Global sales of General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid vehicle surged dramatically last year, but the automaker is reportedly targeting a much more modest increase for 2013.
GM is hoping to increase sales of the Chevy Volt - which is marketed in Europe as the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera and in Australia as the Holden Volt - by 20 percent to 36,000 units this year, two sources with knowledge of the situation have revealed to Bloomberg.
Last year, GM sold 30,000 Volts and Amperas worldwide. Volt sales in the U.S. were up 205 percent during the twelve-month span, improving from 7,671 units in 2011 to 23,461 examples, though they still fell short of GM’s initial target of 45,000 deliveries.
In addition to lower than expected demand, Volt sales in 2012 were also hampered by temporary production shutdowns that made it difficult for GM to supply the plug-in hybrid to high-demand areas.
"We had some on and off starts with the assembly plant," said Cristi Landy, GM’s marketing director for small cars. "California, which is our strongest market, was selling great then they would have no products. They've run out of products probably three or four times in the last 12 months, it's been very frustrating.”
GM intends to consistently keep Volt production in the range of 1,500-3,000 units per month prevent such problems from occurring this year.
GM is hoping to increase sales of the Chevy Volt - which is marketed in Europe as the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera and in Australia as the Holden Volt - by 20 percent to 36,000 units this year, two sources with knowledge of the situation have revealed to Bloomberg.
Last year, GM sold 30,000 Volts and Amperas worldwide. Volt sales in the U.S. were up 205 percent during the twelve-month span, improving from 7,671 units in 2011 to 23,461 examples, though they still fell short of GM’s initial target of 45,000 deliveries.
In addition to lower than expected demand, Volt sales in 2012 were also hampered by temporary production shutdowns that made it difficult for GM to supply the plug-in hybrid to high-demand areas.
"We had some on and off starts with the assembly plant," said Cristi Landy, GM’s marketing director for small cars. "California, which is our strongest market, was selling great then they would have no products. They've run out of products probably three or four times in the last 12 months, it's been very frustrating.”
GM intends to consistently keep Volt production in the range of 1,500-3,000 units per month prevent such problems from occurring this year.
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