Tesla Model 3

[secaturbo]

I notice no hype from chevy on the Bolt. No pre-order hype or anything, you would think they would try to grab some of the headlines with they fact they are coming out earlier than Teslas.
Everything is very...under hyped.

Got a bad feeling they can't get enough batteries either.

[MetroMPG]

The only pre-launch Bolt promotion I've seen so far was a series of photos of pre-production Bolts going down the assembly line.



2017 Chevy Bolt EV pre-production cars now being built (video)

As far as pre-orders go, GM can't really do what Tesla did because they don't sell direct to the public -- the dealers would have to take the initiative, which would be like herding cats.

[Piotrsko]

I think that Chevy can't get John Q. Public interested in EV's.

Range anxiety, explosions, crappy heat sensitive batteries, all that.


people that are interested in Teslas buy BMW's (et all) drink starbucks, carry GUCCI, all that trendy conspicuous consumer crud. Ever see anybody transfer their coffee to an unmarked insulated container? Ever see anybody fill a big gulp at starbucks?

[Ecky]

I've filled a big gulp at Starbucks, when I couldn't find any other place on the stretch of road I was driving down to fill up at.

[Piotrsko]

my point exactly. you never SAW this act. a move of desperation created by an odd set of circumstances.

[UltArc]

I like it a lot, and support it. This is the right direction (if we want electricity to work). As other have said, look at what you get...autonomous (best one can get ATM), decent performance, rear wheel drive, good driving dynamics, fine range, and a good price. I'd get my Mustang first, or a Focus RS first...but if I didn't care about rowing my own, I'd have money down right now.

[Fat Charlie]

You're not going to see hype from Chevy. Any idiot can build a car, but what GM wants to do is make money. They use the Corvette and Camaro to build racecar cred while making the real money from trucks and SUVs.

Yes, the future of cars will be electric, and GM knows it needs to be there, but they don't want to change their branding and distract from today's moneymakers. Real Murricans would rather push a Chevy than drive a Prius, so GM needs to do their development and slip efficiencies into their vehicles under the radar. An un-hyped Bolt will get noticed my people who care and can get ignored by people who don't.

[NeilBlanchard]

Tesla is the reason that GM is building the Volt and the Bolt EV.

[Fat Charlie]

Right. Partial electrics (hybrids) have been mainstream for years. Tesla is showing that full electrics can succeed spectacularly. Things are moving that way and the industry has to move along or die, but in the short term they're still tied to their big ol' V8 powered profit barges.

They'd rather let other people make the market. With the Bolt they're positioning themselves well, but they're not going to create hype that distracts from their SUV profits until electric profits can replace them.

[mcrews]

we ave had this discussion before.
THe business model (traditional way of turning sheet metal into a car purchase) is very stogy and antiquated.
lots of labor and benefit costs. ANd the 'cost' of the dealer network.

Tesla is a flat tax with IRS about 90% smaller
GM et al is an EXPANDED IRS.