Quote:
Originally Posted by PhishPhood
Yes but there is SO much hope here on these boards '..for a savior to rise from these streets..' ( to borrow a phrase ) and bring GM back to its rightful place.
The Volt won't be able to do this. It's a symbol, nothing more. Even if it sells 100,000 units in its 3rd yr it's a drop in the bucket. As 63GrandSport001 noted above the real fight for success is in providing inexpensive ultra fuel efficient vehicles to the masses.
By selling 100,000 units to the country club set ( Volt or PHEV Prius ) while losing the blue collar segment altogether to Hyundai, Honda or Toyota is a sure fire formula for continued frustration. IMO Toyota will have a PHEV option but that's it, it will only be an option. Its main focus will be on providing a $20000-$25000 traditional hybrid for Joe and Jane America. Honda is already staking out the low-end of the buying public with its $19000 hybrid that will get 50-60 mpg. Hyundai will have a midsized Sonata hybrid on the streets in 2010 - and it will be inexpensive. $21000 for a vehicle the size of a Malibu but that gets 40-ish mpg???
This is what attracts the buying public.
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Well I agree to some extent and disagree to some extent.
In the short term the only thing that will save GM is making good affordable quality cars with class leading fuel economy.
The Volt will not save GM by it's self but E-Flex in the long term (if they can hold on) will. 5 - 7 years from now hopefully they will be selling close to 1 Million E-Flex vehicles a year. And buy then the costs should have come down to make the vehicles more affortable for tha average person.