General Motors' Volt a full generation behind Toyota

[steven johnson]

When the EV-1 was scrubbed, GM burned a bridge they can't rebuild.

President Barack Obama's auto task force last week said in an assessment of General Motors' viability that it was a full generation behind Toyota in "green powertrain development" and that "while the Volt holds promise, it is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable."

A White House official who worked on the assessment said ...it will be a challenge to bring the new technology up to scale and make it cost competitive.

GM reported in its five-year restructuring plan that it's investing in hybrid and plug-in cars and trucks, including the Volt and two other models that will use its technology.

...the company expects state and federal incentives will help boost demand for the Volt, particularly a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Volt is expected to sell for around $40,000 because of the high cost of its batteries.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/65761.html

Despite the media hoopla surrounding the car often billed as the future of the auto industry, the government's analysis of the vehicle couldn't overlook the fact that the Volt "is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable."

The government analysis of the car echoes a recent study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University which also concluded that the design concept behind the Volt is "not cost effective in any scenario."


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511803,00.html

[baldguy]

1. The EV1 was designed only to comply with California's ZEV requirement.

Once the law was killed, so was the car. It was never intended to turn a profit or developed as a permanent alternative to petroleum fueled cars.

GM killed it's chance when it it's short term profit over it's long term survival.

[Downtown Hound]

2. $40,000 is too much for a viable consumer car

A Prius costs half that much, and you could add your own plug in batteries for still less that what the Volt costs. This car will not save GM.

[GoesTo11]

4. Obvious from the start, but everyone played along

and acted as if this was exciting. GM, gov't, environmentalists all pretended it was a big new thing.

[Thrill]

3. Ed Schultz said a few weeks ago, someone he knows in the Auto Industry

told him the Volt is a Dud. That won't make a profit. It cost too much

[madrchsod]

5. sounds like it`s time to pull the plug on gm

they can`t build a car that`s worth a shit,they are years behind toyota,and well, they have`t anything else to offer. let them go bankrupt so they can rid the company of pensions,health-care,and existing union contracts. sell off what they can to other car assemblers around the world,sell the plants for scrap ,and then sell of the land.

[Jack_DeLeon]

6. Glad I didnt buy any GM stock, I went with Ford instead...

since the Fusion Hybrid is getting great reviews.

I figure if GM and Chrysler do go under Ford will probably do better too.