REPORT: GM sees more demand than supply with the Chevy Volt in the beginning
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery
General Motors has already said the Chevrolet Volt will be in short supply at launch. But that isn't stopping Bob Lutz from going out and talking about how popular the hybrid already is -- even though it hasn't gone on sale. Lutz told Automotive News that the promotional efforts GM has laid on thick are working. Once the car is further along in the production process, Lutz says GM will "pull out the heavy artillery and get Volt buzz" going, hinting that a short-term test drive/lease like Project Driveway is being considered.
Over 50,000 people have signed up on the "want list" at GM-Volt.com, more than doubling since the Volt debuted. To keep up with projected demand, GM's Dave Barthmuss repeatedly told attendees at this weekend's Alt Car expo in Santa Monica that the automaker will build "tens of thousands" of Volt units in the first year. For comparison, Nissan has collected names of about 22,000 people interested in the all-electric Leaf in the two months since it was unveiled.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tool 1:33PM (10/06/2009)
Duh! Isn't that pretty much always the case that demand > supply in the beginning? Except for the Chrysler Sebring or Suzuki Swift.
Thanks for the breaking news!
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Luis 1:38PM (10/06/2009)
Yeah, somehow there hasn't been a Volt story on AB or from GM so they had to make it sound special.
KA 1:49PM (10/06/2009)
I agree. This is disingenuous, and makes GM seem pretty desperate in a time when they need to focus on regaining people's trust. Just make good cars that people want to buy and stop focusing on BS like their misleading 230 campaign.
LBuzzer 1:53PM (10/06/2009)
Sky is blue!
Reality shows are dumb!
Fire is hot!
Global Warming is a fraud!
U2 is a decent rock band!
Please... Can we move on?
Sea Urchin 1:54PM (10/06/2009)
@ KA, let's be honest, if someone out there believed the 230 campaign, they don't have money to buy a 40K car in the first place, because burger flipping doesn't pay that much.
Temple 2:30PM (10/06/2009)
The question is obviously how much supply they are going to make. If they only plan on building a several thousands cars a year then supply obviously is going to be much less then demand, at the same time, its a $40,000+ compact. How many people are willing to pay that price for a first-generation Volt.
Its all relative...
Luis 3:15PM (10/06/2009)
@Sea Urchin - there are plenty of stupid rich people.
Steve 4:50PM (10/06/2009)
Count me as rich and stupid. Aerospace Engineering degree, six-figure income, and I want one.
Tim 5:40PM (10/06/2009)
You might be stupid, but you probably aren't rich.
Most truly rich people wouldn't buy this because it is a money loser. Rich people stay rich by making economically sound decisions that balance luxuries with value. Unless you consider the mere act of saving gas to be a luxury, this doesn't do a good job of that.
I suspect that many successful professionals will flock to it though.
Sea Urchin 5:51PM (10/06/2009)
I did not say that buying Volt is stupid, i said believing that it get 230 MPG is.
I hope Volt is a run away success.
Sea Urchin 1:34PM (10/06/2009)
Great for GM. But that price will have to come down sometime in 2012. As more and more electric cars become available the government will have to remove that tax credit that can be used to offset the high cost of Volt.
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Santosh Tiwari 1:38PM (10/06/2009)
GM volt is designed to capture mindshare rather than marketshare. Eventually, mindshare will translate to marketshare, if the initial reviews are good and GM can bring the cost down.
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AutoTribute 6:06PM (10/06/2009)
That's a good way to spin it. I'm not kidding.
Sven70R 1:46PM (10/06/2009)
Where are the Volt's Reverse Lights? I'm worried that just like on a bunch of other GM cars the designers will just slap em on there at the end, ruining the look of the rear...
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dukeisduke 2:02PM (10/06/2009)
The single backup light is down low in the center, below the license plate, in the dark gray "diffuser".
Alwin 1:49PM (10/06/2009)
Is this a forecast from a company that as recently as a few years ago thought it would regain its leadership in US auto sales w/ over 20% marketshare? Keep dreaming . . .
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alex 3:07PM (10/06/2009)
what are you talking about? regain it's leadership in the US? when did they lose it? over 20% marketshare? they currently have over 20% marketshare (albeit just barely). get your head out of your @ss and read by the numbers sometime.
Alwin 9:20PM (10/08/2009)
Of course - we're talking abt. a company w/ ~ $50B bail out by the govt. Such a huge support should translate to better result, no? But then there's a reason why GM now stands for "Gelded Motor".
Smokem 1:49PM (10/06/2009)
The Chevy Volt is definitely a best buy over any hybrid, so it doesn't surprise me.
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Dan 1:50PM (10/06/2009)
Stage center, Bob Lutz bursts through the wall carrying a pitcher of Bob Lutz
BOB: Oh yeahhhh!
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