A New Light For GM and American Manufacturing: The Chevy Volt

[tdavis]

By: BW Editor

It is no surprise that GM's market share has slipped to an all-time American low in the Auto Industry. With GM selling Saab, Hummer, Saturn and Pontiac, they are left only with an estimated 4.4% market share; this share being made up of only Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.

At the Denver Automotive Convention, it was noticeably obvious that GM was focused on their Truck and Large SUV production. At an attempt to out strategize their competitors, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and so on, GM showed off some of their newest fuel efficient models. These models included the Cobalt, Malibu, Aveo and HHR. All models were above 30 MPG. Even though GM introduced these new models to America, it was obvious that their marketing strategies would have to change.

Finally GM has emerged from Bankruptcy and hopefully has landed on their feet running. The anticipation of the new fully electric GM car, Volt, has Americans interested. The new Chevy Volt is an extended-range electric car that...

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[poverlay]

1. Those idiots could have come out with the Volt several years ago. n/t

[tdavis]

2. They came out with the EV-1 then crushed them all because the oil companies

were pressuring them. So people say. GM said it was because of the battery...

[Kokonoe]

3. 'they are left only with an estimated 4.4% market share' is not factual.

Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC -- accounted for 16.5 percent of the market in June, according to industry researcher Autodata Corp.

[tdavis]

8. Im not so sure. I think that 16% is the their total market share but that might be wrong as well.

"To see the results, just look at some market-share numbers. Through the first half of this year, Chevrolet had a 12.3 percent slice of the U.S. auto market, according to Autodata. GM as a whole had a 19.7 percent share. GM has agreements in place to sell Saab, Hummer, and Saturn, and it is closing Pontiac. The brands that will remain with the new GM, besides Chevy, are Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. Together, those three accounted for just 4.4 percent market share. "

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31851390/ns/business-autos/

[NickB79]

4. GM is pinning their hopes on a $30,000-$40,000 car in the worst recession in 75 years?

Good luck with that :eyes:

[angryfirelord]

5. The battery alone might kill it

I highly doubt that it would function very well in the winter time and the large charge/discharge cycles would mean that it would have to be replaced a lot more often. The battery pack I believe costs around $14,000, so maintenance costs would really add up over time.

But hey, it's still new technology and I'm sure some of the rich folks will start picking up on it. Hopefully from there we'll let capitalism take its course.

[pokercat999]

6. Capitalism will take it's course and the offshore car

companies will introduce their own version only more reliable and cheaper. Do you think Mercedes, BMW, VW, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai and others will lets this happen without competition?

Check this out............. http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-012209.php

[divideandconquer]

7. The Volt is just the image leader, Chevy Cruze is the Japanese car destroyer

<http://www.chevrolet.com/future-vehicles/cruze/>

[tdavis]

10. Ha that is to costly. Either way the only way they could do it cheaper is to import the car already

built. And To be honost I am not buying that. I wouldent want the auto industry to end up like the American TV industry.

[tdavis]

9. The EV 1 was working fine so I do not think that this car will have that many problems with

the new tech