Volt not set, but electric Smart could arrive next year

General Motors has poured water on speculation the Volt might soon come Down Under, in the same week Mercedes-Benz chairman Dr Dieter Zetsche has hinted that an all-electric Smart is a likely arrival.

Zetsche was in Australia to help the local operation celebrate its 50th anniversary, but took time out to meet with Australian automotive media. When the discussion turned to Smart, the Benz boss hinted that a UK trial of an all-electric Smart could be extended to Australia

"It's obvious London has some characteristics that are similar to Australia -- the side of the road you choose to drive," Zetsche joked when asked about an Australian trial.

"We have not made final decisions [on more locations, but] we have made decision on the volumes [of the electric fortwo] we will have, starting next year and then afterwards. Right now we are discussing the distribution of those volumes... It won't go to too many countries, [but] it's a very reasonable possibility that Australia will be among them," Zetsche revealed.

The UK car's initial production run will be supplemented by an additional 1000 units in late 2009, Dr Z revealed. It would be these vehicles from which the Aussie imports would likely be drawn.

Thus, while it is not confirmed, the lease-only plug-in version of the fortwo could therefore arrive as early as the end of next year. When volume production (15-20,000 per year) of the open market electric model commences in two-three years, Australia will definitely be on the list, he said.

In contrast, GM R&D chief Larry Burns, also in Australia this week, would not speculate on when the US carmaker would bring its volume electric car play, the Volt, Down Under.

Engineered for right and left-hand drive and set to debut in the Californian market in 2010 and follow into key European locations, the Volt currently uses a petrol powered generator as a range extender.  It also features plug-in charging.

"We're keeping our options open for what we do with the Volt on a worldwide basis," Burns explained.

"Our initial focus is: get this car developed and get it in to Europe and the United States -- [so] we're not getting preoccupied with those other possibilities."

According to Burns, once volume production and wider distribution is secured, Holden itself would have the main say on whether the Volt would go on sale locally.

"[Holden Chairman and CEO] Mark [Reuss] will have a large role to play in that [decision] because he has to look at the market; he has to look at the value of proposition; he has to look at the supply of those vehicles and relative to their cost and price points," Burns opined.

Read news about Reuss' announcement on Volt from the Sydney motor show 

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