Posts Tagged ‘General Motors’

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Chevrolet, GM, Green Daily

During his stop today at the General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck facility where the production Chevrolet Volts will soon roll off the line, President Obama did something unusual for a president: he got behind the wheel of a car and went for a drive. It was a short one – just ten feet – but that’s what happens when you need not only GM’s permission but also the Secret Service’s to drive a not-yet-in-production, new-technology Chevy Volt in black. We won’t be geting a full-length review from the President, but he did give his initial impression after stepping out: “I’m telling you guys, pretty smooth.”

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said after the event that Obama has driven at a Secret Service training facility this past April and also piloted a Dodge Charger at a closed-press event. Other than these two times, Obama hasn’t driven since getting Secret Service protection in early 2007.

[Source: ABC | Images: AFP/Getty Images, Jim Watson and AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais]

Obama drives the Volt… all of 10 feet originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Toyota

At it’s peak in 2002, Toyota was selling over 70,000 Sequoias. Last year, that number dropped to below 20,000 units. So it comes as little surprise that ToMoCo will be nixing its Tundra-based SUV at the end of the current model’s lifecycle.

A source speaking with PickupTrucks.com confirmed that the Sequoia won’t live on, partially due to slow sales, but surely in part to get Toyota’s CAFE ratings in check before the new rules hit in 2015. But all’s not lost for the automaker’s body-on-frame offerings.

A redesigned Tundra is set to arrive in 2014, just in time for Ford, General Motors and Nissan’s newest half-ton pickups. Although sales of the Tundra haven’t lived up to Toyota’s lofty expectations, it’s obvious the automaker feels the need to compete in the segment, and a refreshed model should help sales, despite the market’s less-than-enthusiastic reception of Toyota’s largest pickup.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Toyota to kill Sequoia, Tundra redesigned in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chevrolet, GM, Plug In Conference

At 9 am PDT this morning (noon EDT), General Motors marketing VP Joel Ewanick will be making an announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, CA, about the sticker price and ordering process for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Later, at 1 pm PDT/4pm EDT, Volt marketing director Tony DiSalle and vehicle line director Tony Posawatz will be available to answer the inevitable questions that all of you have about the process. You can submit your questions and watch the live video webchat using the form the after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Ask GM’s Tony DiSalle and Tony Posawatz your questions about Volt pricing and ordering, Tuesday 4pm EDT

Ask GM’s Tony DiSalle and Tony Posawatz your questions about Volt pricing and ordering, Tuesday 4pm EDT originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Electric

During a live video webchat this afternoon, Tony DiSalle, marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt, announced the production volumes for the first two years. General Motors plans to build 10,000 Volts by the end of the 2011 calendar year, with another 30,000 units coming in 2012. There will be a relatively slow production ramp up during the first year as the automaker learns to build the Volt as well as well as picking up lessons from cars in the field.

Chevrolet dealers will have to meet some minimum qualifications in order to sell the Volt. For instance, every dealer authorized to sell the Volt will have to maintain at least one demonstrator vehicle in stock so that potential customers can test drive it. Those same dealers will also have to install a 240 volt home charging station so that the cars have a full battery and customers can try it out. Beyond the dealers that sell Volts in the initial retail markets, GM will also assign dealers in other parts of the country to service the Volt if needed.

Unlike the Nissan Leaf, customers will not have to get pre-qualified to buy a Volt by having access to 240 volt home charging. Anyone can walk into a Volt authorized dealer and buy one (assuming they have the money!) even if they live in an apartment. Of course, getting the most out of a Volt will require access to a plug, but that is the customers’ choice.

[Source: General Motors]

BREAKING: 10,000 Chevrolet Volts in 2011, 30,000 in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog

Got a question for our intrepid team of podcasters? Now’s the time to ask away. Don’t forget to vote on which questions deserve our attention the most, though we’ll try to get to as many as we can. Discussion topics for Autoblog Podcast #183, which we’ll record tonight, can be found below. Finally, subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #184

• Speculation on updates to 2011 Dodge Challenger
• Gordon Murray’s T25 city car breaks cover
• Chrysler plans a manlier minivan
• Senate financial reform bill and its exemption for car loans
• Tesla’s rapidly-approaching IPO
• General Motors’ rapidly-approaching IPO

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #184 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog