Chevrolet Volt Production Underway For Customer Delivery

Chevrolet Volt production for customers is under way at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck plant, putting customers one step closer to receiving the first mass-marketed plug-in vehicle for the U.S.

GM's vehicle tracking system says the first Volt extended-range electric vehicle allocated to Puente Hills Chevrolet near Los Angeles was finished on Nov. 9, said Joe McNatt, the dealership’s customer relations and inventory manager. That Volt was purchased through the store’s fleet department, McNatt said.

And the tracking system says the first Volt due to Henna Chevrolet in Austin, Texas, was finished on Nov. 10, said Craig Martinez, the store’s new car sales manager. His store held a drawing to choose the first customer from a waiting list, and the winner fit the profile of a “green” driver.

“The main customer is going to be those engineer, technically savvy types of people,” Martinez said. But that fits with Austin’s hip reputation. “You know, ‘Keep Austin weird.’”

Teri Quigley, plant manager at Detroit-Hamtramck, told the Free Press GM started building Volts earlier this month for customers to purchase. She spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony to honor the Volt’s Motor Trend Car of the Year award and declined to say how many Volts are finished.

The automaker has yet to ship any Volts from the plant, but customers should get the first Volts in early December, spokesman Chris Lee said Monday.

GM's tracking system shows delivery is the next step for the Volts for both Puente Hills Chevrolet and Henna Chevrolet, but neither car has received a target delivery date. Sales managers at other dealerships said production dates for their first Volts are scheduled throughout November and December.

Current Volt production is for customers in California, Austin, New York City and Washington, D.C. This spring, GM plans to expand sales to Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey and the rest of New York and Texas.

The Volt runs on battery power for 25 to 50 miles before using a gasoline-powered generator.

Source: Detroit Free Press