Chevrolet Volt amps up production

Production of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car has ramped up again after a six-week shutdown to upgrade the Detroit factory.

Between December 2010 and June 2011, Chevrolet built about 3900 Volts, including 600 dealer demonstrators and about 100 media and marketing cars.

But production is set to increase sharply, from the previous rate of 180 cars per week in the first half 2011, to more than 500 per week in the second half of 2011 as distribution goes national in North America.

Until now, the pioneering states included California, New York, Michigan, Washington DC and Texas – the home of the pick-up.

Texas was an early target market for GM because it has among the cheapest electricity in North America, much of it powered by wind farms.

But all 2500 Chevrolet dealers across North America will be able to sell the Volt by the end of this year.

Next year, production increases by more than six-fold from the current rate as the car goes global, including Australia where it will be sold as a Holden. General Motors says it plans to built 60,000 Volts next year – at a rate of about 1200 per week.

"The ramp up is fairly significant," said Volt communications manager Rob Peterson, visiting Australia to help Holden prepare for the launch of the car next year.
He said the current waiting list for a car in North America is two to three months.

But the real "power" of the Volt, he said, is that it is bringing new customers into Chevrolet dealerships and "raised the consideration and perception" of Chevrolet to the general public.

"There are intangible benefits to being perceived as the company that makes the most technologically advanced vehicle," he said. 

"Candidly speaking, … when General Motors started [the Volt program] our reputation was in a ditch. More people associated us with building Hummers than advanced technology vehicles. The notion of us bringing out a world-beater … was ridiculous to many people."