Not at $40k plus. Granted the production numbers are relatively low, but it seems like GM can't make enough Volts. 
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Dec. 1, 2010 1:12 p.m. bravenrace SuperDork
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Dec. 1, 2010 1:40 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork
I believe a large reason of that is because a few corporations are wanting them as fleet vehicles. I think General Electric may have been one of them? Read the article on it a few days ago, didn't think much of it at the time, though.
It's not 240,000 individuals, though, for sure.
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Dec. 1, 2010 1:44 p.m. Otto_Maddox HalfDork
This has happened before, even recently. They couldn't put together enough Solstices at first. A couple of years later, the Solstice was gone, the whole friggin Pontiac division was gone, and GM was bankrupt.
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Dec. 1, 2010 1:54 p.m. Pumpkin Escobar SuperDork
I love the ridiculous comments on articles in AB and Jalopnik etc. There really are some asshats out in the world.
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Dec. 1, 2010 1:58 p.m. Klayfish Reader
What is a "potential buyer" defined as anyway?
I have no doubt they'll sell every one they can build for a while. With all the press it's received, it may well become the newest "fashion trend" for greenies.
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Dec. 1, 2010 2:17 p.m. HiTempguy HalfDork
Is there an issue with, OH I DON'T KNOW, producing the Volt at the rates they can and just sell them as they are built? Rather than using extra resources to build extra capacity they more than likely eventually won't need. If a kajillion people are interested now, why wouldn't they be in a year or two?
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Dec. 1, 2010 2:19 p.m. Pumpkin Escobar SuperDork
HiTempguy wrote:
Is there an issue with, OH I DON'T KNOW, producing the Volt at the rates they can and just sell them as they are built? Rather than using extra resources to build extra capacity they more than likely eventually won't need. If a kajillion people are interested now, why wouldn't they be in a year or two?
market saturation - if every other mfr realizes the demand, they will join the game, and GM loses marketshare.
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Dec. 1, 2010 2:20 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
240,000 "potential buyers"? Pfft, I've got 740 billion potential buyers for my electric car. Take claims of "potential buyers" with a strong grain of salt. Anyone is a "potential buyer".
That said, the Volt will sell like mad initially. Just like how many initial stock offerings sell madly at first. Then, once the frantic fans are sated, things die down. The greenies are going to buy the Volt. Especially the ones that want to be domestic greenies. Mostly various government agencies, a few strange individuals, and then, almost no one else.
So sure, GM will not be able to keep up with demand. Just like how Nintendo couldn't supply enough Wii units last christmas. No problem finding them on the shelf this year, is there?
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Dec. 1, 2010 2:28 p.m. bravenrace SuperDork
foxtrapper wrote:
That said, the Volt will sell like mad initially. Just like how many initial stock offerings sell madly at first. Then, once the frantic fans are sated, things die down. The greenies are going to buy the Volt. Especially the ones that want to be domestic greenies. Mostly various government agencies, a few strange individuals, and then, almost no one else.
You forgot all the Hollywood weenies with more money and opinions than brains. They'll trade in their Prius's on the Volt to show how green (and patriotic!) they are while driving to the airport to get on their private jet.
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Dec. 1, 2010 2:52 p.m. Pumpkin Escobar SuperDork
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Dec. 1, 2010 3:24 p.m. WilberM3 Reader
well remember they dont really cost that much as there's that federal subsidy that covers about 25% of the msrp right off the top
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Dec. 1, 2010 3:39 p.m. kreb Dork
I have gotten really sick of the Volt. - Not the hype. Not the car itself. I'm sick of all the people who have turned it into a political football rather than waiting for the car, actually trying it, then making an educated judgement based on empirical data and subjective, first-hand experience.
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Dec. 1, 2010 3:42 p.m. RexSeven Dork
kreb wrote:
I have gotten really sick of the Volt. - Not the hype. Not the car itself. I'm sick of all the people who have turned it into a political football rather than waiting for the car, actually trying it, then making an educated judgement based on empirical data and subjective, first-hand experience.
Quoted for truth.
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Dec. 1, 2010 3:45 p.m. Schmidlap Reader
Even tripling production will still only be about 130,000 cars per year which is 20,000 less than the Prius' 2009 North American sales total, and a long way from it's peak of 180,000/yr in NA. I don't think they'll get there with the $41,00 price tag ($33K with federal subsidy), but they have a pretty inexpensive lease that could get them up there. It's only $350/month for 36 months with $2500 down. I also wonder if that increased production number includes the rumoured Cadillac hybrid thingy that would compete with the Lexus Prius-type thing.
It will be very interesting to see how this car does. If they can bump up the production numbers, I wonder how quickly the price will drop.
Bob
