Posted on 07/23/2014 9:44:48 AM PDT by Red Badger
Sales of the Chevy Volt in the US have been fairly stable for the last few months (between a low of 1,478 and a high of 1,777 since March), but in Europe, the Opel Ampera (sister-vehicle of the Volt) has been trending downwards. The sales decline is prompting discussion that the vehicle will be killed off in Europe, according to Automotive News Europe.
The car was a relative hit back in 2012, when it was named the European Car Of The Year and sales topped 5,200 units. Compared to 2012 numbers, which were good, Ampera sales dropped 40 percent to fewer than 3,200 in 2013 despite a massive price cut. They are down another 67 percent so far in 2014 and the car has sold just 332 units through the end of May. That's why, according to ANE, the Ampera will be discontinued once Chevy introduces the 2016 Volt in late 2015 (we've got spy shots here). The current Volt and the the Ampera are identical except for the front fascia, and it doesn't make sense to rebadge the new Volt for Opel if they're not even selling a thousand copies per year.
As far as an official word on the company's plans, Opel's Andrew Marshall told AutoblogGreen that the only thing the company is saying right now is that, "We do not comment on potential future product plans." That's vague, sure, but it's also not a resounding vote of confidence for the European Volt. Of course, GM's manager of Electrification Technology Communications, Kevin Kelly, told AutoblogGreen the same thing about the Volt's future when we asked about it based on the Ampera rumors, so we should probably just admit that no one's saying anything official about anything just yet.
Evidently they need more generous government subsidies like they have in the states.
The Teenybopper Corvette!
I recall there were a couple of after market suppliers of hop-up parts for the Kadett. A buddy owned one of these “full race” Kadetts in Iowa City. It would turn 7,000 rpm and make a sound like a hoard of killer bees.
I think the EPA’s restrictions on diesels (in part to protect the hybrids’ turf and the interests of the ethanol lobby) are more to blame. Car buyers in their 40s or younger just don’t remember much about the GM diesel mess of the ‘80s. FWIW, I see a lot of younger drivers in VW TDI cars.
It’s actually based on the VW Group’s MQB platform, like the Audi A3 or the VW Golf Mark 7.
Škoda is a good car; quite reliable. The other day, however, I was walking by a Chevy dealership and they had in the showrooom a ‘778 Camaro Z28 with T-Tops. Candy apple red.
Absolutely beautiful, but it belongs to the owner of the dealership. He picked it up for a song in the US, shipped it back over here to Europe, fully restored it, and he’s driving it around. He even had the T-Top panel bags. Very nice.
That may be a big part of the problem. Americans aren’t good at math and the price of diesel looks much bigger than gasoline on a gallon to gallon basis. They cannot extrapolate mentally the mpg differential and dollars per mile to any great effect..................
When do we get Diesel-ized? Those FIAT-weenies are a disappointment because they are sitting on a very cool diesel that is a best seller in the EU ... and like totally unavailable here.
We had a local drag racer who ran an Opel GT as a funny car way back when. I think it had a Buick engine. I can’t remember his name but he raced it at Etown in N.J.
I have a cousin who ran his Opel Kadett down the 1/4 mile at a long gone drag strip in Flemington, N.J. I think it actually ran as fast as 27.00 seconds. It may still be running.
Is my fault. Teaching the number thing at a local CC. After about a year, have started making progress with the times table and am mulling over introducing Long Division. Fractions were OK, but I went broke buying pizza ..."Four Big Pieces ... Eight Little Pieces ... Same-o same-o?"
Why in no time at all, I will have several tattooed Bieber and Selena Fans ready to look at what used to be 6th Grade Algebra! BTW, when you register for class, you get registered to vote. (¡Sí, es la verdad!)
You want to hear a hoard of killer bees listen to a rotary Mazda go down the track @ 12,000 - 14,000 rpm’s. I am a v/8 guy but the rotary is crazy.
The EPA, controlled by environazis, will not allow the mass importation of diesels. They believe in Globull Warming, and nothing will deter them from stopping it.............
I remember about 8 or 9 years ago my father-in-law showed me a Powerpoint presentation that was making its way around the cyber universe about this huge conspiracy by certain “powers” to kill the original Volt which was prototyped by GM. It was classic lefty conspiracy stuff.
Not long after Obama was elected and GM was bailed out, the Volt as we know it today was introduced. I always felt that Lefties in the administration (redundant) had to make things right after learning about the injustice based on the PPT presentation and force this POS on the market.
I bet it blows their minds when you introduce the ‘z-axis’....................
I bet it blows their minds when you introduce the ‘z-axis’....................
Unless Maya Angelou is recognized as a mathematician, three-dimensional concepts will not make it past the curriculum committee....
Unless it can be combined with "Gay Marriage," and/or be taught by an LGBTG instuctor.
There is an irony that high electric rates in many European countries as a result of green energy could make a rechargeable vehicle too expensive to operate.
If you like your electricity, you can keep your electricity................
I bet imaginary numbers is a foreign concept...................
Yeah....it makes more sense to have a diesel with the prices of electricity.
Another example; I can walk from Prague Castle to the National Museum in about 45 minutes - that’s what’s considered ‘cross-town’ with a lot of folks here. In fact, the urban core of Prague is quite small. It’s only when you get out into the ‘burbs and surrounding areas that it’s a “big city”, or rather a “big city” as Czechs would define it. To me....not so much, but then I’m originally from Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.