GM to make Chevrolet electric carOct 2 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Nathan Bomey Detroit Free Press
General Motors plans to introduce an all-electric Chevrolet, global product chief Mark Reuss confirmed today. This would be a different powertrain than the Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR, which GM calls "extended range electric hybrids," because they rely on a gasoline-fueled motor. Reuss disclosed the new battery-only car during a presentation to investors at GM's Milford Proving Ground. Investors got a sneak peek at the vehicles on the condition they not take photos with their phones. Media were allowed to listen to an audio feed of the presentation without video. A GM spokesman declined to provide details on the timing or name of the battery-only vehicle. Currently, GM sells the Chevrolet Volt, a semi-electric car, nation-wide, but sales have disappointed. There were fewer than 1,400 sold in September and sales through the first nine months of 2014 are down 13% from a year earlier. It also sells an electric version of the Chevrolet Spark minicar in limited quantities, but only in California, Oregon and Washington. GM executives have said they are pursuing an affordable electric car (about $30,000) with a range of about 200 miles between chargings. Reuss also showed investors the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze sedans. GM Chief Financial Officer Chuck Stevens projected 2016 sales volume of 300,000 units for the Cruze and 225,000 for the Malibu. GM executives said that nearly half of the company's vehicles will have been redesigned or refreshed within the last 18 months. Reuss also showed investors prototypes or photos of: --The Cadillac CT6, which he said would be "the most advanced vehicle technologically in the world." --The redesigned Volt, which will be revealed at the Detroit auto show in January. It will "leap-frog a lot of the competition," Reuss said. --The redesigned Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox crossover and a Buick compact crossover. Contact Nathan Bomey: 313-223-4743 or nbomey@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NathanBomey. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=33853251& |