Can the Chevy Volt Survive GM?

EV1, Volt, GM's Future?

GM doesn't have their priorties right. To fund the Volt and impress the automotive comunity that nothing will hamper this project is absurd. As we write, GM is in a cash crunch and shuting down plant after plant. The rhetoric from GM's offices sound like propaganda similar to German or Iraq propaganda ministries as from our history. Let's face the facts. The volt may not sell because, which dealerships will take a chance of selling it with little or no financing from the banks? Amid the car enthusiasts with only 30,000 souls compiled by M & T seem to like it, dissapontingly GM might go bankrupt. And even if a bailout comes from the U.S. Congress, Congres will most likely want GM to sell only workable/proven cars, and not unproven vehicles. My guess, is the car will turn into a lemon.

Ihor @ Nov 21, 2008 23:42:09 PM

The UAW learned nothing from the United Steelworkers

GM has been losing market shares for years, a cash infusion wont change that fact only delay the bankruptcy. The UAW is overpaid and snotty about it, claiming to have 'made too many concessions". The big 3 pay at least 50% more for labor than foreign manufacturers in this country. UAW pay has been heavily escalated by well managed strikes. And you dont see the UAW risking any of their money to help GM this time, they figured the $33 million they spent on Obama will come back in the form of a $25 billion payout without strings to GM and the rest.

THe united steelworkers destroyed the steel industry in this country the same way, overpriced it out of the market and refusing to beleive that bankruptcy could happen.Now the steelworkers are back into organizing unions, starting with carwash workers, a sad state of affairs.

Even though the demorats were heavily supported by unions, and Obama was a major supporter of the union slavery bill, they have to create a new set of rules for unions that prevent the same thing happening to whatever other industry we have left that hasnt been destroyed by the unions, the big 3 are already gone and cant be saved ( unless walmart buys them....)

the doctor of CA @ Nov 16, 2008 23:44:12 PM

Sad turn of events ... foreign manufacturer's know more about American Tastes

GM, Ford, and Chrysler lost the American consumer long ago. Now this year ... we will see NASCAR [foreign manufacturer's] potentially taking over the top spot.

Technological innovation belongs to the foreign manufacturer's ... marketing and advertising no longer tugs on the heart strings of loyality. A sad commentary.

Roger Wise of CT @ Nov 16, 2008 11:15:16 AM

Save the battery

The chevy volt is great. All the automaker needs to add is PV solar panels on the hood and trunk also a wind electric producing generator in the front of the vehicle. I would like one made in a convertible. The wind electric producing generator placed in the front will help the battery to give longer distant between charges. Think about it, the wind hit the front as you drive;

why not make use of it.

Michael A. Puntillo of CT @ Nov 16, 2008 10:56:53 AM

Gm Line Employee

We Will Survive! All the exeperts have no idea whats really going on in the company. They only know what we want them to know.The Govt. know if Gm goesdow all will follow due to the interconection of the supplier base. So bye bye Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, Chrysler. If One goes they all go.

F. St. Amour of MI @ Nov 16, 2008 10:34:37 AM

Think a bit

Most "foreign" cars sold in the US are built in the US. As long as the payroll stays here, I'm not sure just how this is a "foreign" car any longer. Somehow, I don't think Georgetown is about to quit being proud of the Toyota plant. And I doubt Kentuckians think of Toyota as a "foreign" car any longer.

As for the Volt, it'll be scrapped before the end of 2012, whether GM gets billions from the govt or not. GM has ALWAYS shunned new technology until someone else did it and they were forced into the fray, and they'll find an excuse to kill the Volt. Even if they pulled off a miracle and made 100,000,000,000 in clear profit this year, I'd still expect them to kill the Volt. GM improves when forced to do so.

Consider the air intake manifold problem on the GM V6 engine line. The air intake manifold is plastic, the dexcool coolant flows through that manifold about three tenths of an inch away from the EGR return, which combination of heat and pressure will cause the reinforced plastic manifold to delaminate and spill coolant into the engine cylinders, thereby freezing and locking up the engine. I myself had this problem, with a recommendation to replace the entire engine at a cost of over 4000$. GM denies this problem exists, and they do not offer any repair program for a clear design defect. Google dexcool manifold and read through the results if you doubt this problem exists.

With "friends" like these, GM doesn't need any enemies. GM is its own worst enemy, and it is very unlikely to survive this downturn and especially not the upswing, as oil price shocks will return with a vengance during that upswing. GM will go on happily building cars nobody wants to buy until they die. And then Toyota will probably buy the factories and they'll build the cars, and the damn cars will actually work for a change.

PDavis of TN @ Nov 16, 2008 04:11:23 AM

auto

studip union u.a.w. stupor ceo;s retire;s

joe blow of MA @ Nov 14, 2008 23:35:08 PM

auto

studip union u.a.w. stupor ceo;s retire;s

joe blow of MA @ Nov 14, 2008 23:29:50 PM