What! Me Worry? GM 's Nitz Says $41,000 Volt Will Have Plenty of Buyers
By John O'Dell August 3, 2010
While many of us out here in news land are wondering about GM's decision to price the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt at a hefty $41,000, the General is displaying carefree nonchalance.
Larry Nitz, GM's executive director of hybrid and electric powertrain engineering, told an audience that the annual Traverse City, Mich., executive briefing session today that the extended-range plug-in hybrid should have "a plentiful supply of customers at that price."
Nitz mentioned the fact that a federal tax subsidy will reduce the four-seat Volt's MSRP by $7,500, but did not address the notion that many GM dealers are likely to expect significant markups for the rechargeable electric-drive car with an on-board generator.car.
Even with a newly announced production increase of 50 percent to 45,000 units in total for the first year, GM's extended-range plug-in hybrid is likely to be in high demand by early adopters and environmentally concerned customers.
Bill Visnic, AutoObserver Senior Editor
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I do not find their nonchalance surprising as the very large discount on the lease price against the buy price together with comments from GM on drastic alterations to the set-up for Volt II all indicate to me that the present model is not long for this world.
On a different note, my understanding is that in the first year of production, the run of around 10,000 vehicles stands, and it is in the second year that the targets have been upped to 45,000 vehicles?
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