- GM will increase production of the 2011 Chevy Volt by 50 percent in 2012.
- Production will move from 30,000 units to 45,000 units.
- GM says more than 25,000 people have already joined the Volt enthusiast list.
DETROIT — GM on Friday used the occasion of a presidential visit to the 2011 Chevrolet Volt plant to announce that it is increasing U.S. production capacity of the car by 50 percent, from 30,000 units to 45,000 units in 2012. The automaker said that "strong public interest" in the Volt sparked the decision.
GM began taking orders for the Volt in select U.S. markets earlier this week. It has not yet revealed just how many customer orders it has for the extended-range hybrid. It said in a statement on Friday that "more than 25,000 people have joined the Chevrolet Volt enthusiast list."
In a phone conversation with Inside Line on Friday afternoon, GM spokesman Rob Peterson said he would not disclose the number of Volt orders thus far. "We have a feel for it [the number of orders], but we don't feel any obligation to disclose them," Peterson said. He also said that "in the last several weeks, we've had an extreme increase in interest in Volt."
The Volt has dominated headlines this week, with GM finally setting official pricing at $41,000. President Obama on Friday also took a short test-drive in the Volt during a tour of the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant where the Volt is being built.
Inside Line says: The initial orders for the Volt appear to be healthy; otherwise GM would not be ordering up an increase in production. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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guy1974 says:
06:26 AM, 08/02/2010
Two things people who criticise the car and the price need to remember :
1. It is new technology and as production increases (over years) then the price will fall . I remember $2000 basic pcs back in 1995!
2. Comparison to the Nissan Leaf is unfair because that is an electric car only with no gasoline engine so you go upto 100 miles then get stranded. You never get stranded in the volt.
A good car and the price is reduced by the tax credit (only fair since the Prius was subsidised by the US government).
stingray454 says:
06:21 AM, 08/02/2010
"gordancin says:
07:55 AM, 07/31/2010
Hope it works for them, `cause this doesn't look like $40k worth of vehicle. "
Based on what? The chevy logo on the grille? Do you always judge books by their covers?
gordancin says:
07:55 AM, 07/31/2010
Hope it works for them, `cause this doesn't look like $40k worth of vehicle.
tbone85 says:
09:15 PM, 07/30/2010
It is entirely possible that this is partly PR. 2012 is still far enough away for this decision to be reversed.
xorbe says:
02:58 PM, 07/30/2010
Talk about fluffy statements. If they DO boost 50% in 2012, then it will be the "2013 Chevy Volt" production that is boosted!