GM says bankruptcy won't affect the Volt, but how much say does it have?

As General Motors finally caved this morning, waved the white flag and filed for bankruptcy, those following electric cars immediately wondered what this all would mean for the long-awaited Volt. For years now, GM has steadfastly affirmed that it was moving forward with production regardless of what else was going on within the company and the economy at large. According to Technology Review, a GM spokesperson confirmed again this morning that "the filing will have no impact on the company's plans to start selling the Volt at the end of next year." That said, we have to wonder how much such a statement really means; reports have stated that the US government may up holding as much as 60 percent of the company, and if the primary goal is to bring the outfit back to profitability as soon as possible, Obama and Company may not feel that pouring even more into the high-priced Volt is a good idea. In related news, we hear Tesla is still taking orders...

Update: GM has pushed out an official statement that (in a few words) also suggests that the Volt is still on track.

[CraigJ @ Jun 1st 2009 1:16PM]

To the contrary. Obama will likely demand that the Volt remain a priority even if it means more money from the tax payers. Look at his positions on fuel economy and alternative energy...

[Ernesttechuser @ Jun 1st 2009 1:21PM]

Precisely.

The plan should be to liquidate their gas-guzzler divisions and pump the cash from the fire-sale into less environmentally damaging and more economically sustainable and possibly profitable electric and low emissions vehicles.

Of course, that would just be too perfect, I'm sure Obama will protect the vested interests, as he seems want to do with everything else.

[kjb434 @ Jun 1st 2009 1:48PM]

Yes,

Obama will force them to make more cars (i.e. small ones) that the American public really don't want. Then GM still won't make money and will waste more of my taxpayer dollars.

The only American car company left is Ford. GM and Chrysler are gone. They are properties of the government.

This is Obama's (and Bush's) biggest failure. Not letting companies (such as GM and the banks) fail like they are supposed in capitalism. A companies failing allows smaller and medium companies to fill the void.

[elBravo @ Jun 1st 2009 1:53PM]

Scared shitless that one of the nations biggest industries is being run by Washington politicians. Too big to fail? Bullshit. It's not like some other company wouldn't grab some cheap investment cash, hire up a work force (sans unions) and fill in the void left by GM and Chrysler.

[fanman @ Jun 1st 2009 1:55PM]

The only reason I would support nationalisation of anything is if it was a last resort to ensure everyone still had the opportunity to get jobs and live the American dream. If that's the case with GM then so be it.

Maybe now they can stop making such piss poor cars.

[darkmax @ Jun 1st 2009 2:20PM]

time to wake up from the American Dream, my boy. Or else it will soon be a nightmare.

[OneLove @ Jun 1st 2009 3:08PM]

I can see that each one of you whiners has a better solution (and more facts) to help fix the problems with the country.

[Temple @ Jun 1st 2009 3:27PM]

GM is getting an additional 30 billion in tax payer money after bankruptcy. The previous 17 billion that the US government gave will be forgiven during bankruptcy. So the Volt will be built, likely with your taxes.

[BigD145 @ Jun 1st 2009 5:12PM]

"The only American car company left is Ford. GM and Chrysler are gone. They are properties of the government."

Um. And how does the American gov't ownership not constitute GM being an American car company? GM is a corporate entity. The gov't gives it the privileges of being a corporation, no matter if it directly owns the company or not. You don't get to be a corporation without the blessing of the gov't. The only thing that is changing, in this case, is who actually makes all the decisions. If anything, it should become even more American. Obama has had much more focus on products being "Made in America," which GM and Ford have not been doing. They've been using Chinese parts. The only companies that have been buying up American made auto parts have been Toyota and Honda.

[From My Cube @ Jun 1st 2009 1:18PM]

they would be dumb to kill off the Volt, the volt will provide the platform for many other electric cars in the GM lineup...the volt should be looked at as R&D rather than just a car...its technology will live on for decades and will become profitable at somepoint but if they do kill it, its a huge step in the wrong direction...GM may become profitable again without the volt but will again find itself falling behind on elec-technology

[fanman @ Jun 1st 2009 1:57PM]

You make the mistake of presuming that anyone wants to buy an electric car.

[--Ed @ Jun 1st 2009 2:48PM]

Exactly and a 40K+ one at that! No thanks. I'll keep my F150! Much cheaper to operate because it is paid for. Don't need a 40K car with an energizer battery in it.

[Brian! @ Jun 1st 2009 3:05PM]

@fannman I think there are a lot of people out there who would love an electric car. The Prius sells incredibly well where I live and I don't think I have ever talked to a Prius owner who didn't say that they would be interested in a nice electric version.

The fact is, most people drive less than 50 miles in an entire day. And of that, the majority of those people drive less than 20 miles each day.

A mixture of an electric car with a nice SUV or something for traveling/camping/etc... is great for families. Save money around town and take out the big car for road trips on occasional weekends.

[fanman @ Jun 1st 2009 5:14PM]

Surely if that were so everyone would have one. As it is now, electric cars don't sell because for whatever reason people don't consider them a good purchase. The Volt doesn't seem revolutionary enough to change this.

[Citrico @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:16AM]

Please, don't pretend the Volt is much more than a niche product.

It is, however, an important niche product, and is good press. The Prius isn't a volume seller for Toyota, but it does give them green cred, which is important. No matter how many trucks Toyota sells, they will always be associated with hybrids, and people will assume they're green. GM needs that kind of press, and the Volt is how they get it.

[jonwil2002 @ Jun 2nd 2009 2:04AM]

The reason people aren't driving electric cars is not because they don't want to but because they CAN'T.
All the electric car models on the market are way too expensive, unsuitable for most people (i.e. all those "neighborhood" models that cant go on the highway/freeway) or both.
The Volt is good, it has the petrol engine for when the battery runs out, its cheaper than the alternatives plus being a GM/Chevrolet car, service and parts will be available from GM/Chevrolet dealers all over the country (not like Tesla where there are only a few places to get it fixed or serviced)
Some might argue that a pure electric is better but most people wouldn't be willing to take the risk of running out of battery juice when they are too far away from a power point to charge it up.

Me, I just wish GM would do something smart and stick a Holden badge on the car and send it down under, the Volt is much better than the Prius or the new Hybrid Camry Toyota are talking about.

Oh and unlike the Prius and others, the Volt is not a Hybrid car, its an electric car with a petrol engine powered generator to charge the batteries (or as GM puts it, an Extended Range Electric Vehicle) and can be run without a single drop of gas in the tank. (even the latest plug-in Prius models Toyota has in the labs cant run solely on electric power AFAIK)

[Adam @ Jun 1st 2009 1:22PM]

Oh come on. Seriously? You call the Volt "high priced" and in the very next sentence mention Tesla which is MUCH more expensive?

[Max @ Jun 1st 2009 1:58PM]

You do know the difference between models and makes...right?

[Adam @ Jun 1st 2009 3:18PM]

Well when a manufacturer only makes one product, does it really matter? Even their less expensive sedan model will still be more than the Volt. That and it's entirely impractical for the average person.

[Patriks7 @ Jun 1st 2009 3:28PM]

"That and it's entirely impractical for the average person."
Yes, we all need a gas-guzzling Hummer!

[Adam @ Jun 1st 2009 4:31PM]

Volt = practical
Tesla (Roadster & S) = impractical

I'd like to see you take a road trip in your all electric vehicle. Good luck with that. Forgot to charge your car? Oh well... have fun waiting for it to charge. Charging the battery takes just a few minutes more than filling up the gas tank.

[wepew @ Jun 1st 2009 4:49PM]

to anyone doubting electric cars check out betterplace.com

[DC @ Jun 1st 2009 5:10PM]

"Well when a manufacturer only makes one product, does it really matter?"

Yeah, it really matters.

Tesla is a new company that chose to start with an expensive model for the high-end of the market, with plans to introduce less expensive products as the company grows. Their ultimate goal is to make and sell easily affordable electric vehicles for the rest of us. So to complain about the cost of the Roadster and the Model S as though Tesla refuses to make something more affordable is kind of silly.

It's also silly to complain about taking road trips in electric vehicles, since they are not designed for that purpose. The vast majority of the driving we do every day is commuting between jobs and homes. That's the kind of driving electric cars are designed for.

[Oli D @ Jun 1st 2009 1:22PM]

Welcome to the USA.
Its that place where you get a loan from the government bank to buy a car from the government Car maker.

Mmm the sound of conservatives topping themselves.

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 1st 2009 1:34PM]

I wont buy it, or any car from this state-run auto maker.

Time for some young turks to do an automotive start-up that's centered in free enterprise, and in manufacturing in the U.S..

They stand to make billions

[kjb434 @ Jun 1st 2009 1:50PM]

We still have those. It's called Ford, European, Japanese, and Korean automakers.

GM and Chrysler are dead to me.

[Aqua @ Jun 1st 2009 2:36PM]

@ kjb434, that's a nice listing of companies hosted by countries where the government takes care of all the health care and retirement benefits. Somehow I think you'd howl if the US did the same and allowed the car company to just be a car company.

[Aqua @ Jun 1st 2009 2:37PM]

excluding Ford of course

[TrackDrew @ Jun 1st 2009 4:49PM]

@ kjb434,

Agreeing with Aqua here, Japan gives Toyota and Honda gov't handouts on a yearly basis. This is of course coming from a country that won't buy foreign makes even at huge discounts. GM couldn't sell the cavalier there because it wasn't a toyota/honda. Toyota bought them and put there badge on with a couple other cosmetic/regional changes and they sold great for 6 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Cavalier#Toyota_Cavalier

[superhobo @ Jun 1st 2009 1:24PM]

Sell the Volt to another company, you Great Morons.

[offtheheezi @ Jun 1st 2009 1:25PM]

The messiah will never allow the Volt to fail. Never fear, followers, never fear.

[Adam @ Jun 1st 2009 1:25PM]

Don't get me started on Obama and alternative energy. Nuclear energy is a solution for today and needs to be replace in the future with the wind and solar alternatives that aren't ready today.

But that's not what where discussing. GM needs to be bought out not bailed out I'm sorry for the stock holders but when a company dose stupid things they go under not get bailed out and given another chance by the US. If someone wanted to invest in the company that's fine but they should be long gone by this time.

[William @ Jun 1st 2009 1:33PM]

yeah! Give us the nuclear Volt! One million miles to the proton!

[elBravo @ Jun 1st 2009 2:05PM]

Replace nuclear with wind and solar!?! That might be a dicey idea. I appreciate wind and solar, but the maintenance, upfront investments and land space required for these to replace nuclear would be tremendous. Nuclear is the future. Held back prematurely by a restrictive policies drafted by unfounded fears from a ignorant representative government. Nuclear is the cleanest and cheapest form of energy generation we have. And with a substantial energy load about to be transferred from millions of internal combustion engines to a centralized grid in the coming decade, we need an infrastructure of stable and reliable power generation more than ever.

[Champ @ Jun 1st 2009 3:28PM]

Uh, you do know that the GM stockholders are not being bailed out. They are being wiped out.

[wepew @ Jun 1st 2009 4:53PM]

nuclear plants take years and years to build, they are an eyesore and wind and solar is much easier to implement. Also a large area must be cleared to make space for a nuclear plant whereas wind turbines and solar panels can be installed on already existing buildings.
sorry, but nuclear is not the answer.

[wepew @ Jun 1st 2009 4:54PM]

nuclear plants take years and years to build, they are an eyesore and
wind and solar is much easier to implement. Also a large area must be
cleared to make space for a nuclear plant whereas wind turbines and
solar panels can be installed on already existing buildings.
sorry, but nuclear is not the answer.

[BonzoTASM @ Jun 1st 2009 1:27PM]

Didn't we just bail them out...? so do we get our money back???

[joe23521 @ Jun 1st 2009 2:11PM]

No, those 20 billion have been forgiven. We now get to pay 30 more billion to get GM through the next 90 days.

[BonzoTASM @ Jun 1st 2009 2:51PM]

Typical... How about they just give every american citizen that pay's taxes a free Volt and then we'll call it even....

Oh yeah... wait I almost forgot that as americans we're not supposed to notice that were getting screwed by our government...

[erik1080 @ Jun 1st 2009 8:56PM]

Guys, do not question CEO Obama, him and his "experienced Auto Task Force" know best.

What does GM stand for again? Government Motors?

[EB @ Jun 1st 2009 1:29PM]

I wonder which car will sell more. Chevy Volt, or Tesla Model S ...
I think I read that the Volt will start around $40K and Tesla S at $50K.
So would people buy the Volt at 40K? or pay 10K more for the Tesla?
They have different advantages and disadvantages.

[Daniel @ Jun 1st 2009 2:10PM]

Actually, the Tesla S is $56,400 and the Volt is $40,000. After the $7,500 tax credit, they drop to $48,900 and $32,500 respectively. And at that price, the S gets 160 miles per charge. So basically the S is dead for the day after 160 miles, but the Volt can go on gasoline indefinitely.

[hexydes @ Jun 1st 2009 2:45PM]

I'm not sure you can really say how much the Volt costs right now, because they don't exist in production, and won't for another year.

Oh, and additionally their parent company just went bankrupt. But I'm sure all of the information that they threw out won't change a bit.

[shootingblue @ Jun 1st 2009 1:30PM]

I for one will never buy another GM car as long as its owned by the government. I refuse to support socialism and everything the government touches turns to crap. Wait till the Barry takes over health care.

[Timoh @ Jun 1st 2009 1:50PM]

Unfortunately, as long as the government owns GM us tax payers will be keeping them afloat no matter how few cars they sell. The government runs the company into the ground? Oh well there's plenty more bailout money in the taxpayer's pockets!

[Dave @ Jun 1st 2009 1:50PM]

That my friend is a GREAT conservative stand you take. You are truly thinking outside the box and I like it. Yes, I too will not support the government owned GM at this point. I'd venture to guess that conservative American's consume more GM vehicles than the liberals do. Barry the mesiah may have won the election with 52.9% of the vote but good luck turning a profit with your new car company when you need a lot more than 52.9% of the nation to support this new disaster you've created. What will a liberal fool like you do next...put a 100% tax on every car not made by GM until people buy your crap?

[Aqua @ Jun 1st 2009 1:57PM]

if you refuse to support socialism you should never have bought any car, as they all provide health care benefits, retirement benefits, job security, etc.... besides, GM has long been known as a health care company with an auto business attached.

[Magallanes @ Jun 1st 2009 2:05PM]

I agree with with comrade @shootingblue.

[the highest of Defs @ Jun 1st 2009 2:16PM]

Lol you conservitards amuse me every day.
Sure boycott "socialism" (though I don't think that word means what you think it means)
Don't ever call the police, or the fire dept, or send your kids to school, or visit the public library
Or hell don't ever drive your car on public roads.