VIDEO: See how prototype Chevy Volt bodies are built
Click above to watch video after the jump
Right now the crew at General Motors' pre-production operations center at the Warren Technical Center is in the midst of building 75 Chevy Volt IVER prototypes. IVERs, or integration vehicle engineering release prototypes, are the last stage of prototypes prior to pilot builds. For these IVER builds, pretty much all of the production intent parts and systems are in place and the intent of the build process is to evaluate final assembly processes. The cars are all built by hand, but the technicians and engineers are testing the build sequence as it will be done on the line to make sure everything actually goes together.
As always, the first stage of final assembly is the body shop. The video after the jump shows stampings that for the Volt that are assembled on jigs and then welded by hand before the complete body is painted. GM will apparently be releasing a series of videos documenting the complete build process, so stay tuned. Check out the first one after the jump.
[Source: General Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pablo 5:39PM (7/30/2009)
Boring....short...
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letstakeawalk 5:55PM (7/30/2009)
Usually people complain about boring things as being too long. I'm not sure if I've ever heard someone say that something they thought boring was too short.
I think the series is a very interesting look into the process of getting an assembly line running. I'm familiar with installing textile machinery into mills, but in the auto industry it is much more complicated to integrate all the production machinery.
Pablo 6:17PM (7/30/2009)
I suppose I meant to say it was too short to capture my interest...I will clarify next time I suppose...
airswingman 6:54PM (7/30/2009)
check it out......
http://izismile.com/2008/12/23/volkswagens_factory_of_dresde_21_photos.html
laser 5:44PM (7/30/2009)
Nothing but an ugly blob of a product. Once they tack on all the tacky trim that is part of the overall design, you have a tacky blob. Government Motors is putting its eggs in a $40K basket that won't ever contribute to the profitability of GM and won't ever become a mainstream product. Instead of developing real hybrids that sell in the marketplace, Government Motors because of indecision and poor planning, GM then offers poor planning and inefficiency in use of corporate resources into a narrow product just so that it can have something unique. Government Motors isn't doing this for them ... they are doing it for you. This mantra didn't work with the Messiah in Washington and it won't work for America now.
Government Motors - $50 billion down the drain.
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Epyx 5:52PM (7/30/2009)
Sentence structure much?
Jordan 6:01PM (7/30/2009)
laser is right too bad both him and I will be ranked down.
halo hybrids that require 10,000 dollar government subsidy and take 5 years to build while all along you keep showcasing it and milking the publicity, is not what GM should have done.
Gary 7:37PM (7/30/2009)
Isn't a plug-in Prius, estimated at about 10 miles electric range, supposed to cost about $40,000?
jdgwillowtree 12:07AM (8/01/2009)
Why are you slaming your own countries' auto company? The original government motors are your Japanese and Korean auto companies. They subsidize their auto interests to dominate the free markets of the United States and close all business to outside auto companies. If we only allowed in the same amount of vehicles that the Japanese and Korean governments allow us to send over there, you would hardly see any Toyota's, Hyundai's, Nissan's and Kia's on our roads! And don't start me on the "transplant" factories in the southern states. Yeah, the automobiles are built by American workers in America, but the profits is still leaving the U.S. The non-union workers under cut the working wages of the middle class and lower the standard of living in this country. Let's see, the last time I checked - the American dream was to get ahead and be prosperious. I guess all you import drivers should be reported for unpatriotic and un-American activities detremental to the survival of THIS COUNTRY!
MoonRover 8:34AM (7/31/2009)
I see you are still wearing that Toyota up your butt.
Gonzo 11:54AM (7/31/2009)
Actually the Volt is very well designed for the market and doesn't suffer from the wretch that is typical GM design. I don't like much of what they make but I am rooting for this car as I think it is interesting.
Hybrids are terrible, taking the worst of both worlds and joining it together, but it's okay, people feel good because they are buying into 'green'. I don't feel the electric car is ready for today's market, but I'd prefer full-electrification as opposed to both polluting the air with hydrocarbons AND strip mining the earth for precious materials to make the batteries.
Gonzo 12:03PM (7/31/2009)
An addendum to my post that I feel must be added is that I love petrol powered cars and believe they will be a part of our lives for a very long time as technology has to grow within reason and with care to do things properly, not recklessly. I'm in school for electrical engineering and while I can hope it to be the future of automotive propulsion, we have to remain realistic of our abilities at this time.
I feel companies like Toyota who promote being green with their hybrid cars while strip mining for nickel and demolishing three hundred year old fields and leveling MOUNTAINS for their corporate benefit are attempting to go the right direction for a 'greener' lifestyle through alternatives to fossil fuel but are dangerously rushing into it to get to an end, despite the means and to maximize profits along the way.
GM has a tough challenge to face with coming to market with such a vastly different car, focused on technology and performance while being economical to operate, albeit have a high cost of entry. While I disagree with much of what they do or have done and find myself appreciating other brands more, I still have high hopes for GM to succeed on many venues. The Volt is an important step in that success.
Level 5:57PM (7/30/2009)
They want to sell the Volt for 40K right? ok so the batteries are worth 16K the body and components are worth 15K that means they going to make 9K profit on each car?? not bad if you ask me...That's usually the profit margin on the trucks and large SUVs....
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letstakeawalk 6:21PM (7/30/2009)
Where did you get your numbers regarding the Volt's battery and production costs?
GM has generally acknowledged that the Volt will be sold close to or just under its actual production costs - meaning they aren't expecting to make much profit initially. They're hoping that as production numbers increase, the costs will go down, and that they will eventually be able to lower the actual purchase price within a few years.
Pretty much the same way Toyota initially had to subsidize the price of the Prius, so it's not too unusual...
ufgrat 9:26PM (7/30/2009)
First, battery doesn't cost nearly 16k-- But, the battery, the electric motor, the generator, the control electronics, all add up. I think I figured it's about 15k in additional parts on top of the cost of a Cruze, minus the cost of a transmission.
Then again, while 40k has been mentioned, the final price isn't known by anyone yet.
Aznauto 5:58PM (7/30/2009)
Has flop written all over it:; Is it so hard for GM to make a car like Prius which is what consumers demand not this abomination?
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Mr.Oak 8:36PM (7/30/2009)
The stupidity of some folks amazes me.
BobinCobb 6:20PM (7/30/2009)
GM makes an Edsel . . . so what is new?
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Mr.Oak 8:37PM (7/30/2009)
I repeat: The stupidity of some folks amazes me.
BobinCobb 9:16PM (7/30/2009)
At a time when GM is on life support, to waste money, time, talent and resources on a "lollypop" like the Volt, is criminal. The car will not sell, will not attract people with money into a GM showroom, it is just a management ego trip at the taxpayer expense.
No more bail-out money for these clowns. They waste it !