Could it be that Chevy thinks it's too much like a wagon and not enough like a crossover? Apparently wagons are frowned upon by US consumers and therefore manufacturers. Could this be holding back the MPV5?
Chevrolet Communications Manager Annalisa Esposito Bluhm explained to Cars.com that there isn't enough market interest in the U.S. to sustain both a Chevy wagon and a compact crossover, like the Equinox. It's a non-issue in Europe because the Equinox isn't sold there.
Same reason we don't see any follow on's to the Volt, Chevy has a brain freeze because it feels whatever it brings out, some other division or model will suffer, they haven't learn yet, that if they don't the competition will.
The ONLY thing that will change this thought process is SALES ... if the Volt sell more than expected this year, you will see all sorts of activity for different body styles, but now, with less that a 1k month sales rate, nothing will get green lit
Actually GM said there wouldn't be a lot of talk about the follow-up to the Volt. The Volt's road to production was very public and one of the reasons this site is so popular. I don't think we'll know about the next model until some spy shots happen.
I think the problem with a CUV EREV is packaging. If you have a TMS then the battery pack takes up considerable room. On the Cruze wagon, I actually think that's the right decision. Every product creates a host of inventory and marketing issues. The Cruze wagon wouldn't be much different than the Equinox in size and utility. Given that higher volumes for one vehicle drive higher profits, though not necessarily higher revenues, than lower volumes for two, I understand why they'd want to stay with either the Equinox or the Cruze wagon in each market.
I don't see how the Cruze wagon cannibalizes the Equinox.
They are different size classes and different consumer niches. GM has made the marketing and design decision to use Voltec on unique vehicles (Volt, ELR). I think the Voltec MP5 would sell well.
Until the Volt becomes more than a Halo car, I don't think we'll see any serious push towards another Chevy EREV. Maybe the ELR will actually happen soon-ish, but only because Cadillac and Chevy dealers are usually separate dealerships, so Caddy needs it's own Halo EREV.
Right now, it just wouldn't make sense for Chevy to spit out another EREV. Not when you're trying to make money. When the Volt starts looking closer to profitable, then we'll see a more serious push. Of course, getting the timing right is key to staying ahead of the curve. But before then, it's almost like asking why there isn't a Corvette wagon.
Of course, I'd love it if there were all kinds of EREVs on the way, but I understand why there aren't. We just need a little more time for the price to come down and the public to start to understand the car (which will be thanks in large part to early adopters!).
The Spark is the next EV on the horizon. They can deliver that worldwide at (hopefully) a lower price and get EVs sold to a lot of markets. I would love something like an Equinox EREV with 24 kWh battery set (with 20kWh usable) and I bet the Voltec could propel it ok.
It would also be appealing to me.
We have two Volts and a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan, to haul a 17ft boat, trailer, and carry construction stuff around when I
need to do home renovations. The Van is at 27000kms / 16875 milles, and that number does not increase very fast since the Volt's purchases.
An EREV SUV or minivan would make me say bye bye to the gas guzzling caravan.
Let's also remember the political turmoil (pun intended) around the Volt, I think GM would wait after the next présidential election
to introduce a new EREV in the market, so it doesn't get unlucky at being criticized as the Volt was.
Well unless its a realy CUV, with AWD, it does seem a little redundant. Then again if its just a body styling and left everything along its also lower cost to do.. but then its going to get worse MPG and range which might be the real concern.. Maybe they don't want to eat into their market with something that is not good enough.
Since Ford and others don't even have a hybrid SUV let alone an EREV, GM may feel they can wait. The C-MAX mild PHEV (max 62mph) does not look exciting to me at all.
I actually think Mitsu with teh Outlander PHEV is the real one to watch..
Chevy has a brain freeze because it feels whatever it brings out, some other division or model will suffer, they haven't learn yet, that if they don't the competition will.
Better to cannibalize yourself than to have others cannibalize you. That philosophy worked pretty well for Steve Jobs at Apple. I'm sure there were knock-down-drag-outs when iPod group folks fought against iPhone, from fears of lower iPod sales.
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