REPORT: Chevy Volt will start at $32,000 after tax credit?
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Sep 14th 2009 at 12:55PM 
While we know a good bit of information about GM's upcoming range-extended electric automobile, one major question lurks high above the rest: how much with the Chevy Volt cost? Well, that's a tough nut to crack. There will be a sticker price plastered on the car's window when it finally goes on sale in November of 2010 that may very well be at or near the $40,000 mark – pretty pricey for a car wearing the golden Bowtie – but that's not the end of the story. In a bit to sweeten the pot a bit, the U.S. government has promised to offer a $7,500 rebate in the form of a federal tax credit.
Though there's been no official price point announced by The General for its upcoming electric as of yet, there are clues. For instance, what appears to be a GM-approved survey recently sent out by a company called Gongos suggests that the Volt "will effectively cost between $32,000 and $38,000" after the tax rebate. It's not an official pricing acknowledgement or anything like that, but it's an interesting tidbit nonetheless, and we think it's a reasonable asking price – especially after the expected runnings costs of about 2 cents per mile are factored in. What say you?
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: GM-Volt.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Eric Bandholz 1:03PM (9/14/2009)
So people gotta pay $40k upfront for a small 4 door car? For a 60 month loan @ 5% with zero down you are looking at $750/month. For some reason I don't think they will sell a lot of these in this market when you can get at $25k which equals $470/month for the same length and percentage.
Then they gotta wait a year for their tax credits while managing a significantly higher monthly bill. Americans tend to be more short term decision makers than long term decision makers. I see the Volt having a hard time getting traction.
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Eric Bandholz 1:04PM (9/14/2009)
Woops. I meant to say. "When you can get a Prius at $25k."
jake 1:13PM (9/14/2009)
The Prius doesn't have a plug so it's a completely different vehicle. It's even worst than comparing the Prius to the Corolla ($15k). It's not a valid comparison until the Prius PHEV comes out (even then the PHEV Prius only has 10 miles of electric range vs 40 on the Volt). The initial production in 2011 is only 10k vehicles which will easily be sold out, 2012 is around 60k.
Seminole 1:19PM (9/14/2009)
jake,
Whether you like it or not, the average public will compare this to the Prius.
Rocketboy 1:24PM (9/14/2009)
If the car is such a good idea, why do they need to take my money to build and sell it?
zamafir 1:24PM (9/14/2009)
@Seminole - correct, honda proved this. No matter how much someone without the hybrid or alternative marketing cache toyota has attempts to dissuade the public they will compare it to the prius right or wrong.
Polly Prissy Pants 1:30PM (9/14/2009)
"The Prius doesn't have a plug so it's a completely different vehicle"
Not really. To the consumer it's just another hybrid vehicle and I promise you they'll cross shop the Prius and Insight.
I'd really love to have a Volt but there's no way I could ever rationally justify the price when I can get a Prius for 10-20 thousand less. I doubt it really matters though because they priced the Volt so that they'd only sell as many as they could (or wanted to) produce (i.e. not many). I'm sure there will be many who buy one just because they want one but it would take a awfully long time for your average human to ever make up the difference in fuel.
FitFan 1:35PM (9/14/2009)
You won't be able to get a Prius for $10K-$20K less. The Prius will cost you at least $25K out the door, which is only $7K less than the rumored numbers for the Volt.
Over the 5 year / 75000 mile life of a car for a typical American you will save about $3K in gas, so the real difference is about $4K.
Just rough numbers, but not a bad comparison.
daleam 4:19PM (9/14/2009)
I hear a bunch of irrelevant arguments. If people think it is cool, it will sell. That's the only reason the Prius sells.
Rocketboy 4:24PM (9/14/2009)
Ok, so will everyone chip in and help me buy my next car?
Keep in mind, if you refuse to, you are committing a crime.
Carlos 5:32PM (9/14/2009)
GM is crazy if they think they're going to sell a lot of these at 40k.
the4thheat 9:25PM (9/14/2009)
This "it'll sell if it's cool" thing just isn't true. The #1 reason people don't buy hybrids is because of cost.
http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/48-of-consumers-interested-in-purchasing-a-plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicle
I don't know about you but $7000 is a pretty big difference in price to the average person.
And you're also talking about interest on that $7000 for most car purchasers. It adds up.
Rocketboy 11:35PM (9/14/2009)
Ahh thumbs down without a person explaining why I should be forced at gunpoint and with threat of loss of freedom to finance the Volt.
With this attitude, why bother working? Why not just let someone else pay my bills?
anti-believer 1:05PM (9/14/2009)
Okay but there still isn't an electrical infrastructure available to plug in everywhere.
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Steve 1:07PM (9/14/2009)
It has a gas engine, it doesn't need to be plugged in.
Kevin 1:16PM (9/14/2009)
So run it off gas if you have to go beyond the electrical range, that's the advantage of this model over an electric-only vehicle. If you're commuting farther than that you're a masochist anyway :)
jpm100 1:08PM (9/14/2009)
That's the whole point to the Volt.
larry a 1:11PM (9/14/2009)
Sir, you are wrong.
Epyx 1:16PM (9/14/2009)
I have a plug in my garage and there are Gas stations every two feet.
Jei 1:21PM (9/14/2009)
In buying the Volt, we assume that the consumer drives less than (or close to) 40 miles during the course of a day. Even if they were to drive 50 miles, that's just 10 miles of fuel to sustain the battery charge....which isn't much. Essentially, they just need to plug-in at home. And if they plan a long commute, they'll need to coordinate access to an electrical outlet to recharge the batteries without using the engine.
In reality, the early Volt buyers will have a much longer daily commute and will ultimately use much more gas than initially intended. They'll wonder why they aren't getting high mileage, but they'll see a good amount of fuel savings. It would be nice if they can plug-in & recharge while at the office.