Posted on 05/19/2011 1:35:01 PM PDT by smokingfrog
General Motors plans to temporarily shut down its Detroit-Hamtramck plant for four weeks, starting in June, to prepare for increased production of the Chevrolet Volt and the export version, the Opel Ampera. They also plan to reconfigure the plant to build the upcoming 2013 Chevy Malibu.
Planned upgrades to the plant include installing new tools, equipment and overhead conveyer systems which all add up to increased production of the Volt and Ampera. After the plant reopens GM will still be working on changes for the upcoming production of the 2013 Malibu.
The planned closure will temporarily reduce the already limited supply of Volts on dealer lots over the next three months, but it is expected to increase the supply to fulfill the demand long-term. The Volt has only been available in California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. at this time.
When production resumes The Volt will be available to customers nationwide by the end of 2011, said Cristi Landy, director of Chevrolet Volt Marketing. By taking the time to reconfigure the plant, we will be better able to meet the tremendous consumer demand.
GM will begin exporting the Volt and Ampera to Europe and China once the plant is back online with increased production. GM expects a production capacity of 16,000 cars including exports and demo cars for U.S. dealers. By 2012 GM expects global production to be at 60,000 with three-fourths of those sold right here in the U.S.
Production of the new 2013 Malibu will begin next year once all of the upgrades have been completed. The Detroit-Hamtramck plant is ramping down production of the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne after discontinuing the manufacture of the Northstar engine.
(Excerpt) Read more at wot.motortrend.com ...
“They also plan to reconfigure the plant to build the upcoming 2013 Chevy Malibu.”
Here’s the real tip off about what is really going on. They’re going to be building Malibus rather than Volts at this factory. Less Volts, more Malibus. The part about plant upgrades for the Volt is just so much PR BS. They’re basically converting the plant from making Volts to making Malibus.
Not at this latitude, not in this climate. The only people here who might get excited at the prospect of these vehicles are morticians.
I still haven’t seen any numbers added in for wiring residences, nor the electric bill... Especially with the Administration gunning for the coal industry and hydraulic fracturing, the process which makes natural gas as cheap as it is right now.
It's got a standard 110V plug that takes 10 hours to put in a full charge. As to cost, here.
I won't buy one--wouldn't have one if they were free--just because in this area they'd be pretty useless most of the year. I do worry about people who underestimate our weather (we find a few every spring, it seems) trying to drive here in winter in such a contraption. There are parts of America it might work just fine. This isn't one of them. YMMV, as they say.
Anyone here see a possible, Vampire-Care type implementation, where influence is brought upon an un-regulated EPA, to force consumers to buy into this “electic for the air/environment”, (or get fined just like Vampire-Care)?
Anyone here see a possible, Vampire-Care type implementation, where influence is brought upon an un-regulated EPA, to force consumers to buy into this electric for the air/environment, (or get fined just like Vampire-Care)? (Or tacked on additional annual registration harassment fees, for having a “fuel burner”)
http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/16/chevy-volt-ayn-rand-opinions-patrick-michaels_2.html
“The Volt is going to be a major success.”
That sounds just a little “hopey-changey” to me. It’s what some people would like to see happen. It’s like Algore talking about global warming...and he really wishes it would happen while he’s still alive.
I could say that the Detroit Lions are going to the Super Bowl next year and I could believe it in my heart of hearts but that won’t make it so.
Wonder how many “stimulus” dollars...laudered thru GE..are buying Volts?!!!!
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