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411 Posts
Pricing
Talking with Ed (a GM exec responsible for Chevy brand)...
They are still very unsure about where to price it, I think that applies to a number of topics. He is thinking on the lines of keeping it a "premium vehicle". However, Bob Lutz also talked about if they had to take the idea of a vehicle that would make a loss for a few years to the board that would fly.
Ed asked me what I would pay for a Volt. My answer... first I explained that I've already installed huge amounts of solar power and am in a very small minority so he would have to treat my answer accordingly... my answer was $40K and I pointed out that I was assuming about $4K in tax credits.
Ed was genuinely very interested to hear about marketing issues too.
I also told Ed that I would drop the purchase like a hot potato if there was dealer gouging, and he said there would not be, he looked like the exec to ensure that too. I didn't press him on dealer gouging because he time was short.
He was off to a dinner with dealers so I didn't get to speak with him for long enough.
I also raised the idea of a GM credit card only for the Volt, but to get points for optional extras and/or a place in the queue. Also raised the idea of an option of big flashy decals on the car (a rolling advert) with phrases like "Powered by electrons" to spread the word. The execs are very keen to use word of mouth to spread the word about the Volt.
I also offered him a check for $10K as a deposit, which is what I think sparked his questions about pricing. He said that they would take it, but he appeared to mean that they would in the future, rather than take the check at Volt Nation.
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Firmware
I also asked another exec about whether they were making the firmware with an eye to after market accessories, Bob Lutz's favorite accessory is programmable simulated engine sounds (e.g. V12), mine is a whole house generator. The exec said no. But all firmware is flash re-programmable, so GM can add options later, I also suspect that the engineers at GM will naturally make the protocols support a lot of add ons simply out of a desire for separation of design concerns, without deliberate intent. Also it uses standard CAN (car area network) which makes it open to unauthorized accessories.
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Size:
The interior (as he called it "green house") will be larger than the concept car this was clearly important for the exec. The seat will be higher, with a little more head room too. It is only a 4 seater, no chance of being a 5 seater the tunnel is too high. It will be bigger than existing Colbalt, closer to Malibu in size maybe a tiny bit smaller than Malibu on the inside.
Talking with Ed (a GM exec responsible for Chevy brand)...
They are still very unsure about where to price it, I think that applies to a number of topics. He is thinking on the lines of keeping it a "premium vehicle". However, Bob Lutz also talked about if they had to take the idea of a vehicle that would make a loss for a few years to the board that would fly.
Ed asked me what I would pay for a Volt. My answer... first I explained that I've already installed huge amounts of solar power and am in a very small minority so he would have to treat my answer accordingly... my answer was $40K and I pointed out that I was assuming about $4K in tax credits.
Ed was genuinely very interested to hear about marketing issues too.
I also told Ed that I would drop the purchase like a hot potato if there was dealer gouging, and he said there would not be, he looked like the exec to ensure that too. I didn't press him on dealer gouging because he time was short.
He was off to a dinner with dealers so I didn't get to speak with him for long enough.
I also raised the idea of a GM credit card only for the Volt, but to get points for optional extras and/or a place in the queue. Also raised the idea of an option of big flashy decals on the car (a rolling advert) with phrases like "Powered by electrons" to spread the word. The execs are very keen to use word of mouth to spread the word about the Volt.
I also offered him a check for $10K as a deposit, which is what I think sparked his questions about pricing. He said that they would take it, but he appeared to mean that they would in the future, rather than take the check at Volt Nation.
------------
Firmware
I also asked another exec about whether they were making the firmware with an eye to after market accessories, Bob Lutz's favorite accessory is programmable simulated engine sounds (e.g. V12), mine is a whole house generator. The exec said no. But all firmware is flash re-programmable, so GM can add options later, I also suspect that the engineers at GM will naturally make the protocols support a lot of add ons simply out of a desire for separation of design concerns, without deliberate intent. Also it uses standard CAN (car area network) which makes it open to unauthorized accessories.
------------
Size:
The interior (as he called it "green house") will be larger than the concept car this was clearly important for the exec. The seat will be higher, with a little more head room too. It is only a 4 seater, no chance of being a 5 seater the tunnel is too high. It will be bigger than existing Colbalt, closer to Malibu in size maybe a tiny bit smaller than Malibu on the inside.