Featured Bolt the cannibal and used hybrid/plug-in generator

That has literally nothing to do with the question I asked. They are about to bring the sixth year to a close. Sales volume needs to at least double. How will that growth be achieved ?

 

Why must the Volt's sales double? It is already outselling many hybrids on the market. Have you held Toyota's feet to the fire over how the Prius v and c are doing?

Why can't GM increase their plug in sales through the introduction of more models? More choices in a segment has increased total sales in the past. Last month, plug in sales were over 1% of new cars sold. That is better than diesels got back when the fuel was still cheap in most of the country.

 

I can see it now, next time Akio Toyoda comes to California, he'll be driving a Model S, and this will be his custom vanity license plate;



btw, any of you model 3 reservation holders want it ... it's available!
I suppose I should show a little more grace ....

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The goal of gen-2 Volt was sales growth.

What was the point of the upgrade investment if it doesn't attract more interest?

 

Geez, give it some time. It's not like Prius sales doubled every year. ...
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The introduction of gen-2 Prius more than doubled its first year, and without a tax-credit.

Volt enthusiasts claimed gen-2 would do even better.

Why not expect the second year to do at least as well?

 

The gen1 Prius was basically a special order car in most of the country. The gen2 being on more dealer lots alone would increase sales, but it was also bigger with better fuel economy, and could have features only available on a Lexus. The Volt had nationwide availability from the beginning.

Then there is the truism of hybrid sales following the price of gas. The 2016 inflation adjust price for a gallon of gas in 2003 was $2.05. In 2004 it was up to $2.36. Then $2.81 in 2005 and $3.08 in 2006. Finally peaking in 2008 at $3.63, before it went back down. 2008 is also the year that Prius sales had peaked in the US, which is also when the incentives were at their best. 2016 sales numbers might be lower than the 2005 ones.

Gas prices started to climb back up in 2011 to where they were in 2008, which is when Prius sales started to recover, but they had started dropping in 2013, and quickly in the past couple of years. Now a gallon of gas is $2.25 at this time. Despite the lower gas prices, Volt sales appear to meet previous years' best, and might beat them.

So the Prius growth in sales was helped by high gas prices, not by being the next generation alone, and the gen2 Volt is doing as well in its first year as the gen1 did in its best.

Toyota Prius Sales Figures - GOOD CAR BAD CAR
U.S. Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices (Dollars per Gallon)
Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2016

 

well - for two reasons;
#1 using the barely available 1st-gen Prius to shuffle the deck & make Prius sales increases look more than they are is disingenuous. Greater honesty would look at years difference between '04,' 05, '06,' '07, '08 etc & beyond
# 2 claiming no tax credit for the 2nd gen Prius is also disingenuous, & that's the nicest word one can label that claim;
2004 Toyota Prius Certified for Clean-Burning Fuel Deduction

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It's all just denial of the problem at hand now.

TRADITIONAL VEHICLE SALES ARE ABSOLUTELY CRUSHING PLUG-IN VEHICLES.

No amount of spin or excuses will change that.

Go ahead, settle for a "good enough". Some of us want a grade higher than "C". Constructive discussion has been lost. Time to unwatch.

 

An optimistic company may not call it/sales a problem - but rather an opportunity. And as Bob always says, 'perfect is the enemy of good enough' . The IRS cite was just a correction. No offense intended, but .... oh well ...

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My comment of badge engineering is more in reference to everyone saying GM has changed their tactics. I understand that platforms are shared and that helps on costs but I also see no point to 4 brands vying for 2 groups of customers. The comment about Buick being like Mercury is pretty accurate, also what happened to Mercury may also fall on Buick. I think GM would be better served with two brands. Most likely Chevrolet and Cadillac and leave Buick to China (their best customers). Instead of axing the companies it might be in their best interest to sell off.

 

Lexus is playing the market, and I agree many people will never buy an EV or even consider a hybrid. As much as they try, it will take time hybrids are just now becoming more common and no longer avoided and how long did that take? Nearly 20 years. People's buying habits won't change overnight. Nor what they purchase.

 

Considering pigs like the Equinox can sell nearly 200,000 units a year while The new Volt struggles despite being way better in quality. Throw a lift on it and they'll mindlessly buy anything

 

Your missing the point that other manufacturers were taking pot shots at his choice of car so why should they get a pass(?).

You know the anti-plug in campaign continues to this day. Lexus takes aim at electric vehicles, again - Autoblog

 

but he was talking about gm.

 

'if you have the car, i have the time'

 

Now you've put the Miller High Life song in my head ;-)

 

Include a picture of you charging it. Lexus has also said that people won't charge phevs ;-)

 

GM kills the electric car, and people complain.

GM brings a very nice little electric car that would be great for suburban commuters and people complain.

What is the commonality here?