[ClarksonCote]

Not a great number. Some think this is due to the Bolt EV taking sales away from the Volt.

I think, to a greater extent, it's a combination of low inventories and the Prius Prime now being available. Then, thirdly, and to a lesser extent, the Bolt EV offering as well.

 

[Steverino]

Lack of inventory can't help.

I know beauty is subjective, but I still have a hard time believing people walk up to a Prime and think, "Yes! This is the one!" lol

Meanwhile, Bolt sales increase. The October total for Volt and Bolt is 4143.

 

[jemez]

Having bought a Volt in October, I still think a big part of this is people not having any idea what this vehicle is. In all honesty, until July I didn't know anything about the Volt. When I started researching it I realized it was exactly what I was after & so far it seems to be perfect. I'd say 90% of the people I've spoken to about it assumed it was short range electric only, and have been shocked when I described what it does to them. That's on GM for not advertising.

 

[bro1999]

Lack of inventory can't help.

5,800+ units available nationwide according to cars.com. Inventory doesn't seem to be the problem.

 

[BAZINGA]

5,800+ units available nationwide according to cars.com. Inventory doesn't seem to be the problem.

Didn't GM idle the plant where Volt's are made?

 

[MikeyCVolt]

Having bought a Volt in October, I still think a big part of this is people not having any idea what this vehicle is. In all honesty, until July I didn't know anything about the Volt. When I started researching it I realized it was exactly what I was after & so far it seems to be perfect. I'd say 90% of the people I've spoken to about it assumed it was short range electric only, and have been shocked when I described what it does to them. That's on GM for not advertising.

I think you are closing in on the answer. Although I'm not sure it's that people think the Volt is a short range electric... I think it's that they don't even know it exists! Lack of advertising is the problem IMO. I have to think 90% of the people who drive both the Prius and the Volt would end up buying the Volt. The Prius is an absolute dog in both looks and performance. And it has a rep that it's a turd that only "tree huggers" buy.

Many Americans also seem to have no sense of national pride anymore. Given two cars that are equal, I'll always buy the car from an American manufacturer because I want my money going to an American company. Others are the opposite. They see a video of someone knocking their knuckles all over parts of the dash that you'll NEVER touch in an American vehicle and say "Look, HARD PLASTIC" and they'll swear off American cars for the rest of their lives. Then they see stuck accelerators on the Prius sending people through walls... and a year or two later, all is forgotten and people are buying them like hotcakes. Not something I can figure out... or relate to.

Mike

 

[hellsop]

Meanwhile, Bolt sales increase. The October total for Volt and Bolt is 4143.

Which is yet another small month to month increase for GM.

 

[ClarksonCote]

Having bought a Volt in October, I still think a big part of this is people not having any idea what this vehicle is. In all honesty, until July I didn't know anything about the Volt. When I started researching it I realized it was exactly what I was after & so far it seems to be perfect. I'd say 90% of the people I've spoken to about it assumed it was short range electric only, and have been shocked when I described what it does to them. That's on GM for not advertising.

Yes, this.

As an anecdotal example, there are 10 Chevy Volts where I work, out of about 14 electric vehicles total. I "sold" every single one of the Volts by explaining the car to people and letting them test drive mine. Otherwise, these people were going to buy a Leaf, a Focus Electric, Prius Plug-in, etc. They didn't "get it" but now they absolutely love their cars.

TLDR: Evangelize your Volt experience and watch the sales increase! Apparently the owners are GM's only marketing effort right now.

 

[bro1999]

The problem with explaining the Volt do a n00b is that you simply can't do it in 10 seconds like you can other cars.
With a Bolt, you can just go "It's all electric, has a Tesla's range for a fraction of the price".
With a Volt, you have to go "It's sorta like a Prius since it has a gas engine, but it's not. But it's also like a Tesla....except it's not since it has a gas engine". People then give you a "WTF?" look as you have to spend another few minutes explaining all the nuances as their eyes glaze over. Then they are left going "man, that Volt is one complicated car! That's way over my head!"

 

[JoeReal]

I know beauty is subjective, but I still have a hard time believing people walk up to a Prime and think, "Yes! This is the one!" lol

Cheap price makes it more affordable and then brainwash themselves that it's beautiful having to live with it for a while. Ha ha ha!

 

[JoeReal]

The problem with explaining the Volt do a n00b is that you simply can't do it in 10 seconds like you can other cars.
With a Bolt, you can just go "It's all electric, has a Tesla's range for a fraction of the price".
With a Volt, you have to go "It's sorta like a Prius since it has a gas engine, but it's not. But it's also like a Tesla....except it's not since it has a gas engine". People then give you a "WTF?" look as you have to spend another few minutes explaining all the nuances as their eyes glaze over. Then they are left going "man, that Volt is one complicated car! That's way over my head!"

And you can't say its really a serial hybrid either as there is that optimization of mixing electric motor and direct assist from the ICE powering the wheels, merging two power sources via the CVT depending on the speed... very very very complicated to explain to even an engineer.

 

[jemez]

I think you are closing in on the answer. Although I'm not sure it's that people think the Volt is a short range electric... I think it's that they don't even know it exists! Lack of advertising is the problem IMO. I have to think 90% of the people who drive both the Prius and the Volt would end up buying the Volt. The Prius is an absolute dog in both looks and performance. And it has a rep that it's a turd that only "tree huggers" buy.

Many Americans also seem to have no sense of national pride anymore...

Mike

So my perspective. I knew the Volt existed, but assumed it was electric only. I'd driven a couple of Priuses and had no interest, although I have two friends who are happy owners. I came across the Volt by accident while surfing the internet, and was floored by what it actually is & that it gets the max financial rebate. When I test drove one, I was sold immediately. I work with a bunch of engineers, so when they heard about it they reacted like I did.

I agree on the national pride, but apart from that if my money goes to the US it helps with jobs, and if Americans have jobs they spend more money on the products that MY company makes.

 

[jemez]

And you can't say its really a serial hybrid either as there is that optimization of mixing electric motor and direct assist from the ICE powering the wheels, merging two power sources via the CVT depending on the speed... very very very complicated to explain to even an engineer.

What I can tell people is I've driven 400 miles and used 3/4 of a gallon of gas, without changing my driving style or habits even a bit. People get that. Also, when I tell them how much money the government gave me they get that. THEN they want more details...

 

[MikeyCVolt]

One of my own weaknesses is that I tend to be too wordy and technical. Knowing that, I just tell people it's an EV that goes 50-60 miles in all electric but it has a gas generator that takes over after that and can go 350 or so more miles to eliminate range anxiety and charging wait times on longer trips.

I only go beyond that and tell them that technically there are times when the ICE puts some power directly to the wheels (in a gen 2) and that the battery is never truly "dead" and so on... if they inquire and I can tell they want "gear head" info.

Mike

 

[Jmaj]

My interest in the Volt died when the bolt was introduced. The all electric drivetrain is just simpler and more elegant.

 

[JoeReal]

My interest in the Volt died when the bolt was introduced. The all electric drivetrain is just simpler and more elegant.

Can't use the Bolt or Tesla for our outdoors trip to remote areas. I've seen many Volts in many remote camping places though but no Teslas nor Chevy Bolt.

 

[viking79]

If someone asks me if the Volt is an electric car, I answer: Yes, but it is a gas car too. It runs on electric first, then gas like other hybrids. You don't have to charge it, but it is easy to plug in every night at home and save burning gas most of the time. I respond to other questions if they ask them, and might get into more detail like it will run the engine sometimes for maintenance, etc, depending on how much they want to know.

 

[charliebrown]

Don't worry folks... Volts are all over the place out here in tech-savvy trend-setting Southern California. It just takes you yokels n the rest of the country a few years to catch up..

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

I need to brainwash myself to believe the ugly aluminized plastic fake grill on the Volt is not ugly. The Prius Prime look is very sharp and modern. On performance, I need to brainwash myself that the lack of ground clearance of a Volt on rocky, pot-holed Forest Service roads is acceptable and the two hours per night that I spend waiting for my Volt to charge does not rob me of sleep all week after eleven or twelve hours at work. No one at my workplace will buy any plug-in because of the lack of free charging stations and lack of access to charging at condominiums and rental properties where workers are forced to live. Furthermore, the plug-in vehicles do not haul enough, do not offer the apparent security of all-wheel-drive, and do not provide enough cabin heat.

 

[indyflick]

I just say its a battery electric car that also has an on-board gasoline generator - it can take you as far as you want to go.