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Chevy Volt Sales Numbers Disprove Naysayers

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Chevy VoltPaying attention to supposed ‘news outlets,’ one might come to the conclusion that General Motors [GM] is losing out big-time on a nationwide publicity stunt, and GM is using ultra-low leasing prices to lure consumers into buying the new, domestically manufactured, extended-range electric vehicle.

According to James McQuaid, a GM-Volt.com user, the reality is that, by August, Chevy Volt had sold just shy of 13,500 units, just behind the top three hybrid vehicles available, the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Chevy Volt is also outselling nearly half of the other models available today, including the Mazda 2 and Nissan Altima Hybrid.

On another hotly contested facet, supposedly GM loses tens-of-thousands of dollars for every Chevy Volt that leaves the lot. Bob Lutz, a contributing author at Forbes and ex-GM vice-president, clarified things a little. The reality is that, using fuzzy math and tinted glasses, some commentator ‘suggested’ that each Chevy Volt cost the company some $250,000 to build. Others took that sound-bite and ran with it, never taking into consideration that every vehicle that ever comes to market requires billions of dollars in research and development, and up to ten years to break even.

Considering that the Chevy Volt is the ‘new-kid-on-the-block,’ it appears that consumers are not giving much attention to the tabloid-style write-ups that the sensationalists are putting out. GM probably won’t hit its 40,000-unit target for this year, but with an 18% market share this year, its obvious that they’re not fighting a losing game. Expect even bigger numbers next year as the ‘upstart’ Chevy Volt takes aim at the rest of the hybrid market.

[via gas2]

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1 COMMENT

  1. This whole GM/Volt episode will become a learning experience for those who aren’t familiar with the law of “diminished returns”. As the price of gasoline tops the four-dollar per gallon barrier, those looking at a new car purchase will weigh the advantages/disadvantages associated with an alternative powered vehicle versus that of proven technology. The cost of buying a modest sized vehicle which gets great mileage will truncate any idea’s about spending roughly forty thousand dollars for the purpose of using “circa World War II” battery technology to propel a vehicle for short distances. The Volt is no longer something “new”. Soon the Volt market will become saturated (those individuals who desired purchasing a Volt will have done so). The only remaining market for this oddity will be government/municipalities. This begs the question, why is GM cutting its price for the Volt and temporarily suspending manufacturing for a second time this year? If you can’t answer the question, please re-read the previous paragraphs.

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