Sources: GM to Temporarily Halt Volt Production
- Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:37pm by
Becket Adams
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(AP file photo)
Embattled automaker General Motors plans to halt — for at least four weeks — the manufacture of its infamous Chevrolet Volt, Automotive News reports.
“It would be the second interruption in production for the Volt, which can go 38 miles on battery power before needing a recharge from its gasoline engine or via a plug-in,” USA Today adds.
The Detroit-Hamtramck plant will suspend production from Sept. 17 until Oct. 15, Automotive News reports, citing an anonymous source. Apparently, UAW leaders informed the plant’s 1,500 union workers about the scheduled halt last week, according to said anonymous source.
Suppliers were also notified of the decision last week, according to another source.
However, unlike what was previously reported, GM claims suspension of production is not due to a lack of sales.
“We are not idling the plant due to poor Volt sales. We’re gearing up for production of the new Impala,” Chevy spokesman David Darovitz told USA Today in an email.
“We are comfortable with our current inventory levels of these products, which allows us to take time for launch readiness of the Impala. This may include making certain areas of the line more efficient, address space constraints for incoming materials, provide additional training and more,” he added.
As of this writing, GM has sold 10,666 Volts through July, which, luckily for the automaker, is a major improvement over the 2,870 it sold at this time a year earlier.
“GM executives have attributed the sales increase to strong demand for a low-emissions version of the Volt that qualifies for California’s coveted carpool lanes, which GM launched in March. Previous versions of the Volt didn’t qualify,” Automotive News reports.
“Volt inventories have been whittled down, too, to 6,500 units, or 84 days’ worth, as of Aug. 1. On March 1, just before the last production shutdown, GM had 154 days’ worth,” the report adds.
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Front page photo courtesy the AP. This story has been updated to reflect clarifications made by both USA Today and GM spokespeople.
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Comments (151)
thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:52amWhen obama hears that GM is going to quit making the volt he will try and make it madatory for everyone to have one. It you buy one you won’t have to pay income taxes. If you have one of these lemons….you won’t be able to pay your taxes.
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:10amFunny, I wasn’t consulted before this decision was made. Me, and the rest of you, are major shareholders.
I don’t know the auto business from a hole in the ground; but, having acknowledged that, I‘m probably more qualified than most of GM management who pretend to know what they’re doing.
How much space will the MSM devote to the demise of this lemon? I’ll bet nary a word. This is simple stuff understandable by the great unwashed; but, they won’t hear about it. The MSM will not want to broadcast anything negative about the poor decisions by Ayatollah Obama, especially this close to the election.
Report Post »Dukecj
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:48amThe Volt was created in 2007, and at the Auto show in 2008. This was before Obama was in office. The EV tax credit was also approved in 2008 by GW Bush, which applies to all EVs, including the Nissan leaf, which is not union.
Report Post »texastommy
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:39amNice try DukeCJ, but here’s some you left out.
The Volt was not marketed in the US until 2010, AFTER the bailout. Some of the funds in the bailout provided the capital to begin production, because the management at GM wasn’t convinced it was a sure deal. Obama extracted an agreement for its production once ‘we’ got partial ownership of the company and haded them a big bag of cash.
So, the EV tax credit had NOTHING to do with the VOLT. NOTHING. You can’t blame Bush for everything, my friend.
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:57amInteresting, two LOSERS in the same photo!
Report Post »westtitus
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:15amThey need to hire someone from Ford Motor Company and get their act together for WE the shareholder. Never should have been bailed out, they could have just filed Chapter 13 and re-organized and that would have not cost the American people so much money and could have been used to help shore up Meidicare or SSI. We have a bunch of amatuers in our White House and they need to go. Remember Obama was never even been a dog catcher let alone know how to balance a check book. GOD HELP US AND PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON US A SPOILED NATION!
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:25amIf you buy a volt, we’ll include FREE birthcontrol, abortion, food stamps, welfare, disability, marching boots, a red uniform, (the downsize is we have NO gasoline to put in the car). Enjoy looking at your new car.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:46amOf course only REAL Americans and solid CITIZENS rout against American companies and American workers. Seriously, like how sad are you.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:57amSolyndra motors……………………………………………….
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 10:20amJROOK, they are changing the name to General Motors of China, the American people got screwed, the dealerships got screwed, the distributors got screwed.
THE WINNERS WERE – THE UNIONS
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:01amJCROOK, Hmmm, I suppose you don’t recall all of times that you have portrayed yourself as a REAL American and solid CITIZEN who routed against American companies and American workers, like Bain Capital, their employees, and the businesses that they saved? Or Chick-Fil-A?
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:25am@Jrook…
Haliburton
Report Post »deltaecho
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:33amVolt + Barry Soetoro = 2 losers.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:31pmTypical union logic with the high demand for the volt I am sure a crew of 2 could keep up with demand what are the other 1498 doing ?
Report Post »DrKev
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:31amhmmmm I was just abt to place my order for 2014
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:11amDidn’t your grandfather order an Edsel from Ford when they came out too? We see it runs in the family.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:25amI suppose this means Obama will put the word out to sell all the ones he already bought for the government a few years ago…so he can buy them all over agian for a higher price and declare his green policies are working.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:57amI’ve been wondering about those GSA Motor Pool Volts. What do they do, issue them to potential whistle blowers?
Report Post »possom
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:22amI blame it on poor quality and the fact that they CATCH FIRE!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:37amI was told years ago by a tow truck driver that he would not own one … and that they had special safety measures for them in the event of an accident or breakdown .. yea I want a car that catches fire .. I can’t think of anything worse than burning up in a car. Imagine you survive the crash .. and then that…. or it is parked in your garage .. and takes out our whole house … BRILLIANT!
Report Post »TRUECON19
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:53amSo ignorant… The volt has special training so you don’t get electrocuted. You do know the fires came due to crash test vehicles left with damaged batteries for 2 weeks without proper care don’t you.
Report Post »SovereignSoul
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:03amAs opposed to cars with fuel tanks, which never catch fire. Have had my Volt for 18 months. Great car, no problems. Had a Ford F-150 for the previous six years (Great Truck). No need for a truck since I retired.
Report Post »Dukecj
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:51amWouldn’t you agree that any car with 15 – 35 gallons of gas could catch on fire?
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:16amFirst of all, the fires that happended involving the Volt were not deteremined that the Volt was the cause of the fire. Second, what car can’t catch on fire? In fact, there are more instances where your normal internal combustion engine is the cause of the fire in cars.
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:51amHow’s the Volt work out in Northern climes where sub-zero weather demands a heater and a powerful battery?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:03amLEL2007, They will get even less gas mileage, considering all of the weight of those batteries it’s hauling around.
Report Post »IM John Galt
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:19amHow many volts were bought without a government bribe ( rebate)? none
Report Post »How many were bought by the government or a company bribed to buy them?
This is ridiculous. Cut the losses, and go solindra.
Dukecj
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:10amI am military, and I bought a Volt, and I love It. I drove over 1500 miles commuting to work using only 1.7 gallons of gas. I just took it on my first road trip from Illinois to ATL GA for TDY (553 miles) used less than 13 gallons of gas (43.3 MPG), and it was fun to drive, powerful, and quiet. I may not make enough to get the full tax credit, and I really dont care at this point. Test drive one, its a really fun car. I know it turned political when Obama promoted it, and tax payers now own shares in GM. However, its still a great car. The best I have ever owned. Further more I can never go bact to driving a car with an ICE again after driving this car. In addition, me using less oil from countries that hate us, and one less person I enlisted dying in some armpit of country is more than worth the cost.
Report Post »texastommy
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:44amThat’s right dukecj, but you’re using coal to generate the electricty for that car. To call it a “green” car is a sham. Face it. It’s a stupid design. The Prius is much more successful, and until the Volt is “teethed” for another decade or so, is an example of what actually works.
And no, I don’t own a Prius or similar car, and doubt I ever will. I can’t afford one.
Report Post »Ashibashiba
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:24amuum. my solar is not coal. Some of us thought long and hard and did the math and ROI.. With interest rates this low, it’s better to save money.. 1 dollar saved = 1 dollar. 1 dollar earned is how much after taxes ? It worked for me and I bet many others. Not all .. but some that can and do, make it work. I don’t care what you drive.. Hummer, V12 Mercedes.. hey all the power to ya, enjoy..
Report Post »Dukecj
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:10pm@ Texastommy whats wrong with coal fired electric? You must be a leftist greene. I dont care if my electric comes from baby seals, as long as they are American baby seals producing American jobs! It sounds like you would rather support Japan instead of America. If you hate this country you are more than welcome to leave.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:16amThe European market named it car of the year. Wtf?
Report Post »this1can
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:16amI wonder what its going to cost to put a full charge on it after obummer gets the electric prices higher Love/pray
Report Post »rtaylor174
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:14amNobody but a trendy liberal wants one of these pieces of crap. And even some of them have better sense than buy one.
Report Post »Ashibashiba
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:01amUmm. I am far from a trendy lib.. Thanks to all the negative press from folks like you, I got a sweet deal on this car.. Have you even driven one ? It is a fun car to drive, wife loves it and I have some spare solar power that I use to charge it.. I wanted to wait for the Ford plug in, but got a great lease deal, so it worked out great for me. Now one thing I notice why gov would want in on these cars ? Very simple, they can tell how many miles you drive on electric vs gas at any time.. Well, my miles are mostly electric created from solar.. How are they going to get any tax from that ? No gas tax no tax on electric.. I suspect someday they will just be able to bill you per mile, but that might be a long way down the road. Anyway, thanks for making this the bastard car from hell… It made for one heck of a deal. Oh and saving 120 bucks a month on fuel does not suck.
Report Post »HOOT_OWL
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:53amI believe the decline in sales had something to do with them catching fire .
Report Post »Kind of a big selling point.
ThePostman
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:44amA sweet deal? What did you pay, 38K?
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:45amASHIBASHIBA maybe like the Edsel it will be worth something one day
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:14amIt’s too dang expensive!
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:13amAdd your comments
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:58amThank You, Georgeisn6 !
Report Post »I Proclaim : Cash For Clunkers Parts“2” for Sale !
DomingoCafe
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:10amFree market equates to slow sales stemming from a poorly designed vehicle even after an obscene rebate to boot.
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:09amWhy in the world would they stop production on the hotest auto on the market, sales of that “O”whatabummermobile should set a fire under ever jerk that voted for that pyromaniac
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:09amAw come on slap some of those Solyndra made solar panels on the sumbeach an it’ll sell, oh my bad Solyndra went bankrupt
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:08amThat inevitable moment of grudging acceptance when the arrogance of ideological central planning meets the bitter reality of real-world market economics…. thy name is Volt
Report Post »uptickusa
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:02amSounds like another Edsel bomb
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:11amThe Ford Edsel is worth big bucks now the volt will never be worth what it cost to build
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:12amHey!! I took my drivers test on a ‘58 Edsel. My father had 14 of them. One of them was a pace car for the Indy 500.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:33am…and the Edsel wasn’t built by the taxpayers.
Report Post »DrKev
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:35amGRAYLING yes you hit the nail on the head FORD uses its own money to produce n promote the edsel rhe comparison is not accurate
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:02amhahahahaha hahahahahaha
Guess the Volt didn’t turn out to be to Obama what the Volkswagen Beetle was to Hitler huh?
That’s OK B. Hussein O., you still have the TSA…… for a while anyway….
At least until November. But not long after that little 2 hour Muslim Prayer thingy you’re holding at the DNC,
I’m pretty sure the American Public will finally know we have a Muslim in the White House..
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:32amNo kidding! At least the Volkswagen was a great car (designed by Porsche, by the way…!).
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:56pmThe market always wins. Capitalism is still alive.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:56pmDidn’t I read this same story back in June or July?
I had a record player that used to “skip” when I put a damaged LP on it.
Sounds like a repeat of “old news”, “old news”, “old news”, “old news”, “old news”, “old news,”.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:00amHi MONK, yeah, you did. They have not halted production twice. I also understand that this plant is being retooled for the 2014 Impala. GMC might just be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, which just might be November.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:07amDelete that “NOT” above.
Report Post »Chancellor
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:55pmJust like all the “Failed” ideas that have come from this Administration!
The Volt rates right up there with the world famous cars from the old Soviet Union……..Yea I never heard of any either!
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:49pmWhat idiot would buy a Volt. Thirty-eight miles on a charge? I could see owners just running on gas and use only the battery when they run out of gas.
Report Post »Ashibashiba
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:04amI get 50 per charge. Works out well. I don’t buy gas, with my solar I don’t buy electric.. I’m an idiot ?
Report Post »oicu814me2
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:48pmsupply and demand. Even with a gov. rebate they cant sell them.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:15amEven with a rebate I can’t AFFORD one! Just upgraded for an 18 year old vehicle to a 10 year old one.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:37amSounds like me ramon. My car is ‘07 my truck, ‘94. I guess I could afford newer ones but both run good and both are paid for.
Here’s a riddle.
What do you have when you make your first payment on your brand new car?
A new car payment on a used car.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:44pmAnother Obama pick .. BITES THE DUST! More wasted money .. to pay off union thugs and crooks..
R & R 2012!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:43pmyou bet your bippy we are going there: American citizens stopped obama’s progress in re-creating Hitler’s entire checklist: banks, unions, military, schoolchildren, healthcare death panels, eugenics, … divide the nation’s citizens one against another group..after group……Hitler was able to mass manufacture “the people‘s car’ and the people bought it… well, obama’s Volt is never going to become.. the obama “volks wagon”.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:40pmGee…..I guess no one wants a Government Motors car that only goes 40 miles on one charge 9and how much does THAT cost?) and costs thousands of dollars more than a conventional car that when refueled can cross the continent.
Go figure……..
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:44pmsimply put: “Americans have rejected obama‘s version of Hitler’s Volkswagon.
besides, who wants to die in a faulty fiery communist death trap anyway.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:49pmBut on cross country trips, it gets 38 mpg (yes it does run on gas), and its soooooo rooomy, if you are a smurf, or Dana and Greg.
Report Post »762x51
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:52pm40 miles, hell here in the Rocky Mountain West there are places where its 40 miles to the grocery store. Those east coast jack hole morons in Washington haven’t got a clue about the real world. Want to bet it won’t go 40 miles when that distance includes 4,000 to 6,000 vertical feet of mountain? Just as it takes more gas to climb a mountain road, it drains the battery faster to climb that road. Probably won’t go 10 miles on a 5% grade. What the hell use is that?
Report Post »FightingBear
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:55pmI sure as heck don’t want one….highly impractical and way too expensive.
Not to mention that I would never even consider buying a vehicle from GM. Ford didn’t need/take a taxpayer bail out, I’ll stick with a company that can run a successful business without using taxpayer dollars.
In my mind there is no such thing as too big to fail. No government bailouts of private companies!…ever!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:06amDARMOK AND JALAD AT TANAGRA, I had a Triumph TR7 for a while many years ago. At 55 mph on the freeway it got 42.9 mpg. It was a tight fitting 2 seater, but at 6′1″ I had no problem. Why can’t somebody build something like that again? Some years prior to that I had a Sunbeam Alpine and got 37 to 38 mpg at 70 on the freeway. I used to be able to drive between Tampa and Gadsden almost for pocket change.
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:24am@ RJJJ
Umm, they do make something like that only better. There are plenty of cars that get over or close to 40mpg and can seat 4 or 5 people.
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:35am@Fghtin,
While Ford did not receive bailout money, it did receive 5.9 billion in government loans. And did you know that Ford’s CEO urged for Congress to authorize a credit line of 9 billion dollars. Ford also got 5.9 billion from the Dept. of Energy to produce more fuel efficient cars. So yes, it didn’t get bailed out, but don’t think they have not received plenty of money from the government.
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