General Motor's ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt is on course to be built in the UK, after top-level intervention by the UK government.
The project was given an initial green light in the past few days by business secretary Lord Mandelson. He is keen to see the revolutionary self-charging electric car being manufactured in the UK, report GM sources, and is said to have pledged outline government support.
GM bosses are expected to spend the next few months compiling an outline business plan, before more substantive talks with the government.
Earlier this month, GM Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster said, "We would look at assembling Volt at Ellesmere Port if super-credits were included in the EU CO2 legislation - because this would encourage automakers to provide more ultra-low CO2 vehicles earlier and in greater volume. While the CO2 policy is close to finalisation, we will wait to see the final policy before making any further decisions."
Under the plan, the Volt would be made at Vauxhall's Astra plant in Ellesmere Port with production ramping up in early 2011. Even so, UK production of the next-generation Astra would probably not be moved to Russelsheim in Germany, GM sources insist.
Because of the extensive retraining and re-equipping of local suppliers likely to be associated with building the Volt, GM is expected to seek government aid and grants.
The Volt is based on GM's new Astra-sized Delta architecture, making the transfer to Ellesmere Port relatively straightforward.
Furthermore, much of the work converting the plant to build the new-Delta-based Astra, due in early 2010, has already been completed. The Volt is on schedule to be launched in the US in late 2010, and in late 2011 in Europe.
Today, Lord Mandelson will also make a speech to the Confederation of British Industry, which is due to make clear that the government wants to support the private sector in low-carbon industries and high-tech manufacturing.
He is expected to tell the CBI that the UK's manufacturing future lies with the"next industrial revolution and the low-carbon and post-carbon technologies that will define the 21st century".
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Re: Chevy Volt heads for Ellesmere
I think it is to sell at £25K to start with...they think (from memory) the battery price will lower and if I guessed I woudl say it will be around £18K in three to four years; £18K is the cost of a Civic and thus it will not be niche.......I think it will sell very well from the off and then if you take into account the EU sales that will be made at the site
Re: Chevy Volt heads for Ellesmere
OK, so the Volt is to be built in Britain.
But so what, it will NOT sell anywhere near the same numbers as the Astra, so fewer cars will be made.
It will be very much a niche product and expensive with it. And who buys Chevrolets in Europe?
Re: Chevy Volt heads for Ellesmere
You have to take that with a pinch of salt considering the cars present in the market on which these figures are based i.e. the G-Wiz http://www.goingreen.co.uk/store (which does not for instance prove great in accidents and is small) with low speeds/low range.
The Chevy Volt is the first real electric car albeit with an internal combustion engine to rechange the batteries via a generator; it will sell by the bucket load; it can have a range of something like about 600 miles......its a full size car, it is practical etc and at 150mpg it is very efficient......many companies are going to go for this, definately!
Merc are selling Smart cars like hot cakes, people buy them because of the low running costs, they are safe etc; in short it is a viable alternative; the Chevy Volt will be cheaper to run, bigger and less polluting than the Smart........the Volt will sell by loads...plus it is cool.....much cooler than the Toyota P (TP second hand prices will drop.......silly Toyota!)