Chevy Volt Vehicles Outsell All Plug-In Cars in the U.S, and Here is Why

Chevy Volt sales may be seem low, but they still outsold the rest of the plug-in cars on the U.S market in 2012. In 2012, they accounted for 45% of all plug-in electric car sales in the United States, at 23,461 units, and when you account for the Volt’s European cousin, the Opel Ampera, the picture looks even rosier.

The ChevyVolt is sold worldwide, however, most of them are sold in the United States. Outside of the U.S.A, far fewer Volts have been sold. They are for sale in not only the United States, but Canada, most of Europe, China, and Australia. People in countries in which they are not sold, will travel to the U.S, buy them, and literally ship them to their country themselves.

Outside of the U.S, worldwide, only 1,336 were sold, 1,225 of which were sold in Canada. In China and Europe combined, only 111 Volts were sold. But the Chevy Volt also sold as the Opel and Vauxhall Ampera, so there are three brands selling the same car. Opel is German, and the Vauxhall version is right hand drive, and for the U.K. GM sold 5,293 Ampera cars. This is still only a quarter of the Chevy Volt sales in the U.S, but still 48 times more than the 111 Volt sales in China and Europe.

Combined, worldwide sales of the Volt and Ampera were 30,090 which, while still short of GM’s 40,000 unit goal, is surprisingly strong given the endless criticism of GM’s plug-in hybrid. Based on the pattern of Volt sales in 2012, there is likely to be a substantial increase this year, and another in the future as a price drop is expected.

Source: Green Car Reports