33,000 Potential Buyers Raise Hands for Chevy Volt - Symbolically
August 12, 2008

More than 33,000 people have signed up on a symbolic waiting list to buy a Chevrolet Volt.

Lyle Dennis, a New York neurologist, created the customer sign-up on his GM-Volt Web site in May to show GM that the Volt would be in high demand. Tuesday he announced 33,000 people had signed up on his waiting list.

Now Dennis is on a crusade to push GM to compel GM to build enough Volts, available initially only in modest volumes, "to build enough cars for us."

Dennis launched a GM-Volt Web site last year to encourage GM to follow through with producing the Chevy Volt, unveiled at the 2007 Detroit auto show. On June 3, GM CEO Rick Wagoner announced the automaker's board of directors approved funding for the Volt, which will be produced at GM's Hamtramck plant in Detroit.

Dennis said people now are asking about details of the waiting list, such as one's place in line and people's locations. "Handraisers," as the auto industry calls people interested in a vehicle enough to request additional information or sign-up for purchase, provide their name, address, "enthusiasm level" and the price they are willing to pay. They then are given their place in line. Of the 33,000 who have signed up, up to 8,000 have provide such detail. Not surprisingly, the greatest interest is from California, followed by Florida, Texas, Michigan and New York. The average amount they are welling to pay averaged $31,171.

"Top level GM officials are aware of this list and have mentioned the possibility of working with it. It is not official and nothing is guaranteed, but it can't hurt to try. I will keep at it," Dennis told his site visitors.

Posted by Michelle Krebs at 6:19 AM under GM , Technology | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine

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