already know it is expensive.
Mostly it is a question: “Is it $40k or $37.5k?” The truth is I don’t care.
Jun 4th, 2010 (4:24 pm)Humor is fine. I guess this is the wrong time of year for autumn in New England pictures, huh.
Anyway, I just wanted to find out if this other Michael intends to post frequently and needs to use the name “Michael” when he does. I can change if I need to, but I probably shouldn’t change my picture and name at the same time. Otherwise I’ll be making appointments with Tag again.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (4:34 pm)If GM built nothing other than the Volt, wasted no money on any other vehicle and sold only Volts, guess what people would buy from GM? A Volt! It’s called supply economics. You know what Tesla sold? The Roadster. Did someone wanting to buy a Tesla Roadster buy a Corvette instead? No they waited for the Roadster.
The public wised up to supply economics, they now know they have the power to influence what is made and sold. The economy may have hurt a lot of people but some like me will never buy or lease and pretty soon rent another GAS only vehicle. Leaf or Volt, Volt or Leaf, maybe Leaf and Volt!
My money can wait for what I want, can GM wait for my money?
GM please start selling the Volt already.
158 days to “V-Day” 11/10/2010
NPNS!
Jun 4th, 2010 (4:41 pm)Jim in Pa said:
I am allowed to make flannel jokes… I live in Pennsylvania.
Since you’re from Pennsylvania, can I tell an Amish joke?
Jun 4th, 2010 (4:56 pm)OK, I changed my picture for the summer, but it’s actually a pic of Jamaica in January.
+2
Jun 4th, 2010 (5:03 pm)You’re on a roll today James, LOL +1 for you!!!
One change 6) OPRAH !!!! – Jump on couch SCREAMING VOOOOOOLT!!!!!!
GO EV!!!!
Jun 4th, 2010 (5:27 pm)I’ll take an ownership experience too, since he’s prepared to market it right now. But I’ll take that danged ownership experience back asap, if there is no Volt attached to it
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (5:31 pm)Heh. Wrong end of the state; Just a bunch of old Polish steel workers around me
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:35 pm)By “early fall” I will know exactly what my order sequence number will be for a Nissan Leaf, I will probably have had a personal test drive of one, and I may be negotiating terms and delivery date with a local dealer.
I still believe a Volt would satisfy my requirements better than a Leaf, but I want an electric car now. By “early fall”, the way things are going, it looks like my ship will have sailed, and GM will not be on board.
If I do get a Leaf it will be a trial marriage, for three years. That may be long enough to fall in love with her despite her looks and limitations, but if not, I’ll see if my true love is available three years later.
Jun 4th, 2010 (6:48 pm)GM reps have stated that you can buy your Volt and take it to any State. All GM dealerships are getting training on servicing the Volt. Go talk to your local GM Service manager to find his schedule.
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:09 pm)#98
My sentiments exactly. +1
Jun 4th, 2010 (7:56 pm)The fact that GM will not disclose the Volt Price as well as the CS mode MPG tells me they are having some reservations on their claim of getting 50mpg. Most likely well below.
So they offer nothing to market the Volt or signup, no price, no mpg in CS mode and only 40 mile EV range.
Then they publish the price and the mpg for a much much less expensive dirty polluting old technology gas burner and offer it just 1 or 2 months before the Volt even discloses CS mpg and price. So now consumers see a far less expensive gas solution/car and a Volt that is twice the cost with a lame 40 mile EV range.
It sounds like the plan all along was to kill the second EV. Rollout a high mpg car, low price then disclose the Volt price and mpg and…….vioala, sales for the cruze.
Like’ i’ve always said, Volt is a greenwash Halo niche product that gurantees the US will keep it’s dependency on foreign oil.
Range Anxiety = Dependent on foreign oil
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:01 pm)Ok ladies and gentlemen that settles it. I will travel to Michigan and buy my Volt. It will be the first Volt in Florida and I will take it to every electric car show in the State.
GM how is that for word of mouth advertising.
Take Care,
TED
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:16 pm)Problem I have with the politicians and “other” people of influence is I don’t really place any special value on their opinion anyway. Why should I care what a politician, entertainer, sports pro, etc. thinks of a car? Means as much as any random stranger to me. Automotive press? Maybe I’ll at least listen and see if what’s said makes some sort of sense.
I’m going to try and keep a open mind about this total connected customer concept or experience. Trying not to react with “just shut up and let me pay attention to my driving.” I see little need for my car to keep in touch with me on my cell phone unless it’s being stolen. Call me or text me to say it stopped charging? Then what’s supposed to happen? Navigation, diagnostics, and such need to make things easier and cost effective. Not be an opportunity for another monthly expense and a distraction.
Anyone can write about something on the web. Doesn’t seem to matter whether or not they are qualified to know what they are writing about. I fix musical instruments. One customer showed me the wonderful web review on the French horn she purchased and here I am holding the same instrument so poorly made that parts are literally falling off the thing.
My brother is a serious cycling enthusiast. He comes across a review about the handling characteristics of a high end bike written by someone he knows can barely ride in a straight line.
Well, deadlines are still approaching. We’ll know for sure when things actually get announced.
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:26 pm)Maybe they will shock everyone and the news will be better than expected. Lower MSRP and CS mpg that gives the rest of the automotive industry a Big Shock.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (8:35 pm)I tend to agree with a couple of caveats:
1. I am convinced that Jay Leno knows a lot more about cars than I ever will.
2. Most politicians are technological idiots, but if we can get them enthusiastic as end users they can have a major impact on government EV policies.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:18 pm)Yup, Whats a Volt? When could I get one?
My beautiful, Loving and sometimes understanding wife bought me a Miata!
Back to basics indeed, broke out the old cassette collection…(whats a CD?)
Over 20 years old and still perfect. Mazda built over fifty thousand of these things in the first year and there is still nothing wrong with it. Now the Miata was not as much as a game changer as the Volt could be, but the Miata was still an Iconic game changer.
Here is the Miata on the Kangamangus highway, no problem…
The car has 93,000 miles and still runs great. I expect many miles more as my brother has 230,000 miles on his with no real problems. So it is possible to have a new product be trouble free, and mass produced. So if Chevy could just build a few more of those Volt things.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:21 pm)I won’t be TDing you. If the Volt is in high demand but not in high production, GM should get some of the premium and not let the dealers hog it all.
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:30 pm)Oh, and at 35mpg it is better than the HHR. I still have the HHR for when I need it…
Jun 4th, 2010 (9:36 pm)Also please note the Miata has real hub caps, no exposed lug nuts!
I like living in the past.
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:07 pm)I’ll admit that things don’t look very good at the moment; but it is oh, so easy to believe the worst … especially when you really want to. It is much harder to wait for appearances to yield to facts.
“I can pick a fight with my brother, but no one else can.” Don’t take our concerns here as a concession to your rather limited point of view.
My chief concerns:
1) Having a wonderful engineering project squandered by misguided management (being charitable, here).
2) The thought that GM will apparently waste an industry-humbling lead in order to achieve a dubious “halo” effect — while it’s competitors struggle to catch up.
-2
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:38 pm)For the sake of all the funds invested into GM by the US government, I hope GM finds it wise ASAP to come out with a true 100% EV. Whether it be a full EV Volt or anything, I would support it. However, things don’t look too good for that direction.
+1
Jun 4th, 2010 (10:46 pm)#64 Dave K
You could not have stated it any better! And I am in FULL agreement.
While I do not sell cars I am a purchaser of many things.
Any item that will take a chunk of my money had better be worth it.
And when a game changer comes along most of us will go with the company that can delver that quality product in a timely manner.
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:29 pm)I found an article on Ford.com about Ford releasing five new Eco friendly vehicles though they did not reveal much about the vehicles but as I read this article it made feel relieved that an American Company is Trying to more Eco friendly with the planet and they did mentioned the years when these new Eco friendly vehicles will come out and the type of vehicles they will be here is the link to that website http://www.thefordstory.com/green/ford-center-of-excellence-for-vehicle-electrification/
Jun 4th, 2010 (11:29 pm)I found an article on a Ford website about Ford releasing five new Eco friendly vehicles though they did not reveal much about the vehicles but as I read this article it made feel relieved that an American Company is Trying to make Eco friendly vehicles by trying to save the planet and they did mentioned the years when these new Eco friendly vehicles will come out and the type of vehicles they will be here is the link to that website. http://www.thefordstory.com/green/ford-center-of-excellence-for-vehicle-electrification/
+3
Jun 5th, 2010 (12:39 am)There’s oil everywhere! I can barely type let alone fly anywhere. I wish you people would stop using this crap.
+4
Jun 5th, 2010 (1:30 am)At this point, we all know GM should have promoted Volt as a “progressive improvement” platform rather than a “bet the farm on Nov 2010″ vehicle.
Had they taken the other approach, aspects like price & mpg wouldn’t matter as much since consumers would just expect it to change. Instead, we’re getting a slew of mixed messages and uncertainties without any idea what consumers actually want or what will happen next.
It’s setup to unfold abruptly in 5 months. Get ready for that.
Jun 5th, 2010 (3:28 am)Eco friendly should be an outlawed term on any car. Economically friendly maybe.
Jun 7th, 2010 (5:20 am)Several comments…as mentioned in a earlier post
1) A GM rep who was at the Volt booth at the Jackson Barrett Auto Auction stated a MPG of around 38MPG when the engine is running.
2) Chevy Dealers are going to place a $5,000 to $10,000 premium on their Volt(s) they have on their showroom floor, not to get as much profit as possible (although profit will be high) but to prevent Volts from “flying off” the floor but to allow as many people to test drive the Volt, then place an order.
3) The Buyer still has to pay the TOTAL RETAIL PRICE of the Volt before the Rebate. The Rebate is given to the Buyer as a DEDUCTION from the Income taxes that the Buyer files AFTER the Volt is purchased. If you are going to buy a Volt, you better know what Line Item to place your $7,500 Volt deduction on (and the Code Word(s))–most Tax Preparers will not know!!! The Code Word to get the rebate on a Hybrid was previously “Clean Fuel”. If you failed to place the correct dollar amount on the correct line AND did not write the words “Clean Fuel” above that line, you would not get the deduction.
Jun 7th, 2010 (10:55 am)Well, I can tell you, and my congregation can tell you – I certainly meet the qualifications for telling people about the car. The Grosse Pointe papers already had me front-page with my electric moped. I moved to Michigan 9 months ago and a few GP and Detroit families know I use an electric bike (moped) to travel around the Grosse Pointe area. I also carry vidz of the Chevy Volt on my Pocket PC showing anyone interested GM and Youtube videos in case they have not heard of the Volt. I’ve even allowed test drives on my moped and my EV-Prius.
Jun 7th, 2010 (3:17 pm)I think he meant more along the lines of a local maven (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maven) within a group of people than a celebrity.
Jun 17th, 2010 (4:13 am)Hello, I also love the Shrek movies, awesome animation!
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:47 pm)Ok, this entire thing is starting to sound just like the Electric car they released in the 90′s that could have been successful if not for one big thing. They keep introducing these innovative cars to the public and what do they do? Put them in the hands of a bunch of elitist living in select markets to parade around in. Then the general public starts viewing it as a toy for the rich, famous, and well connected. Once that happens people promptly lose interest as they no longer see themselves ever owning one.
And if the price isn’t right, don’t think people won’t start eyeballing the READILY available Prius which you can pick up for under 30k. When people are in the market for a new car they aren’t waiting 2 years just for a company to get its act together. They are going to look at alternatives and settle.
GM, if you want to sell cars then crap or get off the pot. This car is suppose to be your new beginning. Your opportunity to show the country and the world that the American auto industry can still compete and deliver innovative technology. Its almost July, and only a few months left until launch. The airwaves should be flooded with marketing about this car. Instead you only know of this cars existence through word of mouth, the occasional article online and a brief glimpse of it at the end of one of your feel good tv spots. Some B.S. limited release isn’t going to accomplish your goals of getting to the top again. Its stupid decisions like this that landed you guys in Bankruptcy court the first time.
Jun 21st, 2010 (10:19 am)Hate to say it, your right. I have been following volt developments since forever. Last sat I picked up my new prius. I am only willing to sit on my hands for so long.