Volt sales decrease in wake of ‘Batterygate’

Not surprisingly, Volt sales dropped in January following “right-wing” attacks from media pundits who had plenty of fodder before House Republicans heard testimony from federal officials and GM’s CEO regarding the battery fire in June 2011.

The total number of Volts sold was 603 in January, according to GM. It was the worst month since August, when GM sold just 302 Volts.

This number is also well down from the Volt’s fourth quarter average of 1,259 sales per month.

Pictured in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, where America was born, is a car that threatens a revolution leading to energy independence.

Also retracted was Nissan which sold 676 Leafs in January, down from 954 in December.

The decline in Volt sales happened also as GM dipped some as a company. Yesterday GM reported total sales of 167,962 vehicles in the U.S in January, down 6 percent compared with a very strong January 2011.

“Chevrolet drove our performance once again and sales of our fuel-efficient new cars were especially good,” and Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “The strength that the economy and the auto industry showed in the fourth quarter carried into January, so we believe the year is off to a good start.”

Chevy passenger car sales increased 13 percent. GM’s total passenger car sales increased 3 percent in January, led by a 30-percent increase in sales of fuel-efficient small and compact cars, which include the new Chevrolet Sonic, the consistently strong-selling Chevrolet Cruze and the new Buick Verano.

In addition, the Buick LaCrosse, which now offers the 36-mpg highway eAssist powertrain as standard equipment, posted a 6 percent year-over-year increase, and the Chevrolet Camaro was up 20 percent.

We have heard GM’s executives say the Volt will have to rebound, and efforts are underway for this.

Automotive News reported that it’s unknown exactly what the effect of the House subcommittee hearing was. It reported some dealers have not taken as many Volts because of reduced customer demand.

GM North America President Mark Reuss also said the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Volt battery investigation had an unquantified negative impact, and it will take time for Volt sales to rebound.

The Detroit News also reported Reuss saying when GM restarts production at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant this month, Volts will be built in a “very reasonable” volume, while noting some pent-up export demand.

As previously reported, it won’t be until May or June that GM’s executives know actual Volt demand. GM has previously said it is willing to adjust production to meet demand from its previous goal of 60,000 units worldwide with tentatively 45,000 of these destined for the U.S.

With hopefully the worst behind it, signs of the Volt’s being turned into a political lightning rod are evident. We would not be surprised to see more push back to unjustified attacks, and acknowledgement that a wrong was perpetrated.

Already, some consumers have seen through the tactics, and the underlying value represented by the extended-range electric Volt remains.

It’s been said that the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

Source: GM-Volt.com