Chevy Volts Testing Chinese Market Now

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just prior to news last week that Chevy Volt sales are way up in the US, GM announced that it was sending some Volts to car-booming China to test the market for them there. “GM has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) to manage a fleet of Chevy Volts for ‘data collection purposes’,” Chris DeMorro writes on sister site Gas2.

“It’s no secret though that GM wants to prop up Volt sales, and where better than the Chinese market? Auto sales are booming in China, and the central government is raining money down on carmakers and consumers who opt to build and buy fuel-efficient hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles.”

The Volt’s cousin, the Opel Ampera, is doing quite well in Europe, and it won the European Car of the Year Award there (reportedly the first “American-made” car to win that award). So, it’s shown that it can do well on other continents. Note, however, that China’s got different rules for foreign and domestically built cars, and GM has to do some maneuvering to get the Volt a fighting chance.

“Recent changes to the tax and rebate program have shut out companies like GM from benefitting from these subsidies. That’s where CATARC comes in. This influential lobbying group helps shape government policy in regards to EVs. If GM can get the Volt into China, and benefit from government subsidies, they could have a hit on their hands (though it’d probably be better received if it wore a Buick badge).”

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/07/chevy-volt-china/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29&utm_content=FaceBook

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

sell all of them to the Chinese! Help close the trade deficit. China uses a very large amount of coal to generate electricity in very dirty power plants because they are a developing nation and their emissions do not affect global warming. Besides it all the way ovr there in China so it will never affect us.

This would give the term "coal fired car" a whole new meaning.

[Darnell 8,478]

if it's not made in China, then that's a plus, long term.

if it's made in china, well, expect the copies to be rolling out in under 3 months.

[X Factor 1,112]

Agreed Darnell. It's just a matter of time before the Chinese will tear the Volt apart and "borrow" the technology with a smile on their face.

[Danno 1,228]

Just prior to news last week that Chevy Volt sales are way up in the US, GM announced that it was sending some Volts to car-booming China to test the market for them there. “GM has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) to manage a fleet of Chevy Volts for ‘data collection purposes’,” Chris DeMorro writes on sister site Gas2.

“It’s no secret though that GM wants to prop up Volt sales, and where better than the Chinese market? Auto sales are booming in China, and the central government is raining money down on carmakers and consumers who opt to build and buy fuel-efficient hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles.”

The Volt’s cousin, the Opel Ampera, is doing quite well in Europe, and it won the European Car of the Year Award there (reportedly the first “American-made” car to win that award). So, it’s shown that it can do well on other continents. Note, however, that China’s got different rules for foreign and domestically built cars, and GM has to do some maneuvering to get the Volt a fighting chance.

“Recent changes to the tax and rebate program have shut out companies like GM from benefitting from these subsidies. That’s where CATARC comes in. This influential lobbying group helps shape government policy in regards to EVs. If GM can get the Volt into China, and benefit from government subsidies, they could have a hit on their hands (though it’d probably be better received if it wore a Buick badge).”

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/07/chevy-volt-china/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29&utm_content=FaceBook

You know what that means: More coal fired plants to charge them bad boys up!

PLus going from Bicycles to the electric volt.... they won't even laugh.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So they're buying their car back eh?

We all know that most parts for GM cars / Ford Vehicles come from China anyway... They might as well start using these cars they are helping to build...

It's funny really. The "American" car companies are near the bottom of being actually "American"

[spookyturtle 9,466]

So they're buying their car back eh?

We all know that most parts for GM cars / Ford Vehicles come from China anyway... They might as well start using these cars they are helping to build...

It's funny really. The "American" car companies are near the bottom of being actually "American"

And the supposed Americans are anti America. Why is that?

[MyLittlePony 340]

American cars are junk and leak oil but jap cars have lots of recalls so whats the difference? nothing all junk.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

American cars aren't junk.