GM delays Volt engine plant, car still on track
Click above for a gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt
General Motors has said that it won't allow ongoing financial hardships to put a damper on the Chevy Volt development program, but a recent announcement that its plant in Flint, Michigan may be delayed could have cause for some worry. The Flint plant is where the 1.4L four-cylinder engine that will be used as a range-extender in the Volt is scheduled to be built. This plant is also expected to assemble powerplants for the upcoming Chevy Cruze that will replace the aging Cobalt when it goes into production at GM's Lordstown, OH plant in April 2010 as a 2011 model.
Because the Volt and Cruze are still so far away, this plant's delay isn't likely to have any effect on either car's proposed production dates. Regardless, expect to hear plenty of doom and gloom-style news over the next few days regarding the future of The General's new fuel-saving hotness on account of this plant's delay. The reality, though, is that there won't be a Volt program to worry about if GM is unable to keep its doors.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TyWright 5:04PM (12/17/2008)
Ya but is GM still on track?
Ummm, no. No they're not.
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Temple 6:43PM (12/17/2008)
GM doesn't have money for 'big-ticket' expenditures like structural steel according to the Associated Press. The reason for it being 'still on track' is because they also build the 1.4L four-cylinder engine in Austria.
So unless this engine plant is made don't expect the Volt (or Cruze) engine to be 'Made in America'.
Sea Urchin 5:04PM (12/17/2008)
I sure hope that this car is a GO.
This and Cruze are GMs saviors. Plus i think Civic and Corolla can use some competition.
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Torrent 5:04PM (12/17/2008)
Before ANYONE says ANYTHING about vaporware without even reading the article, I will find them and dispose of them.
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2004m3driver 6:55PM (12/17/2008)
useless vapor ware!
easiest suicide ever, delivery too!
Torrent 8:27PM (12/17/2008)
Looks like you're in California... Expect a knock on the door... you're local.
SeattleJeremy 5:22PM (12/17/2008)
Doesn't GM make the 1.4L engine other places in the world? Couldn't they just ship them over as a stop gap?
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dc11 5:25PM (12/17/2008)
sigh.. i just hope GM proves me wrong when i say that this car is nowhere near being their savior. all this car will do is please the tree huggers of the world, and shut the media up about GM not being green...
but what GM needs is sales, and more importantly, profit... none of which this car will achieve.
then again, assuming GM can pull a miracle and survive the next 5 years, having this technology i guess puts them on par.... and by "on par", i mean GM 2012 can finally compete against Toyota 2006.
awesome.
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Artie Lange 5:32PM (12/17/2008)
"The reality, though, is that there won't be a Volt program to worry about if GM is unable to keep its doors (open)." Why propagate the myth that GM is in danger of ceasing to exist? You people know the difference between Chapter 11 and 7, so why say things like this? We get it. Autoblog wants a bailout.
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Zach 5:36PM (12/17/2008)
The lack of an open there isn't a typo. Its really down to the point where GM might have to sell the doors from all its real estate just to pay the powerbill.
Sean 7:59PM (12/17/2008)
For the auto industry, chapter 11 may as well be chapter 7.
tankd0g 9:04PM (12/17/2008)
chapter 11 or 7 would be the death of any current development program. It's no myth. the only myth being propagated here is that the Volt will generate any capital for GM. they'd actually save money in the short term by killing it now, and we all know how GM loves short term money.
C Smith 6:40PM (12/17/2008)
Still looks like Prius to me.
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Raffi 7:13PM (12/17/2008)
Not seeing it. They both have 4 wheels? They're aerodynamic?
Artie Lange 7:41PM (12/17/2008)
It looks nothing like a Prius.
Lad 7:49PM (12/17/2008)
I drove a top of the line 2008 Cobalt while on vacation; spoiler on the trunk, etc. I found it unstable at speed above 65mph; I had the tires checked out, etc but I think the problem is in the suspension design. I found myself having to constantly correct the steering to keep it in a straight line. If I had to guess, I would say the car dosen't have enough caster. I hope the Cruze is a better car.
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ForeignBias 10:28PM (12/17/2008)
Did you ever stop to think that the car could be out of alignment (or worse even have some sort of bent/damaged suspension parts) due to the way people treat rental cars? I rent cars every week for work and have driven a variety of rentals (Town Car, Murano, DTS, CTS, Magnum, 300C, Maxima, Altima, Camry, etc) and almost all of the cars I rent have issues due to the extreme abuse/conditions they are driven in (and most of these cars have less than 10K if not 5K miles).
There is no way that an '06 Cobalt is unstable at 65mph unless something is wrong. I had a '96 Sunfire in college that I routinely drove 80-90mph on the highway and even took it up to 102mph and the car handled just fine...
Torrent 4:07AM (12/18/2008)
My mom rented a 2008 Fusion, and everything was rattling, shaking and felt loose, (so she said) and she also stated that it felt like the car was going to fall apart at 50 MPH. Now I've driven a 2008 Fusion and I will say that the car is solidly built. The fact that it was a rental got me thinking about all the people that used it before me, and how careless they could have been with it... Think about all the people that used it before you...
happy_penguin 10:42AM (12/18/2008)
To believe that a rental car is good for comparison when it has such a glaring issue is ignorant at best. I've rented many cars, many brands and it's hit or miss. Some drive well and some have issues. But I can tell if the car has been abused and certainly suspension and serious drivability issues are very very likely due to abuse and not manufacturer defect. Almost NO car from any manufacturer requires constant steering corrections these days. Use some common sense.
jimmy 7:57PM (12/17/2008)
GM is awesome, I got an 06 chevy cobalt and after 2 years......the clutch is going out...yay...plus i had to get a new fuel pump, yayy. In only two years. yes your read it right two years. SWEET. i get to spend more money on this car that basically brand new...YAY. not to mention i only have 40,000 miles on it. Thank god that i need new tires cuz their almost bald and I dont even drive crazy...YAY again. YAY will never buy american again...
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