As Chevrolet continues to hype and advertise the long-awaited Volt plug-in electric car, many are doubting the effect it will have on Chevy and GM sales. This negative view is shared by the Obama administration, which believes that the car will cost consumers too much and will not provide the demand and the volume that the embattled automaker truly needs.
While the Volt is seen as being technically advanced and possesses plenty of promise, the Chevy is not the commercially viable vehicle that the automaker needs right now. With an expected price far exceeds that of the gasoline-propelled equivalents, the manufacturing costs may not be justified by sales when it becomes available next year.
The outlook being adopted by the current administration is certainly a setback for GM admits Chevrolet Chicago. The Detroit automaker has used the Chevrolet model to change the perception of the brand, and it was this one car that Chevrolet hoped would transform the brand into an eco-friendly moniker.
Regardless, the Chevrolet Volt is heading into production next year. Despite doubt in the vehicle’s commercial success, Orlando Chevrolet dealers say its unique technology will allow the Volt to travel up to 40 miles on batteries alone. After 40 miles, the gasoline engine will then be able to extend the vehicle’s range.
Despite the advanced technology behind the Volt, the administration believes that GM overall remains behind Toyota and other automakers when it comes to developing green technologies. With hybrid technology in particular, GM has offered few options for affordable, efficient hybrid offerings according to hybrid shoppers among Gardena Honda dealers. Meanwhile, the Volt powertrain will likely put it financially out of reach for many eco-conscious buyers. When it becomes available next year, the Volt is expected to be priced around $40,000 – thousands more than other gasoline-powered sedans in its class.
Most hybrids only offer a short range of hybrid power, making the Chevy Volt’s technology unique. However, if the automaker is unable to reduce cost it will not provide the eco-friendly hit that it was hoping for. This may be where GM has made a fatal error. Despite years and plenty of money already invested in the Volt, it is unlikely that the automaker will be able over overtake Toyota and Honda as the green automotive technology leader. Even with the Volt, San Diego Toyota says that GM brands still lack the popular small cars that consumers are buying from Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and others. Continue reading ‘Doubt Arises Around Chevrolet Volt’
