GM to kill Chevy Volt production in 2019

is this sooner than expected?

 

This isn't like EV1, selectively killing off a single car line. It is just one small piece of a major corporate restructuring:

GM is reinventing itself. Its cutting 15% of its salaried workers and shutting 5 plants in North America

"New York (CNN Business)General Motors on Monday announced a major restructuring of its global business, saying it will shut production at five facilities in North America and slash its staff. GM will reduce its salaried workforce by 15%, including a quarter of the company's executives.

The moves are the first big steps in the century-old GM's transformation. The company is reinvesting money away from cars that once dominated America's roadways and putting it into technology it believes will power its future.

GM's new motto is "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestion," signaling a shift to self-driving, electric vehicles. But the restructuring is also about making cars people want now. Customers are increasingly shunning sedans in favor of SUVs and hatchbacks. ..."

 

It's not surprising, unfortunately, that the last day of Volt production (March 31, 2019) is the exact last day before the Volt's $7,500 tax credit gets cut in half to $3,750.

Time running out for Chevy EV buyers to get tax credits | Toledo Blade

 

So this must be the result of finding "the magic wand" for manufacturing ...

Never mind, completing that thought risks pushing this thread to FHoPol.

 

If the Cruze sedan production wasn't also coming to an end, 5 GM factories being closed, some lay offs weren't taking place, a financial quarter coming to an end, and Bolt production continuing, yes, it could all be about the end of their tax credits.

 

i hope this isn't the end of gm. again.

when do those japanese tariffs kick in?

 

This is not like the EV1! There is no indication that GM will be going out to round up all the Volts to crush them.

 

only because they now know that it won't put an end to the nonsense

 

They also made the mistake of actually selling some of them.

 

ya, that makes it more difficult for sure

 

The Volt will live on in spirit.

 

As does the EV1... in infamy and spirit....

 

There are > 180,000 Chevy volts running around the USA minus those that suffered from catastrophic collisions or end of life through excess miles. Safe to say there are still 6 figures worth of 'em running around - maybe 90% of the time traveling on electrons. Dino juice saved .... always a good thing!
In addition - after the USA volt factory shut down in 2019 - China took over manufacturing under the Buick moniker - using the volt guts/platform.



Buick's version of the Volt will live on in China, along with the LaCrosse


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nice looking vehicle - also looks very practical.

 

Why not in the US?

 

Most likely the same reason they don't make some Toyota cars that we don't get here in the U.S. ..... competition with their other models that they want to be supporting more. Manufacturers need big sales on new models to amortize R&D - among several other rationales.
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EDIT:
yikes! Looking at the wiki page?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Velite_6

the phev has over 150 miles ev range! Yea - that would definitely encroach on an all electric vehicle's sales imo. Wouldn't mind at ALL .... being able to use gas that infrequently. Is there another phev with ev range anywhere near that?
..... and DC fast charging !
besides utility - the looks definitely don't hurt the eyes.


.

 

since the chinese aren't selling any ev's here yet, it looks like a nice entry. i would be very interested

 

Yeah, but if R&D is already spent. Not selling just because it is not a big sale makes no sense to me. Do they sell enough Hummer EV to make it profitable? But... I don't understand most of the marketing decisions the corporate CFO makes. I don't have MBA, and will never understand their rationale.

It is a good-looking car though. I want it.