It’s true that sales of the Volt haven't quite taken off in the way Chevrolet intended. Even in the US, where it is subsidized by the federal government as well as by some states like California, it hasn't been able to come close to GM's goal of 45,000 units in 2012 - though at 10,666 deliveries from January to July, it sold more than triple the numbers of the Nissan Leaf at 3,543 units in the same period.
It makes perfect sense then that it is almost non-existent in China, where its US$40K price is nearly doubled due to taxation imposed by the government on imported cars.
This is a fact that GM representatives readily acknowledge. Ray Bierzynski, the company’s head of electric vehicle strategy in China, won’t disclose any sales figure, but told Automotive News that the Volt is “a very low-volume” car.
Nevertheless, GM, which is China's automotive market leader, is far from deterred by the Volt’s failure. In addition to the hybrid Cadillac Escalade and the Buick LaCrosse eAssist, it plans to sell the Cadillac ELR hybrid luxury coupe and is currently pondering an all-electric variant of the Chevrolet Sail, its Chinese-market best seller.
“There’s work going on that”, said Bierzynski referring to an EV version of the Sail, “but we have not made any decision direction on production, volume, timing, any of that.”
GM’s course of action can be attributed to the Chinese government’s push for alternative energy vehicles: its target is to have at least half a million EVs and hybrids on its roads in just three years’ time, and an astounding 5 million by 2020.
With China’s tax policy being what it is, GM will have to manufacture its hybrids and EVs locally in order to make them volume sellers. To that end, it has already testing battery packs provided by local suppliers.
5 Comments:
"Even in the US, where it is
subsidized by the federal government as well as by some states like
California, it’s been soundly beaten by Nissan’s Leaf. "
How do you figure? 4X plus sales in the USA last month.
"(of the US market) it’s been soundly beaten by Nissan’s Leaf."?
I can pull the enternal links off wikipedia that say otherwise.
http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-clean-diesel-sales-dashboard/december-2010.html
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078116_july-plug-in-electric-car-sales-volt-steady-leaf-lethargic-again
Collectively, to date from 2010, the Leaf's 13,236 units is lower than the Volt's 18,663 units. That works out to 70.92%, not something that is 'soundly' being outsold.
Personally, to beconsidered 'soundly outsold' to be a percentage of 10% or less; something neither car has over the other.
It's just too expensive! Personnally I think GM should get rid of the Volt and get rid of all the Eco half hybrid powertrains. BUT I DO THINK that GM should take the Volts powertrain and put it in all the Eco models of vehicles. That would give potential customers the types of vehicles they want with the powertrains they want for a more affordable price they want since this hi tech powertrain would be spread out over the product line.
Both of you are correct and thanks for pointing that out. The Volt hasn't met GM's targets but has sold three times the numbers of the Nissan Leaf this year.
Last poster is correct. It's too damn expensive. $40K buys you so many nicer cars - even ones with terrific fuel economy. You can buy a Prius much cheaper than the Volt and it has a great resale value. The concept is good, but the price is bad coupled with the Chevy namesake.
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