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."

...

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."

...

[kestrel91316]

1. And what is it going to cost? $50k??

[NJCher]

2. no

watch "Who Killed the Electric Car." GM has a track record with this.

Cher

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Bob Lutz: The Man Who Revived the Electric Car

http://www.newsweek.com/id/81580

...

When General Motors was fingered as the prime suspect in the 2006 documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Bob Lutz's inbox filled with hate mail. "I hope you rot in hell," read one missive to the GM vice chairman, known for his love of gas-guzzling sports cars. But now the movie's director wants Lutz to star in a possible sequel, "Who Saved the Electric Car?" "Now that they've done their mea culpa, I'm bullish on GM," says director Chris Paine. "I'd like to include Lutz in my next film."

...

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. $30,000 < Price? < $40,000

...

GM also confirmed remarks made by Vice Chairman Bob Lutz in an interview earlier this week that the Volt was likely to cost more than the earlier target of $30,000.

"He said, 'Maybe it's closer to 40 (thousand) than 30," Lauckner said an interview after the forum. "We're still fairly early in the program. We haven't sourced the battery yet."

...

[NickB79]

14. $40,000 in 2010

By 2010 I'm betting we'll be in the midst of a pretty bad recession, and tens of millions of people will have lost their shirts from the collapsed housing market. Looks like the Volt will be a toy for the rich more than an automobile for the masses.

[Itchinjim]

3. They built "tens of thousands" of Vegas and Chevettes too...

in a half assed response to energy crisis. I hope the Volt out better for them. I won't hold my breath though

[diane in sf]

4. I plan to buy one unless Toyota comes out with something better.

I may wait till the second year and let them get the bugs out and price down. Almost all my driving is around town under 40 miles and 40mph. I want something I can take on the freeways and across the bridges so I haven't gotten one of those low-range golf cart cars and can't afford an electric Rav 4.

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Yeah, I'm thinking about the same

(i.e. I may wait for Volt 1.5.)

The biggest factor in the price is the battery pack. Given a little time, hopefully they'll be able to bring the cost down on that.

[Nihil]

9. Oops ...

I obviously need more coffee ... I read your post

> (i.e. I may wait for Volt 1.5.)
>
> The biggest factor in the price is the battery pack.

... and thought "1.5v battery packs? WTF? A car that runs on AA cells?" ...

:crazy:

[tinrobot]

12. That would be the Tesla

It's battery pack contains about 6000 AA sized batteries.

[hatrack]

5. 7 June 2007 - Global Cumulative Toyota Hybrid Sales Pass 1 Million Mark

Global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have topped the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007, according to the company. Of those, 32.9% were sold in Japan and 67.1% were sold overseas, primarily in the US. The Prius accounts for 72.4% of total global hybrid sales.

Toyota unveiled the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) in March 1997, then launched its first hybrid production vehicle (the Coaster) in Japan that August, followed by the first-generation Prius in December 1997. Toyota began selling the Prius in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000.

EDIT

Toyota launched the Harrier Hybrid (RX400h) and Kluger Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid) in 2005. The following year saw the introduction of the GS450h, the Camry Hybrid and a redesign of the Estima Hybrid. Prius sales topped the 500,000 mark. In May 2007, Toyota launched the luxury LS600h / LS600h L hybrid.

Toyota sells its hybrid vehicles in Japan and in more than 40 countries and regions around the world. The company began overseas production of hybrid vehicles in Changchun, China in 2005 and in Kentucky in the United States in 2006. Toyota’s goal is to achieve annual sales of 1 million hybrids in the early part of the 2010s.

EDIT/END

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/06/global_cumulati.html

[hunter]

10. I bought a new car once, a long time ago.

I probably won't ever do it again.

With the economy faltering as it is, I think a lot of people won't be buying new cars.

This car may be too resource intensive, too expensive, and too late.

But better a Chevy Volt as a status symbol than a Hummer, I suppose.

[phantom power]

11. Everybody plans for the last war.

If they're smart, they'll retool for bicycles.

[tinrobot]

13. It's on my list.

When my current hybrid wears out, I very well may buy a Volt.