Volt 2.0: Ruess "It will leap-frog... the competition"

That article is from 1.5 years before the change and owner-satisfaction doesn't have anything to do with finding an audience.

 

I'm not sure many Prius and Tesla owners would agree with that statement.

 

"Finding an audience" means exactly that. The who is an unknown, since the intended target was missed.

"Convincing those identified consumers" is what your thinking of.

 

John likes using these poetic, yet vague terms that mean something other than what they seem to.
I am sure he will let you know why it is that having high owner satisfaction has nothing to do with "finding an audience".




















Merged.

OK John, I can run downtown in a Volt and find an Audience at the Guthrie, or any movie theater. Obviously that is not what you meant.
So that we can have a discussion, please clarify what you mean by "finding an audience".

 

where's hill, to ream gm a new one, when you need him?when is the 50 mpg hybrid malibu coming?

 

Volt did not reach mainstream consumers, it ended up being a niche. There's nothing wrong with a specialty vehicle though.

That left us wondering if gen-2 would change radically, like gen-2 did for Prius or another vehicle would be offered.

 

So by "find an audience" you mean "reach mainstream consumers"?

It has reached some, not many, but a few. So would I be correct in assuming you also connect a quantity to that?
Perhaps your "mass production" number of 60,000/year?

When you use flowery speech such as "finding an audience" it really does nothing to convey information.
"Mainstream consumers" isn't much better.

Hard numbers, such as 5% market share, or 60,000/year are much easier as everyone knows exactly what that means.

 

I did the last time you asked the question, that's why I worded it differently this time.

 

I just don't understand the logic?
Because you answered me once in a clear manner, you then decide to answer someone else using unclear terms?

Regardless, GM is currently has the most popular plugin hybrid and one of the three most popular plugin vehicles.
With the second generation they improved a number of issues that were seen in the first gen, increased the electric range and improved the fuel efficiency of the gas engine.

Technically, the car is much improved. Will that translate into sales? It is still fairly early, however it seems to have been a nice boost to sales.

Leap-frog? Well, that is a rather tough thing to decide, as it is another squishy term that could mean all sorts of things.
If the competition is other plugin hybrids and the measuring stick is miles of electric range, then yes, that lead is pretty substantial.
If the competition is all other cars and the measuring stick is sales, then no, nowhere close.

Will/has it "leap-frogged" the "competition" in the way the speaker thought? Most likely.
Has it "leap-frogged" the "competition" in the way each and every individual person interprets that phase? Assuredly not.

 

Are we reading too much into owners satisfaction? Used Car Owner Satisfaction | Consumer Reports

Tesla had 99%

Tesla Model S "Not Recommended" by Consumer Reports

 

"Reaching the masses" is not always the same as "technically perfect".

If 90% of people were to buy a certain brand of car and gave it a 100% owner satisfaction number even though it only had an average reliability rating, it wouldn't matter. Sales will still grow and the market share is still 90%.

It does make it easier for competitors to build a better version (more reliable) so that market share could shrink in the future.
Reliability and market share really aren't correlated all that tightly, especially when there is a lack of competitive products.

 

Try this then...

What comes after the low-hanging fruit has been picked?

In other words, once the early adopters have all made their purchases, then what?

 

What is it your desire GM do?

Get out of the car business? Make only gas guzzlers? Return to there previous culture of making yesterday's cars? What?????

I'm of the opposite opinion. GM should focus on high quality reliable cars progressing to sustainable transportation fueling. Dang, that is what they seem to be doing with the Volt and the Bolt. GM has a lot of lost ground to make up...but I cannot criticize the new culture. I can only encourage it to continue.

Meanwhile, nearly every criticism you target at GM concerning the Volt actually applies to the Mirai many times more intensely. What audience are they after? Is that "audience" bigger or smaller than the Volt?

 

And how about you let us know when the Prius can go farther than 200 miles on a gallon of gasoline.

This is what has many of us puzzled by the Prime.

Would be nice, but I'd settle for 100 miles at that price. The range and price would be hard arguing against for a commuter car in a multi car household.

I don't see the next Leaf dropping much in price, but I am beginning to think in might have an Al-air battery range extender as an option.

GM also continues to tinker with mild hybrids with 900 eAssist pick ups being offered for sale in California. The hybrid premium is only $500 to $700 on them.

 

exactly.

 

I'm only guessing, as I am not GM, but I suspect they want to expand the market. Thus the improvements in gen 2.
That seems a pretty obvious goal for a car company, don't you think?

 

If the car is much improved, it would be reflected in sky rocketing sales. That, still has not happened. Just settle for thr realization that the Volt is, and will be always a niche car and be done with this nonsense.

DBCassidy

 

The expectation of gen-2 Volt being the same nature of upgrade as the gen-2 Prius was the theme for 5 years. Enthusiasts had anticipated high demand for a vehicle that would be highly marketable. That didn't happen. It's evident GM got stuck with their approach of sticking to the original plan. They did indeed deliver a vehicle with a "40 mile" range in the end, 5 years later than hoped. Cost was reduced too. Hybrid efficiency still doesn't compete with Prius though. High-Tech draws like LED headlights, HUD instruments, and Adaptive-Cruise weren't added either.

Toyota took an entirely different approach with Prime, taking advantage of the flexibility they allowed by creating an entirely new offering rather than adhering to the convention Prius established. That change can be looked upon as being hypocritical; however, it does confirm the flexibility. Being able to adjust to an ever-changing market is a very important lesson GM only now is learning the hard way.

Look at Prime for examples. It will delivers great hybrid efficiency, as well as a bunch of high-tech draws, right from the start. Come mid-cycle update time, we may get a bump in EV range or a reduction in the battery-pack size or a lowering of the sticker-price or new packages to choose from. Heck, we could even get another plug-in vehicle. That flexibility is available. What in the world will GM do for Volt for mid-cycle? Think about the terrible timing that will be, having the tax-credit phaseout taking place then.

These are concerns gen-2 Volt was supposed to address.