Ford finally gets it

[freebeard]

Point was, ...The specifics are unknown.

I like Pangolins*.


wolfspride.com: How to walk a Pangolin/

edit: They walk with their front paws clasped together.

[aerohead]

'When armadillos bred with artichokes!'

[JSH]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Seems like GM was only making EVs for compliance, unlike Ford which might be holding some hope to benefit from a higher profit margin.

As a new owner of a Chevy Bolt - it is in no way a compliance car (like the Spark EV I had before it). It is a fantastic bit of tech wrapped in the least desirable body style in the USA - the hatchback.

[redpoint5]

Compliance is one of those words that gets squishier with time. Bolt is a fantastic car, and if I am not mistaken, available in 50 states. They hardly advertised the car, and sold in underwhelming quantity. Is that compliance? Certainly they've lost money on the whole endeavor.

If I were a manufacturer, there are 2 strategies that seem profitable to me. An expensive top end EV with high profit margin, and a plug in hybrid that has the minimum capacity 16 kWh battery that qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit. GM is done for credits, so the low end won't be as appealing to consumers.

Probably all manufacturers with EVs besides Tesla were too early to the game. As I often say, Toyota is probably the one to signal the more ideal market timing.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

As a new owner of a Chevy Bolt - it is in no way a compliance car (like the Spark EV I had before it). It is a fantastic bit of tech wrapped in the least desirable body style in the USA - the hatchback.

Congrats on the Bolt! I envy thee!

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Compliance is one of those words that gets squishier with time. Bolt is a fantastic car, and if I am not mistaken, available in 50 states. They hardly advertised the car, and sold in underwhelming quantity. Is that compliance? Certainly they've lost money on the whole endeavor.

If I were a manufacturer, there are 2 strategies that seem profitable to me. An expensive top end EV with high profit margin, and a plug in hybrid that has the minimum capacity 16 kWh battery that qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit. GM is done for credits, so the low end won't be as appealing to consumers.

Probably all manufacturers with EVs besides Tesla were too early to the game. As I often say, Toyota is probably the one to signal the more ideal market timing.

I really doubt GM is losing money on the Bolt. If they were they would be limiting the number of cars that they sell. (Like they did with the Spark EV)

GM sold 24,803 Bolts in the first 9 months of 2021. That is up from 20,753 in 2020 (full year) and 16,419 in 2019.

For reference the Bolt almost outsold the entire Alpha platform this year even with the recall and stop-sale.

Jan - Sept:
15,083 - Camaro
5,859 - Cadillac CT4
7,639 - Cadillac CT5

28,501 - Alpha total.

The Malibu has only sold 32,155 this year. (That might be a chip issue because they sold 100K last year)

[redpoint5]

GM limits Bolt sales by manipulating price and not advertising. Now they've got to replace every battery from 2017-2021 model years. On a vehicle that didn't earn them much in the first place, they have to be in the red on this.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

GM limits Bolt sales by manipulating price and not advertising. Now they've got to replace every battery from 2017-2021 model years. On a vehicle that didn't earn them much in the first place, they have to be in the red on this.

The Bolt was selling at an annual rate of 40,000 before the recall - double 2020 sales. You don't purposely double production on a vehicle you are losing money making.

LG is paying to replace every Bolt battery. It is a marketing hit to GM but the financial hit is on LG's books.

EDIT: Looking at the NHTSA numbers the 2020 Bolt has 24% US content and 57% Korean. (Makes sense as LG is Korean and the Bolt is built on a modified Gamma II platform and which was developed in Korea and primary assembly is in Korea)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I haven't seen more than 2 Bolts. Conceptually it reminds me the earliest of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which was meant to be an EV since day one.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I haven't seen more than 2 Bolts. Conceptually it reminds me the earliest of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which was meant to be an EV since day one.

I see 4-5 parked at the chargers at work most days.