Report: GM letting Chevy dealers sell their Volt demos

Previously, GM had its dealers maintain one or more Chevy Volts on lots to help increase exposure of the electric car. They have recently given dealers permission to sell the demos in order to create over double the current inventory, since production capacity has not been able to keep up with sales targets.

The Volt has a sales goal of 10,000 units, and will be better able to reach it with the 2,300 demos dealers have been holding on to. So far, GM is about half way to its goal. Dealers will be reimbursed $1,500 for the sale of these units, but they have to be replaced by before February.

GM’s Detroit assembly plant was recently restructured to double capacity, but it is still difficult for consumers to locate the car. A survey has reflected that 72 percent of interested buyers opted for another vehicle due to the availability issue.

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Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

– By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Automotive News