The secret life of the Chevy Volt
An article in the Atlantic Monthly examines the genesis and gestation of the Chevy Volt, and concludes with an intriguing mix of potential hits and misses. Calling the Volt "the Barack Obama of automobiles-everyone's hope for change," even the Atlantic Monthly knows that this car currently means more to GM and perhaps the U.S. car buying public than anything else. There is a huge amount of emotion behind the Volt, and not all of it is supportive.
The article is just as much about GM and how the company operates as it is about the car. The case is put forward that this is less about the viability of the Volt and more about whether GM can finally execute a proper long term follow through. GM has had brilliant ideas before, but its commitment and track record of seeing them through to successful ends isn't so great.
GM CEO Rick Wagoner said, "If I've learned anything over the past three or four years, it's that a lot of this business is sticking with it and persistence. In the coaching vernacular, we're going to leave it on the floor to make this happen." That's a telling quote from the captain of the ship. More heartening is the quote from another GM exec on what the Volt means to the company: "The empire strikes back." Atta boy. Thanks for the tip, quattrofan!
[Source: Atlantic Monthly]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Aprime 7:35PM (6/16/2008)
lol, Wagoneer.
Maybe if he'd stay quiet and take care of his company's finances now.
Oh wait, that's not going to happen.
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Aprime 8:19PM (6/16/2008)
I keep calling him Wagoneer for whatever reason, probably because of how it's pronounced.
SimbaDogg 3:44PM (6/17/2008)
i dont know what the hell you're talking about...its not "wah-gun-ear" like you're spelling it. its pronounced "wah-gun-ner"
Yar 7:37PM (6/16/2008)
"the Barack Obama of automobiles-everyone's hope for change"
Oh thats exactly what I want in a vehicle...
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TwinTurboVR4 8:50PM (6/16/2008)
Calling the Volt "the Barack Obama of automobiles-everyone's hope for change,"
Untested, unproven, wont live up to hopes/expectations, and an "everybody jump on the badwagon"
couldnt agree more.
Yar 8:57PM (6/16/2008)
@ VR4
And soon to be available in all 57 states!
SteveRB 11:06PM (6/16/2008)
Yes, I want the reliability of the Model T.
montoym 12:05AM (6/17/2008)
@ Yar:
Well, to be fair, he actually implied there are 60 states, not 57. He said he had been to 57 already, with 1 more left to visit and Alaska and Hawaii that his staff wouldn't justify.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws
Yar 12:38AM (6/17/2008)
@montoym
Ah, I remember now. I still can't believe a Snake-oil salesman like that has gotten this far. Kinda makes me lose hope.
OKC05SRT6 7:49AM (6/17/2008)
I certainly don't want an automobile that is a Marxist, anti-American, terrorist sympathizer.
Justin 8:21AM (6/17/2008)
Ooo look at all the anti-Obama people. Were you all for Hillary or just like McCain more? Personally I just like whoever can do a better job, which is still up for discussion.
It's an auto blog...let's stick to cars and leave your political opinions at the door.
Rocketboy 8:25AM (6/17/2008)
I think he's trying to say it's a hybrid, but everyone only cares about the half that uses electricity.
Andrew 8:02PM (6/16/2008)
I wrote about the Volt on my blog recently, talking about the risk GM is taking and the cost of innovation. Emotion aside, I think GM see's the Volt as their holy grail, so to speak. Let't hope they succeed.
http://www.ridestory.com/?q=node/268
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John B 10:01PM (6/16/2008)
"If I've learned anything over the past three or four years, it's that a lot of this business is sticking with it and persistence."
You mean the CEO of one of the world's largest corporations only figured this out four years ago? That in itself says a lot about GM and the N. American auto industry.
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Artie43 8:37PM (6/16/2008)
One needs to read the whole article. In it there seems to be validation that the Volt was a dream of PR to take the green mantle away from Toyota Prius. So advertising came up with the idea and Bob Lutz started spouting off about how good it would be. So now this wonder car must be developed. Originally it was for 'bragging rights' but now the public has seized upon it and GM had better come thru on time and with good reliability. And the funny thing, Toyota is being forced to come out with one too, although albeit dragging their feet and questioning if this type of wonder car will even come close to delivering on the expectations of the american public. This will get more interesting with time.
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BGJ 10:54PM (6/16/2008)
Yes, and by reading the article you will find that Lutz had wanted to do a vehicle like Volt ever since coming back to GM....
This program is not a brainchild of marketing/ad folks. They of course had alot of input early on how to make the program a game changer, but the whole push to make an electric-drive vehicle is all Lutz.
simianspeedster 12:57AM (6/17/2008)
Yeah, that Lutz is a real visionary:
From 2004: "Hybrids are an interesting curiosity and we will do some. But do they make sense at $1.50 a gallon? No, they do not."
http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/06/pf/autos/detroit_gm_hybrids/
Thinking like this is why GM is in such a mess -- they assumed $1.50 gas would last forever and planned their product portfolio accordingly.
-SimianSpeedster
iQuack 8:38PM (6/16/2008)
The Barack Obama of automobiles? Please spare me the silliness unless for some reason the Volt will be taxed more than other cars.
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Brent 10:28PM (6/16/2008)
No, it will only require government funding to be affordable.
User 11:00PM (6/16/2008)
Brent,
He said "Barack Obama," not "Hillary Clinton." Why bring up the problem of unnecessary government funding/bailouts? :P