[Amras]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I have yet to see a single print, radio, or tv ad for the Gen2 . 9 out of 10 people people I talk to still think it's a standard hybrid vehicle despite it being out for 6 plus years. I've already seen multiple advertisements for the GM Bolt which leads me to believe the GM is just hedging and is not interested in selling any real volume of Volts.

I know this topic has been hashed over before but with the bolts hitting dealerships this is issue is only becoming magnified. It's just frustrating that the Volt is getting such short shrift. Hell, even motor trend called it the "wrong car at the wrong time."

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[Joe67]

Here we go again lol

 

[acarney]

My dealership refused to advertise the fact that it's WA state sales tax exempt (up to the set limits but they almost cover 100% of the MSRP of an LT) I also live in a rather well off location (we have a lot of government jobs so steady incoming in this area) and the lab that I work at I've seen at least four or five of them. Considering at any given time my dealer has ONE, maybe two Volts on the lot, that's a heck of a lot just from one "type" of buyer. There are 4000+ people that work at this lab and we spend a lot of time on green tech. My local dealer should at least be pushing heavy on selling the cars.

Nationally, well gas is kinda cheap again so people probably go for the Cruze and stuff instead, or go big SUV/Truck. I'm surprised you're seeing any Bolt ads, figured those would just show up in CA, OR, maybe NY. I doubt my dealer has a Bolt on the lot but I'm heading over on Saturday for my recall software update, would love to check one out in person...

 

[rmay635703]

Yet more volts sold last month than ever before.

Reality is GM won't advertise the volt like a mainstream car since it's a means to an end

Volume will be lowish indefinitely unless mericans buying habits change.

 

[kns]

The recent $.23/gallon increase in NJ gas tax has people kicking and screaming. Chevy dealers have a solution but they keep it a secret. My dealer hasn't had a Volt in or near the showroom since they sold their mandatory 2011 demo. It will probably stay this way until GM decides to support and incentivize sale of their plugin vehicles in NJ or until the price of gas gets a lot higher than it is now.

EDIT:
Lack of sales support has been a continuing theme at these forums. For example, http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?31545-Dealers-afraid-to-show-Volt

KNS

 

[Joe67]

Yet more volts sold last month than ever before.

Reality is GM won't advertise the volt like a mainstream car since it's a means to an end

Volume will be lowish indefinitely unless mericans buying habits change.

Maybe they sell enough Volts....

2012 Premium - Red

 

[don shaw]

Were the Bolt ads in NJ? which papers? i suspect gm will emphasize the Bolt, with demand for a bev at this price being demonstrated by the 400,000+ orders for the tesla model 3. A bev is much easier for the average consumer to understand.

we are on our 3rd Volt - the best car(s) i have ever had. i share your concerns.

 

[llninja]

Welcome to America's best kept automotive secret. Shhh... we don't want the volt to have the same stigma that Camrys, Accords, and Civics have. I like being the only one in the county who owns a volt.

 

[acarney]

Yet more volts sold last month than ever before.

Reality is GM won't advertise the volt like a mainstream car since it's a means to an end

Volume will be lowish indefinitely unless mericans buying habits change.

Welcome to America's best kept automotive secret. Shhh... we don't want the volt to have the same stigma that Camrys, Accords, and Civics have. I like being the only one in the county who owns a volt.

Just the sales tax exemption here makes the car ~9% less expensive then any other new car in the ~$34k range. Plus if you're buying a car at that price you should at LEAST be able to qualify for $3 or $4k of the federal tax credit. Maybe more. That means the car is $5 to 6k cheaper then anything else on the lot in that price range! (And up to a $10k savings if you qualify for 100% credit.) that's all before factoring in the gas savings and stuff like that. In states with cheap electricity they should be flying. I'm surprised my town isn't accounting for a dozen or more sales a month. Again, good economy here, a lot of passion for green technology, and $0.064/kW! Yet the dealer never has many on the lot and the three other guys in my building that have Volts all share hate for this dealership because of their lack of caring to sell the car. The more GM sells the cheaper it is for them to build... unless they already have supply issues and have just hidden it well.

The Bolt seems less "mainstream" designed compared to the Volt though. I'm all for promoting the Bolt, but the Volt might actually appeal to a wider audience right now...

 

[llninja]

Just the sales tax exemption here makes the car ~9% less expensive then any other new car in the ~$34k range. Plus if you're buying a car at that price you should at LEAST be able to qualify for $3 or $4k of the federal tax credit. Maybe more. That means the car is $5 to 6k cheaper then anything else on the lot in that price range! (And up to a $10k savings if you qualify for 100% credit.) that's all before factoring in the gas savings and stuff like that. In states with cheap electricity they should be flying. I'm surprised my town isn't accounting for a dozen or more sales a month. Again, good economy here, a lot of passion for green technology, and $0.064/kW! Yet the dealer never has many on the lot and the three other guys in my building that have Volts all share hate for this dealership because of their lack of caring to sell the car. The more GM sells the cheaper it is for them to build... unless they already have supply issues and have just hidden it well.

The Bolt seems less "mainstream" designed compared to the Volt though. I'm all for promoting the Bolt, but the Volt might actually appeal to a wider audience right now...

Except only EV nerds understand. The rest of the world continues to buy Prii and other hybrids for fear of being stranded after 40-55 miles. Now with several recent 300+ mile announcements, there's a new line in the sand... first one to 300 miles for under $50k and no compromises in size (tiny vehicles need not apply) wins.

 

[rcuz]

Except only EV nerds understand. The rest of the world continues to buy Prii and other hybrids for fear of being stranded after 40-55 miles. .

I think the issue is that a Volt IS more difficult for the average person and/or Prius driver to deal with. The multiple modes, dealing with heat, AC, ERDTT, range variables, etc. Unless you "just drive it". And then people will be disappointed that they are not getting the 53 miles on electric when they are shooting down the highway at 75mph in Normal mode.

I'v taken a number of Prius owners for rides in my Volt and I've almost always had to try to explain it to them in terms of "Electric" (Normal) mode and "Prius-like" mode (Hold).

Not that they are dumb. I am a former Prius owner and I had no issues, and I know there are other former Prius owners here. But it is still a learning curve.

A BEV is much simpler. It's a car that runs on the battery. Period. End of story. Much easier to understand.

However, there is still a hesitation overall to move to the new technology.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[llninja]

I think the issue is that a Volt IS more difficult for the average person and/or Prius driver to deal with. The multiple modes, dealing with heat, AC, ERDTT, range variables, etc. Unless you "just drive it". And then people will be disappointed that they are not getting the 53 miles on electric when they are shooting down the highway at 75mph in Normal mode.

I'v taken a number of Prius owners for rides in my Volt and I've almost always had to try to explain it to them in terms of "Electric" (Normal) mode and "Prius-like" mode (Hold).

Not that they are dumb. I am a former Prius owner and I had no issues, and I know there are other former Prius owners here. But it is still a learning curve.

A BEV is much simpler. It's a car that runs on the battery. Period. End of story. Much easier to understand.

However, there is still a hesitation overall to move to the new technology.

Thanks,
Rick

OK, I'm also not saying that Prius owners are dumb, but buying a Prius in this day and age when there are so many better electrified options is dumb. Maybe toyota's redemption will come with Prius Prime (IMHO too little, too late) and Mirai (I'm not a fan of hydrogen powered cars, plus the designer should be fired for designing so much ugly). Or maybe they can revive the Supra into an AWD electric supercar befitting of the name (I miss my 1985 Supra, should have never sold it). the Acura NSX looks to be an awesome supercar. so is the i8. Porsche appears to be going electric. I'd love an LFA purely on looks, but the fact that it's ICE knocks it out of consideration (plus the price tag makes it tough to swallow, not impossible, only tough).

 

[Loboc]

I see Volt ads all the time. I subscribe to both C&D and R&T. One of them has a Prime vs Volt shoot-out in the February issue.

I think Volt is the kind of car (like a 'Vette or a Cadillac) where the customer self-selects before even checking dealers. There is no need to advertise in this situation.

I think that GM sells enough Volts to support their primary goal: Get new customers in the door. This is one reason that GM ads are about customer perception of quality and luxury. "Wow! This is a Chevy?".