Green Update: The Volt’s Troubles *UPDATED

Chevy Volt, front






The company put out ridiculous fuel economy claims at the beginning, then it backwatered. Its sales goals were wildly optimistic. The car cost too much. GM claimed its technology was totally unique, when it was in fact a plug-in hybrid variant. The Volt’s EPA ratings were disappointing. The car’s styling is bland. There was no proper campaign to educate the target audience. Problems with infrastructure and charging were not addressed.

Meanwhile, competitors were developing more fuel-efficient gasoline engines to power cars with as good or better performance at a lower price.

GM has once again become the world’s largest car-seller (over 9 million worldwide in 2011), yet it has sold fewer than 8,000 Volts over the life of the car (13 months). The company has a tremendous investment in the Volt—in both dollars and prestige—that it can ill afford to lose.

A recent article claims that since expensive ($40K-plus) hybrids are selling in low numbers—though it quotes only December 2011 figures—electrics and hybrids are the biggest failures ever for the auto biz. This is more “fire in the theater” baloney.

Fisker KarmaWhat you can say with confidence is that the public is growing less interested in buying plug-in cars—with strong interest down from 44 percent in 2010 to 40 percent in 2011. Which is not to say that their interest is gone forever.

Despite a lot of fumbles and setbacks, Fisker has done a remarkable job of keeping its Karma dealers and buyers. It is still on track to sell at least 5,000 cars in 2012. GM still needs to learn basic skills in customer management and educating potential Volt buyers. If those buyers don’t spread the gospel, who will? The Volt is not dead, but GM should be desperate to get it off life support.

Will the Volt come back in terms of sales? Why, or why not?


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Used Chevrolet Volt


  1. @ Randy
    I used Fisker not as an example of EV success but, as I said, of doing “a remarkable job of keeping its Karma dealers and buyers.” Only 5 percent of buyers have asked for deposits back, despite all the company’s trials and missteps. And, as has been stated over and over, the battery fire business is at best an excuse to beat the car with, though it’s been exonerated. See today’s UPDATE.

  2. But I can say I’m confused why Fisker is an example of EV success when they’ve sold only half as many EV’s as Chevy. They are having exactly the same problem as Chevy– battery and electrical fires and driving range that is not what is advertised.

  3. Once again, GM does what made it a bankrupt company in the first place– It spends huge amounts of money to develop and market niche vehicle with effectively NO market penetration.s

    Now lets looks at a hybrid winner, Toyota. You can buy a Prius in the low 20’s that will get an honest 45+ mileage, and it’s a car that is fully equipped and has that Toyota quality (unlike GM, which shipped some new cars without brake pads recently).

    In the meantime, GM (and Ford, too) pushes some very weak and overpriced hybrids that few are dumb enough to buy. Any company that pushes things like starter/generator “hybrid” is crooked.

    Now add VW to the mix, which is aggressively marketing a wide range of Diesels with excellent drivability and good mileage. Although the VW’s are moderately pricey, they are solidly built and nicely appointed.

  4. Why would anyone buy this car? The only reason I can see is to use it for its strict EV capabilities, but that makes it one pricey golf cart. No thanks.

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