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Volt price cut

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by markabele, Aug 6, 2013.

  1. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    GM gives Chevrolet Volt a jolt with price cut

    Maybe this is old news, I don't know. But USAtoday had it as one of their main headlines so I figure it could be new.

    Regardless, this obviously hurts prices/values for those of us that own Volts or PiPs.
     
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    LOL!

    Macintosh users have experienced this over and over again. Then you wake up one day and realize, nothing lasts forever and technology is supposed to get better and cheaper over time. So what we used to point out is that when you've bought the latest 'hotness,' you've had all that time before to use it. We're not really buying anything as much as 'renting' until we die or it breaks and can not be repaired.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  3. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    This makes a 2014 Volt about $2,000 cheaper than a 2013 Prius Plugin after the federal tax credit. An article at plugincars.com noted that it makes the Volt cheaper than a Chevy Malibu in Colorado when state credits are included.

    Has Toyota announced the price of the 2014 Prius Plugin yet?
     
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  4. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Not sure if Toyota is willing to take a bath like GM is, even if it means not selling as many. Weren't they already losing a ton of money on every Volt sold?
     
  5. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    No.

    I assume you are referring to the stories about the Volt costing GM $250,000 for every car sold? That was absurdist BS which was unfortunately pushed along by a moronic Reuters article a year or two ago. Using that logic, Toyota routinely looses lots of money on every car sold whenever they start making a new car model or do a major remodel of an existing line.

    I haven't seen any evidence that the Volt was ever sold for less than the actual cost of making one. GM was not financially stable enough earlier to "sell at a loss" like that.

    GM is clearly cutting prices to match what Nissan did with the LEAF. Nissan claimed they were passing along savings from shifting manufacturing of the LEAF and its powertrain and battery cells from Japan to the U.S.

    GM may also be seeing cost savings from having shifted engine manufacturing from Austria to the U.S. and now the battery cells as the LG Chem plant in Michigan starts this summer. They would also be getting price cuts from suppliers as they have been increasing the volume of Volt manufacturing (48k+ Volts for the 2013 Model year).
     
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  6. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    I know the article you are referring to but unfortunately there were many other (sane) stories out about how they are taking a loss.

    Ya, because that's what corporations aim to do, always pass their savings along to consumers.
     
  7. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Link please....

    Sure, they do that every day to compete. That's just basic economics. Product prices are driven lower by competition so companies have to find savings so they can lower their sales prices to be competitive in the market.

    Everyone has said the initial cars were too expensive and the prices had to come down. Now the prices are coming down. This is a good thing!

    This will drive more volume which will further lower prices and eventually the Volt and cars like it will be "mainstream" and make john1701a happier!
     
  8. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Basic economics would also tell you the ratio is far from 1:1. They are not passing 100% of savings along to consumers. It's always a balancing act.

    And while the article last September wasn't fully true, there are definitely elements of truth to it. And you are right in saying that one could argue that every new vehicle takes a loss at first. But the difference is that other new cars usually sell a much higher volume so it takes much less time to get back to 0. With the volume that the Volt sells at it will be quite a while before they recoup their investment. The price of a vehicle can't be looked at in terms of parts and labor alone, there are many other costs involved.
     
  9. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    What is the price differential between the basic trim Plugin and a regular Prius -- $6,000? The only substantial difference is the alternate battery pack. That's something like $1,300 per kWh at the pack level with only air cooling. If Toyota had enough volume production they could likely drive down the cost of those packs substantially. Perhaps they already have.

    I think Toyota has to keep the price of the Prius Plugin significantly under the Volt after tax credits. Previously it was about $2,500 less than the Volt. Now it is $2,500 more.
     
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  10. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    I purchased my PiP for about $25k after tax credits. That sounds still under what the Volt sells for. Also, you have to remember that the PiP works much better for a significant portion of the population. You can't blindly assume that everyone would choose a Volt over the PiP even at the exact same cost.
     
  11. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    NICELY UNDER $30,000

    How many times did we hear that goal ?

    Over and over again, the importance of it was preached. How that would be achieved remained a mystery though. Promises didn't align with cost. Then when it came time to actually deliver, we found out the goal was wrecklessly abandoned.

    Now, the reason for their own advice is making itself overwhelmingly clear. They set the target. They understood what was needed. They chose to disregard cost as a priority.

    Wow! It's remarkable how the tables have turned. That's progress. Finally.
     
  12. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    You paid about $5,000 less than MSRP for your Prius Plugin? Great deal.

    Of course. I never claimed otherwise. I liked driving the PiP when I had it for a week and would be happy owning one but the Volt happened to be a better match for me. If I owned a Plugin Prius I would never be able to match the results from driving my Volt on my present overly long commute:

    100+ miles round trip commute efficiency:

    80% highway miles
    1012.0 miles (91% EV)
    231.33 kWh at 133.50 MPGe EV
    1.88 gallons gasoline at 51 mpg HV
    538 combined MPG
    116 combined MPGe

    Read more: Volt - Top 10 MPGe | PriusChat


    The PiP, Energi, and Volt PHEVs have different tradeoffs. Choice is good!
     
  13. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    I just looked at the Chevy webpage. Looks like they bump the discount back to $5k. It was $4k in July. And I remembered it was $5k in June when the Volt was flying off the lot. According to the numbers, July sales dipped, so maybe GM is revisiting their June incentives to try to get more Volt off their hands.

    So nothing new really. Now if they added more incentives, then it is new news.
     
  14. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    Price cut reflects recent incentives and resulting "net" prices Volt's have recently sold for. What would be big news is continued incentives, but for now I think unlikely.
     
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Volt concept was promoted with 40 miles EV range, 50 MPG range extender and nicely under $30k.

    Range and price are pretty close but that gas engine needs a push.

    Competition is good. With larger class plugin hybrids on the market, they need a price cut.
     
  16. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    If I were in the market for a plug in today, no question, I would choose the Volt over the PiP. It's $25,000 after rebates versus $25,800 what I paid for the PiP. $800 savings and higher EV range to boot. Toyota has to answer with a lower price if they intend to continue selling PiP's in the Golden State.
     
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  17. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    This is
    Discounts were $5,000 for the 2012 model, $4,000 for the 2013 model.
     
  18. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    True enough. Obviously all of this has been debated over and over again in other threads but PiP is best if you have a short commute and take road trips sometimes. Volt is best if you have a moderate commute but rarely want to take a road trip in it.
     
  19. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    For my driving pattern, seating and cargo capability needs, PiP is still a better choice if the prices are the same. Midsize vs. compact for the same price.

    I want more efficient gas engine for long trips so it doesn't work against the EV efficiency, resulting in long recharge time to bring it back up.
     
    markabele likes this.