Chevrolet News:GM Allowing Their Dealers To Sell Volt Demos

[William Maley]

Today, General Motors told it's dealers that they are free to sell their Chevrolet Volt demonstration models. The move will increase the number of Volts on sale from 1,800 to 4,100.

GM launched the Volt back in December in seven markets and since July has been rolling out the Volt nationwide to, and is nearing its target of 2,600 dealers in all 50 states. The problem is dealers have been given a Volt to use a demo only.

“Multiple dealers have requested to sell their demo to satisfy customer demand,” GM said in a memo to dealers.

GM spokesman Tom Henderson told Automotive News that GM is “giving them the choice to satisfy their customers and the flexibility to meet pent-up demand.” To compensate for depreciation and for the cost of removing some decals from the demo models, GM will reimburse dealers $1,500. But to get the reimbursement, dealers will need to sell the demo by January 3rd. Then dealers will need to get a new Volt demo by the end of January.

General Motors is hoping with this move they will be able to meet their lofty goal of selling 10,000 Volts by the end of year. Through October, GM only 5,003 Volts.

Source: Automotive News

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[daves87rs]

Hmm...

[G. David Felt]

I think this is a good Idea to get more on the road, I just finally saw a red volt here in Seattle. They need to get more out on the road so people driving can see them. Plus step up production.

[Blake Noble]

GM only 5,003 Volts or accidentally 5,003 Volts? Either way, sounds painful.

[hyperv6]

We just got out first ones here and they were only the Demo's.

While this was never going to be a high volume car it would have sold much better if more were available. I know they would have sold a number of them here in Ohio if you could get one.

[A Horse With No Name]

We have several running around Columbus...I actually really like this car!

[Satty]

Anything that frees up inventory is a good thing. I've seen several and really like it, and the way Drew sings its praises I'm thinking it'll actually be a popular car once more people can check it out.

[Drew Dowdell]

The only downside to the Volt is cost. It is a perfectly normal every day car that can get 100s of miles to the gallon in every day use. There are people out there getting 3,000 miles to a tank!

[Z-06]

But come to think of it, Leaf has gone up in price and the Focus Electric will be closer to Volt in pricing too.

[G. David Felt]

The leaf while being plentiful in Seattle is a joke. Talk about a way over priced as they all are advertised starting at $34K, but on the lot, with the 2nd sticker they are all over $40K. I see a number of them for private sale with a few hundred miles and still priced at over $40K. If you have money to burn I guess you can have a toy, but not worth the time or money in a state where you have to travel due to a very poor mass transit system.

[Robert Hall]

Interesting to see there were more demos than non-demos on the lots. I've only seen 3 Volts here--two in front of a Chevy dealer showroom a few months ago (replaced by Camaro convertibles and Cruzes there since then) and one wrecked one on a flatbed. I do see a few Leafs on the streets..

[ocnblu]

I'm shocked that the Volt isn't flying off the lots. Really I am.

[hyperv6]

I really think the car woluld sell better if there were more of them around the country. The truth is most markets outside those near an ocean hace not seent hese or have seen very few.

You are looking at a car that will just be a small part of the auto market and it is in so few markets. I have seen more Ferrari 458's because there are more of them built than the Volt.

The electric car thing is not a cheap start up for anymone. Those who condem the Volt for price need to condem any electric car. As more are sold and a segment is established the segment will get a little more cheaper as time goes on. MFG will invest their own money and not GM's to make parts that will be cheaper and more competitive. It will take time as this segment will see slow growth in witht he high prices and public acceptance.

I have only seen 2 volts here and that was just a week or so ago and I have yet to see a Leaf. The only other electric car I see around here is a Tesla or two and they are more novelty toys for the rich than a real daily driver.

As for the Leaf and any other full electric car. I really don't expect to see many here in the cold midwest as they are presented today. They just lack the cold weather range and our drives to work are not short.

For the most part here with the lack of any Volts being sent here many people really have little clue of them. They have heard of them but could not really tell you much about them other than they are electric. Not everyone keep up on automotive news.

One thing that may has made this car more a challange is the Cruze Eco. This car alone is selling in great numbers at a not so cheap price and is doing better MPG than the EPA numbers. I have several buddies with them and they love this car as it takes nothing specail to buy run or deal with. They only care about MPG and that is what they get.

The Volt will remain and the price will shrink as well as the range will grow. It will always be a little more expensive but will still be acceptable. GM has long ago understood this car was a slow growth car and if you build it you need to build the market. If they did not build it there would never be a market.

[Drew Dowdell]

I haven't looked at inventory lately, but as I recall, it wasn't much. Hard to sell cars you don't have.

[67impss]

The leaf while being plentiful in Seattle is a joke. Talk about a way over priced as they all are advertised starting at $34K, but on the lot, with the 2nd sticker they are all over $40K. I see a number of them for private sale with a few hundred miles and still priced at over $40K. If you have money to burn I guess you can have a toy, but not worth the time or money in a state where you have to travel due to a very poor mass transit system.

That's just the thing that worries me about the electric Sonic, we will see them for sale with less than 1000 mi on them. That will be epic fail!

[ocnblu]

It is obvious to me they're doing this to try to meet their 10k unit goal. But they will still fall short, regardless of who marks me down for it.

[Robert Hall]

I guess the only model really equivalent to the Volt as far the configuration is the Prius Plug In, but it's only about $32k.

[G. David Felt]

I guess the only model really equivalent to the Volt as far the configuration is the Prius Plug In, but it's only about $32k.

I would still take the Volt over the Prius. It is a way over rated auto. Not to mention that while GM might not have hit it with their original electric car in the 90's, the Prius does show that if you have the right product at the right time it will sell.

Edited November 10, 2011 by dfelt

[lt1george]

Why would anyone buy a Nissan Leaf ?? Here's one that run out of juice and couldn't make it in driveway. Look at long extention cord. At least the Volt has gas back up. Buy a Volt.....save a few gallons.

[ocnblu]

... of sweat from raking your Leaf back into the garage to plug it in?