GM to boost Volt output 50 percent for 2012 on buyer demand

[DainBramaged]

GM said today that buyer interest in the new Chevrolet Volt has prompted the automaker to boost 2012 production plans for the plug-in hybrid to 45,000 units from 30,000.

GM announced the 50 percent production increase as President Barack Obama toured the Detroit-Hamtramck plant today where the Volt is being made. It goes on sale later this year.

“We are very proud to host the president of the United States where the future of the American auto industry is being built today,” said GM CEO Edward Whitacre Jr.

After consultations with the Secret Service and his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, Obama stepped into a black Volt, buckled himself in and haltingly drove perhaps 10 feet at a crawling speed, according to pool reporters with the president.

"Pretty smooth," Obama concluded.


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100730/OEM/100739988/1261#ixzz0vC3zo786

[blue_onyx]

1. That's great to hear

I would love to buy the Volt someday.

[SpartanDem]

2. Great news

[JNelson6563]

3. Awesome!

:toast:

[demosincebirth]

4. Make them affordable to the average guy and they could sell millions

[Statistical]

6. but not at a profit.

The word is GM is losing a small amount of money per vehicle even at the $41K pricetag.

It will take some refinement of the product and the production to bring price down.... however you need to start somehow.

Toyota lost money on first 2 generations of Prius. Glad to see GM is taking a long term aproach.

The 2020 Volt will likely be substantially cheaper, more reliable, have longer range, and offer even better efficiency. That is the price of being an early adopter (in anything TV, digital camera, computers, Kindle and yes the Volt).

[DainBramaged]

7. Amortization and production limitations

do you even understand that?

[demosincebirth]

9. Gee, ain't you smart.

and a wiseacre too.

[DainBramaged]

10. Why? That is the truth yet most here don't want to accept that as an answer

ONCE the battery manufacturing plant they are building comes on line, they will ave the ability to make one hundred thousand a year. Prior to this commitment, they could only get 10000 batteries a year from their (unfortunately0 foreign supplier.

[Statistical]

5. Very Cool. n/t

[upi402]

8. 2,012V to 3,018V

But they reduce the current by 50% and call it a day, right?
:kick: