Chevrolet Volt To Sell in California First: 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show

LOS ANGELES — The highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt will first go on sale late next year in California, with other lead markets to be named later, General Motors announced on Wednesday at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The marketing strategy is patterned after the rollout of such alt-fuel Japanese vehicles as the Honda FCX Clarity and the Nissan X-Trail FCV.

"It is natural that California is the lead market for Volt," said Brent Dewar, GM vice president of Global Chevrolet Brand, in a statement. "Not only is it the largest automotive market, Californians are known to be leaders in adopting groundbreaking new technologies."

California is also well known in the industry for largely shunning Detroit hardware in favor of the imports. Wednesday's Volt announcement did not include such critical details as pricing for the Volt or whether it will be available through a customer lease program similar to the Honda FCX Clarity.

Honda introduced the FCX Clarity in Southern California in July 2008 and has used Hollywood celebrities, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, to help promote the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered car. Nissan kicked off its first commercial fuel-cell vehicle lease in North America earlier this month with the rollout of the Nissan X-Trail FCV. That vehicle is being used by Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling to promote such drinks as Coca-Cola Zero.

GM also said on Wednesday that, as part of a research and demonstration program, more than 500 charging stations for residential, business and public use will be installed in California.

Inside Line says: GM aims to win over the most skeptical crowd in the U.S. with the Volt rollout in California. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent