Lutz: E-Flex to reach 1 million units worldwide by 2020
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Flexstreme.
The first Chevy Volt and its E-Flex brethren are still more than two years away, but vice chairman and corporate quote machine Bob Lutz is already targeting 2020 for 1 million annual worldwide sales. The lofty target would go a long way towards the General's goal of meeting tough fuel economy and CO2 standards in the U.S. and Europe, while also providing customers a mass-market choice that can run mainly on electricity. While E-Flex will be a big part of GM's long-term plans, the technology will be slowly introduced to the buying public and ramped up as battery costs drop. Europe will get 30,000 E-Flex equipped vehicles in 2011, but at a starting price of about £32,000. GM introduced its E-Flex based Flextreme concept last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
We're excited about any vehicle that promises 40 miles on electricity alone and 150 mpg or more for extended driving. Here's hoping we see 1 million units in 2020 or even before, and lets hope Mr. Lutz, who will be nearly 90 by that time, is around to see it.
Gallery: Opel Flextreme Concept
Gallery: Chevy Volt Concept
[Source: Times Online]
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_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Swede 6:59PM (7/28/2008)
Thats a bit slow aint it?
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DesiAuto 7:22PM (7/28/2008)
I don't think Volt is going to make it to the market, forget about "E-Flex".
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Dustin 7:42PM (7/28/2008)
I'm tired of people making predictions decades into the future. These cars don't even exist yet.
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Mark Ryan 8:52PM (7/28/2008)
You'd do well in business, I think.
Red 3:53AM (7/29/2008)
@ Dustin,
Some 500 GM engineers who're actually working on the cars and their technology plus drivers of the test mules would politely disagree with you...
Jay Evans 7:51PM (7/28/2008)
And you can be sure that if you're feeling right
A daydream will last long into the night
Tomorrow at breakfast you may prick up your ears
Or you may be daydreaming for a thousand years
What a day for a daydream
Custom made for a daydreaming boy
And now I'm lost in a daydream
Dreaming 'bout my bundle of joy
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Gardiner Westbound 8:05PM (7/28/2008)
With GM predicted to run out of money by Fall 2009 I wonder who will build them?
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BGJ 9:26PM (7/28/2008)
Every year irresponsible investors claim GM is going to run out of money soon. Hasn't happened, and won't happen.
Shipey 8:14PM (7/28/2008)
So what guys, when Bob says something will be delayed a year, or describes some less-than-wonderful statistic about a GM car, it's Gospel. But when he makes a statement about a sales goal it's all nonsense?
Nice double standard.
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Obviously DaMinority 12:47AM (7/29/2008)
Fact is, GM is expected to run out of money, at their (new) current burn rate taking into consideration the cuts just made, in October 2011. That assumes exactly the same sales rate (the lowest market total in more than a decade) and mix (obvious market correction to $4/gallon gas). It also doesn't consider the huge cash flow savings the current UAW agreement will see starting in January 2010. However, if they do go out of business, the Volt will be fully developed for a big Japanese or European interest to buy it up.
Hmm, I wonder those companies aren't just developing it themselves...
Oh, and the Prius has been produced for 10 years now and Toyota is promising 480K units NEXT year. So reaching 1M in 9 years sounds not-so-slow to me.
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Don 11:55AM (7/29/2008)
I agree with you. The way people think about GM versus Toyota is different. It's like they want GM to go out of business. How stupid and sad at the same time, that Americans would want a great American icon to go out of business. If that trend continues, this country is doom. I feel bad about the younger generation but I think they are bringing it upon themselves.
henrykrinkle 9:08AM (7/29/2008)
"Oldsmobile Banks Comeback on New Sedan.
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Mar. 31 (1999) -- NEW YORK -- Oldsmobile will show off a big part of its come-back strategy today when the 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora sedan makes its debut at the New York International Auto Show...
...Oldsmobile's redesigned flagship is part of General Motors Corp.'s campaign to rebuild its crumbled car market with a new generation of contemporary models...."
Predicting the future is fun!!!
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Rick 10:06AM (7/29/2008)
40 miles on electricty will be nothing but a joke 11 years from now. Are they serious??@!
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Sorin 10:50AM (7/29/2008)
Great concept. This is the most beautiful car ever made by Opel. It has an excellent design but little bit conventional.
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Timmbo 7:55AM (8/02/2008)
I agree. I don't care what powers it, this is one cool vehicle and should be built. Don't think that rear split window will make it to production though.