GM: the Chevrolet Volt is dead. Cancelled as of 2019

[redpoint5]

Yeah but, low volume. What you really want is high margin, high volume.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Err... Priced a Porsche lately? ($58K for the Boxster, $92K for the 911) Or a BMW Z4? ($49-66K) Mercedes SL? ($89K)

Those companies seem to be doing quite well, in spite of not building pickups. (Well, Mercedes does, but not AFAIK it's not sold in the US,)

Ever put your kids in the back of one of those? ....not quite the same class.


Also, let's not forget the Malibu is not much bigger than the cruze/volt and that hybrid is pretty good.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Those companies seem to be doing quite well, in spite of not building pickups. (Well, Mercedes does, but not AFAIK it's not sold in the US,)

Not sure if I would ever consider the X-Class a real Mercedes-Benz at all, but anyway, sometimes I think a rumble-seat into some modern roadster would be quite cool, even though not so comfortable to be used regularly.

[cowmeat]

It's a shame to see the Volt go since it's an awesome vehicle. I've owned both generations and love both, and I'll probably drive this new one til it drops. A couple of weeks in and I haven't used a drop of gas since the drive home from the dealership.

I wonder if the original owners of G1 Insights felt this way when they stopped production

[Stubby79]

Did GM just pass some kind of milestone where they don't have to care any more about their bail-out and/or the environment any more or something?

[Piotrsko]

They are about 10,000 cars away from losing their full rebate and incentive

[redpoint5]

I've read they have already entered the phase out period, or at least will any day now. It's looking like they won't make it to January to game the phase out rules like Tesla did.

Don't know what the comment about the environment is about. Mary has stated that they are committed to EVs going forward. Not only that, but they are a business, not a government environmental agency. Their job isn't to plant trees and save the polar bears, but to earn a profit for shareholders.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

Ever put your kids in the back of one of those? ....not quite the same class.

I* don't have kids. Why should I buy a car that can carry around the kids I don't have?

*And if you look at demographics, at any given point in time, the majority don't have kids that need ferrying around. Either they're young and haven't had kids yet, or the kids are grown.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Their job isn't to plant trees and save the polar bears, but to earn a profit for shareholders.

So you'd like to argue that Toyota doesn't make a profit on the Prius? It does: https://www.ft.com/content/146ad23c-...b-00144feab49a Now it may have taken them a decade or more for that profit to show up, but I think that just highlights a major problem with most US companies, not just automakers. They're too focussed on next quarter's results rather than long-term profit.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

So you'd like to argue that Toyota doesn't make a profit on the Prius? It does: https://www.ft.com/content/146ad23c-...b-00144feab49a Now it may have taken them a decade or more for that profit to show up, but I think that just highlights a major problem with most US companies, not just automakers. They're too focussed on next quarter's results rather than long-term profit.

The comment was specifically about GM, and their Volt. I don't have an opinion on whether they should have continued production of the Volt or end it, as I don't have the relevant data to form such an opinion. However, I tend to think if they want to end production, it isn't profitable. I'm struggling to see how any of that is relevant to the environment, their responsibility to the environment, or repayment of TARP funds. As far as I'm aware, GM has already repaid their obligation to the government for the bail out.