GM plans to build 'tens of thousands' of Chevy Volt plug-ins, official says (production in 2010)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/BIZ/801310505/1361

Thursday, January 31, 2008

GM plans to build 'tens of thousands' of Chevy Volt plug-ins, official says

David Shepardson / The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. plans to build "tens of thousands" Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric cars by 2011, a senior executive said today.

"We're not doing the Volt to sell 500 or 1,000 (vehicles)," Jonathan Lauckner, GM's vice president for global program management, said today at forum sponsored by the Center for American Progress here. "We're talking about tens of thousands and more than that within the year."

Lauckner reiterated GM plans to start production of the concept electric vehicle by the end of 2010.

The Volt will be able to meet the commuting needs of 78 percent of drivers, who travel less than 40 miles a day, he said, adding that. GM plans to sell the car "around the world."

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http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=5923126

GM vice chairman in Flint Tuesday

Tuesday, January 29, 2008 | 8:57 PM...

While continuing to fight enforced fuel economy standards, Lutz says GM is moving ahead with what it claims are industry leaders in cutting foreign oil production, including their partnering with a non-food-producing ethanol plant.

In addition, the company says it's moving forward with the 100-mile-per-gallon electric Volt, which Lutz says will be out in late 2010.

It will be perhaps a little costlier than first anticipated, but will be out, Lutz says, despite the naysayers.

"We're going to prove the skeptics wrong," he said. "I hope to drive the 40 miles electrically by March or April and by June we'll have running prototypes for the press."

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