GM will build Chevy Bolt in Michigan in late 2016, report says

4133 Views 34 Replies 25 Participants Last post by MechEng, Feb 7, 2015

Ute

Discussion Starter · Feb 5, 2015

DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors plans to begin building the Chevrolet Bolt, its all-new $30,000 electric car, in October 2016 at an underused small-car plant north of Detroit, two supplier sources told Reuters.

GM's production target for the Bolt is about 25,000 to 30,000 cars a year, the sources said.

The Bolt will be assembled, along with a companion model for GM's Opel subsidiary in Europe, at the Orion Township plant, the sources said.

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...evy-bolt-in-michigan-in-late-2016-report-says

Save

1 - 20 of 35 Posts

jzchev28

· #2 · Feb 5, 2015

I wonder if that might be high on the production numbers, we'll see. All their cards have not been shown on the Bolt fyi

Save

EJD1984

· #3 · Feb 5, 2015

If they can come close to those sales projections, and keep the price (after federal incentives) near the $30k, how much will the Volt be hurt in the long run?

Save

Good news.

Let's just hope they wise-up and change the name before then. It's an awful name to use in light of the Volt being sold across the same showroom. Sounds gimmicky and childish.

Besides with, if they hope to sell it in some world markets without changing the moniker, they'll likely clash with Tata Motors who is selling their own vehicle named Bolt in select markets. Why establish the name when you're going to have to change it in some parts of the world? Why use it only to gear up for a lawsuit?

Better to come up with something unique and all-your-own rather than fight an unnecessary fight.

EJD1984 said:
If they can come close to those sales projections, and keep the price (after federal incentives) near the $30k, how much will the Volt be hurt in the long run?

That's a good question.

Honestly, upon reading this news, I was kind of shocked they'd built it in Michigan keep the price in the $30K ballpark. I figured it was solely a political thing or to make a statement.

Still, I guess you could look at it as different tools for different uses. If you think that you'll eventually take your vehicle on longer trips or long commutes, you'd get the Volt. If you think you're going to use it to say "local", then it makes more sense to get the "Bolt".

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

Dequindre

· #5 · Feb 6, 2015

nadepalma said:
Good news.

Let's just hope they wise-up and change the name before then. It's an awful name to use in light of the Volt being sold across the same showroom. Sounds gimmicky and childish.

Besides with, if they hope to sell it in some world markets without changing the moniker, they'll likely clash with Tata Motors who is selling their own vehicle named Bolt in select markets.

The name has never really bothered me. A lot of people seem to share your opinion, but I think it plays a bit on name recognition.

Save

steve333

· #6 · Feb 6, 2015

If the Volt didn't exist it wouldn't have been bad but now it just sounds silly

Save

fbg6coupe

· #7 · Feb 6, 2015

I feel there needs to be a bigger price difference to justify this vehicle. I see alot of new Volts at around the same price... Before incentives. This needed to come in at $25k to make sense. Now it will just take away from Volt sales, or flop altogether.

Save

Ed753

· #8 · Feb 6, 2015

25,000 - 30,000 That is the first year, then 60,000 the 2nd and 120,000 in the 3rd?

onder:

Where have I heard that before?

Save

Reactions: 2

sepi

· #9 · Feb 6, 2015

More good money thrown after bad - the VaporVolt has been a disaster since day one - last month was so horrific that you would have to be an idiot to expand a lineup UNLESS you find a novel way to market it.

Save

sfbreh

· #10 · Feb 6, 2015

Ed753 said:
25,000 - 30,000 That is the first year, then 60,000 the 2nd and 120,000 in the 3rd?

onder:

Where have I heard that before?

The first Bolt. Volt*

If they sell 25,000 Bolts in 2016, I'll buy a hat and eat it. Then I'll go trick or treating, stick razors in one of the apples I'd be sure to get from some old couple, and eat then that and sue them.

They're not selling 25,000 $30,000 200 mile subcompact EVs when they can't even sell 25,000 Volts. The best thing they could do for Bolt is outfit it with a Tesla charger.

Save

OrionWorker

· #11 · Feb 6, 2015

As someone who works at Orion Assembly, I would be completely 100% shocked if we did not receive this product. As for the number of units sold, remember that will be globally not just in the US. As for the price of that car being held at 30k. For those of you who are unaware, during the bankruptcy the UAW and GM, along with the help of the government all worked together for a way to build a small car in the US. GM was given MASSIVE tax breaks for a period of 20 years... I could be wrong on that number but I feel as if though it is very close. In addition to the tax breaks GM was allowed and is still allowed to bring in as many 2nd tier workers at the plant as possible, no other GM worker may transfer there, so once a tier 1 worker leaves he is immediately replaced by one making 16.28 an hour or roughly 12 dollars an hour less. In addition to the base wage being significantly lower the 2nd tier worker also has reduced benefits lending itself to greater savings for the company. What I believe ALOT of people do not know about the facility is that in addition to the 2nd tier workers it also has various 3rd party groups in the plant that have taken over work that GM employees once did, again at a significantly reduced cost. So having said all that, I do believe GM can and will produce that car starting at 30K with government incentives, which I believe is what has been claimed all along.

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

georgewerr

· #12 · Feb 6, 2015

OrionWorker said:
As someone who works at Orion Assembly, I would be completely 100% shocked if we did not receive this product. As for the number of units sold, remember that will be globally not just in the US. As for the price of that car being held at 30k. For those of you who are unaware, during the bankruptcy the UAW and GM, along with the help of the government all worked together for a way to build a small car in the US. GM was given MASSIVE tax breaks for a period of 20 years... I could be wrong on that number but I feel as if though it is very close. In addition to the tax breaks GM was allowed and is still allowed to bring in as many 2nd tier workers at the plant as possible, no other GM worker may transfer there, so once a tier 1 worker leaves he is immediately replaced by one making 16.28 an hour or roughly 12 dollars an hour less. In addition to the base wage being significantly lower the 2nd tier worker also has reduced benefits lending itself to greater savings for the company. What I believe ALOT of people do not know about the facility is that in addition to the 2nd tier workers it also has various 3rd party groups in the plant that have taken over work that GM employees once did, again at a significantly reduced cost. So having said all that, I do believe GM can and will produce that car starting at 30K with government incentives, which I believe is what has been claimed all along.

My first thought was of the tier 2 workers at this plant, but never heard about tax breaks tied to small car production and would like to see a link supporting this. I know there are large tax breaks being taken from the massif losses from before the bankruptcy is there any chance you are mixing up the two.

Save

Coloradokid

· #13 · Feb 6, 2015

OrionWorker said:
As someone who works at Orion Assembly, I would be completely 100% shocked if we did not receive this product. As for the number of units sold, remember that will be globally not just in the US. As for the price of that car being held at 30k. For those of you who are unaware, during the bankruptcy the UAW and GM, along with the help of the government all worked together for a way to build a small car in the US. GM was given MASSIVE tax breaks for a period of 20 years... I could be wrong on that number but I feel as if though it is very close. In addition to the tax breaks GM was allowed and is still allowed to bring in as many 2nd tier workers at the plant as possible, no other GM worker may transfer there, so once a tier 1 worker leaves he is immediately replaced by one making 16.28 an hour or roughly 12 dollars an hour less. In addition to the base wage being significantly lower the 2nd tier worker also has reduced benefits lending itself to greater savings for the company. What I believe ALOT of people do not know about the facility is that in addition to the 2nd tier workers it also has various 3rd party groups in the plant that have taken over work that GM employees once did, again at a significantly reduced cost. So having said all that, I do believe GM can and will produce that car starting at 30K with government incentives, which I believe is what has been claimed all along.

Thanks for sharing. I went on a tour of that plant in 2011 when they had the open house. There is still a lot of room in there.

Have you heard anything else about the Encore/Trax being build at Orion in the future? I was hoping the Encore and/or Trax would be built there as well since I really like the vehicles and would like to buy or lease one, but I will not if they are continued to be made in Korea (If I want a Korean car, I would buy a Hyundai or Kia). For the past three years at the auto show I asked Buick reps when and if the Encore is going to be built at Orion. The first two times they said soon, but this year they said it will not be built in the US until at least the refresh in MY 2018. You guys do an awesome job and I wish you the best!

Save

Coloradokid

· #14 · Feb 6, 2015

georgewerr said:
My first thought was of the tier 2 workers at this plant, but never heard about tax breaks tied to small car production and would like to see a link supporting this. I know there are large tax breaks being taken from the massif losses from before the bankruptcy is there any chance you are mixing up the two.

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/.../news/us/en/2009/Jun/0626_SmallCarPlants.html

http://businessjournaldaily.com/gm-picks-orion-plant-new-small-car-2009-6-16

Save

rand49er

· #15 · Feb 6, 2015

Having seen this vehicle at the NAIAS a couple of weeks ago, I think it's winner. Heck, I'd like to own one.

25-30,000 of them seems optimistic what with the lack of residential charging (220V) systems being a significant barrier.

Seems to me it's too late to change the name at this point even if they were contemplating it. Could the name, "Bolt," by itself limit sales?

Save

CaptainDan

· #16 · Feb 6, 2015

Maybe they can sell some versions under other brands.

Buick Screw.

Cadillac Rivet.

GMC Wingnut.

Save

Reactions: 1

Ed753

· #17 · Feb 6, 2015

Happy for the Orion Plant and all my friends that work there.

But, GM couldn't export the Volt (Ampera) when the dollar was weaker, it's going to be even harder to export the Bolt if the dollar remains strongs.

Save

Ed753

· #18 · Feb 6, 2015

CaptainDan said:
Maybe they can sell some versions under other brands.

Buick Screw.

Cadillac Rivet.

GMC Wingnut.

Wingnut is a hockey fan, how about Lugnut?

Save

63impala

· #19 · Feb 6, 2015

nadepalma said:
Good news.

Besides with, if they hope to sell it in some world markets without changing the moniker, they'll likely clash with Tata Motors who is selling their own vehicle named Bolt in select markets. Why establish the name when you're going to have to change it in some parts of the world? Why use it only to gear up for a lawsuit?

Typical GM...call it one name in North America and something else in other markets. Besides, Opel Bolt sounds REALLY ridiculous.

Save

Rocket 88

· #20 · Feb 6, 2015

Does Bolt sound worse then the Cruze did a few years ago? Better then SS?

Naming products doesn't seem to be GMs forte... But I thnk it'll work out ok.

Save

1 - 20 of 35 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month