Official GM Volt Plug-In Hybrid Thread

Sasparilla · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:55 pm

GM just idled the Volt plant for 5 weeks.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120302/B ... |FRONTPAGE

With sales up and the first Volts that are HOV sticker capable just getting to CA it doesn't seem to make much sense - regardless this is bad news.

hill · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:15 pm

Sasparilla wrote:

GM just idled the Volt plant for 5 weeks.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120302/B ... |FRONTPAGE

With sales up and the first Volts that are HOV sticker capable just getting to CA it doesn't seem to make much sense - regardless this is bad news.

Yea, I'd read that on the way home too:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/gm-stops-building-slow-selling-chevy-volts-for-5-weeks/1

GM sez "5 weeks" . . . to what end . . . to see how things go? Is GM expecting the average buyer to start making more money soon? What are they doing? Does anyone know what ratio of Volts sold went to actual real people, as opposed to municipalities / government agencies / company fleets / dealer to dealer sales? GM has been known to "deal from the bottom of the deck" (that's as nice as I can put it) over the decades, so I'm wondering how benign this production shut down really is. I remember when GM kept pumping out Hummers way beyond the hand full of customers ... the dealers would just rent parking lots at the local malls to store them ... so as to not look like there was a glut of 'em pouring out the dealer's nostrils. I feel bad for the many folks that'll likely be out of work for (at least) the next 5 weeks.

.

scottf200 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:24 pm

hill wrote:

Sasparilla wrote:

GM just idled the Volt plant for 5 weeks.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120302/B ... |FRONTPAGE

With sales up and the first Volts that are HOV sticker capable just getting to CA it doesn't seem to make much sense - regardless this is bad news.

Yea, I'd read that on the way home too:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/gm-stops-building-slow-selling-chevy-volts-for-5-weeks/1

GM sez "5 weeks" . . . to what end . . . to see how things go? Is GM expecting the average buyer to start making more money soon? What are they doing? Does anyone know what ratio of Volts sold went to actual real people, as opposed to municipalities / government agencies / company fleets / dealer to dealer sales? GM has been known to "deal from the bottom of the deck" (that's as nice as I can put it) over the decades, so I'm wondering how benign this production shut down really is. I remember when GM kept pumping out Hummers way beyond the hand full of customers ... the dealers would just rent parking lots at the local malls to store them ... so as to not look like there was a glut of 'em pouring out the dealer's nostrils. I feel bad for the many folks that'll likely be out of work for (at least) the next 5 weeks.

I think they just did not like the Ford Focus Electric (FFE) appearing to beat up the LEAF today with it's news so they were trying to take some of the heat off the LEAF. You're welcome. <grin>

From a GM person:

Quote:

Don't fall for the headlines - media LOVE turning this nugget into more than it is. We have plenty of Volts built and available (even though some dealers may be empty) ... the last thing you want is a saturated market - that is old school way of running a car company. We now build to meet demand. Today we did a full court press to create even more demand! I personally did 40 tv and radio interviews announcing the incentives in CA. Demand will spike! And we'll have cars available. Volt is the most important car we've ever done - no way will we back off!

hill · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:38 pm

scottf200 wrote:

From a GM person:

Quote:

Don't fall for the headlines - media LOVE turning this nugget into more than it is. ..............snip........... Demand will spike! And we'll have cars available. Volt is the most important car we've ever done - no way will we back off!

That's good news . . . . Link?

quartzav · **Posted:** Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:59 am

From the Facebook pages "thread" related to this topic

CarZin · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:45 am

Several new blog posts:

Cost to run with my usage compared to other cars and visualization of the gallons they would burn over a year
http://voltowner.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

My Volt MPG and Statistics: 350 MPG and Climbing
http://voltowner.blogspot.com/2012/0...tatistics.html

Practical considerations: Is the Volt right for me?
http://voltowner.blogspot.com/2012/0...olt-right.html

Follow me on twitter: @voltdriver

scottf200 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:47 am

From Facebook Volt page: Internet Sales Specialist in San Diego, California

Quote:

We have sold 18 of the 30 we have coming in and have none on the lot. Hopefully CA has enough to sell as we are in a roll. The 0% for buyers and the addition of the HOV eligibility has created a sales frenzy. Oh and of course has well over $4.50 a gallon, too.

hill · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:10 pm

scottf200 wrote:

From Facebook Volt page: Internet Sales Specialist in San Diego, California

Quote:

We have sold 18 of the 30 we have coming in and have none on the lot. Hopefully CA has enough to sell as we are in a roll. The 0% for buyers and the addition of the HOV eligibility has created a sales frenzy. Oh and of course has well over $4.50 a gallon, too.

That's good news for at least ONE dealership if true. But evidently it doesn't put a dent in the 100+ day inventory. I wonder if the "18 of the 30" are only the newer/cleaner Volts, not yet delivered - that they won't deliver until the old back log gets sold.

.

scottf200 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:22 pm

hill wrote:

scottf200 wrote:

From Facebook Volt page: Internet Sales Specialist in San Diego, California

Quote:

We have sold 18 of the 30 we have coming in and have none on the lot. Hopefully CA has enough to sell as we are in a roll. The 0% for buyers and the addition of the HOV eligibility has created a sales frenzy. Oh and of course has well over $4.50 a gallon, too.

That's good news for at least ONE dealership if true. But evidently it doesn't put a dent in the 100+ day inventory. I wonder if the "18 of the 30" are only the newer/cleaner Volts, not yet delivered - that they won't deliver until the old back log gets sold..

From a dealer in NY who was quite happy!

Quote:

Great News From GM...The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is being refitted to gain access to HOV lanes in NY....This will Boost Sales tremendously.....I can't wait!!!

Quote:

Gas is up to an average of 3.89 on Long Island. Consumers are beginning to get nervous and concerned. Delivered 2 Volt's yesterday. And the Beat Goes On...

SanDust · **Joined:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:54 am **Posts:** 1215

I've been stopped by strangers a few times in the last couple of days asking about the Leaf. Gas prices definitely are on people's mind which has to be good for EVs and hybrids.

I can't blame them for wanting to equate supply with demand at their target price, but the start-stop nature of the decision suggests something is wrong with management. What did they do, look at the report from February and react? Maybe there is a reason but it seems too mercurial.

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Official GM Volt Plug-In Hybrid Thread