The debate remains how big demand will be for these expensive vehicles once the novelty is gone?
General Motors is increasing production plans for the Chevrolet Volt hybrid for at least the second time in four months. The 50% increase in 2012 U.S. production will result in 45,000 four-seat models in 2012 instead of the 30,000 Volts originally scheduled.
The announcement comes as the first Volts were delivered to retail customers in California, Texas, Washington D.C. and New York in December – about 350 of them – all that GM produced its Hamtramck, Michigan plant.
The $42,000 Volt was also named this morning The North American Car of the Year by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States, representing newspapers, magazines, websites, television and radio shows.
For 2011, the Volt garnered more juror votes than the Nissan Leaf or Hyundai Sonata, which were also finalists; it was announced at the North American International Auto Show.
This is the third time Chevrolet has won the North American Car of the Year, and the fourth time for General Motors. Most recently, the Chevrolet Malibu was the 2008 North American Car of the Year.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized as the North American Car of the Year,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson. “Since development began, we believed the Volt had the potential to transform the automotive industry. Today, the Volt is the first electric vehicle to win the prestigious North American Car of the Year award, and the first vehicle ever to receive the industry’s highest automotive, technology, and environmental recognitions.”
