GM To Increase Chevy Volt Production

General Motors says its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant will significantly step up production of the Chevrolet Volt, its electric car introduced last year.

In this era of rising gasoline prices, GM says the Volt is in high demand, despite its $40,000-plus sticker price. The company is shutting down the assembly plant during the month of June to gear up for the production increase.

The 2011 Volt was launched in California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. GM says the Volt will be available nationwide and in Europe, China and Canada by the end of this year.

As a result of the plant upgrades, planned Volt and Ampera production capacity this year will increase to 16,000 units, including exports and a fleet of several hundred demonstration units sent to U.S. dealers. In 2012, global production capacity is expected to be 60,000 vehicles with an estimated 45,000 to be delivered in the United States.

Good timing

GM had the good timing to introduce the car as gasoline raced toward $4 a gallon. Otherwise, it's not clear that GM would be expanding its plant.

When the Volt was introduced, many in the automotive press were highly skeptical of GM's description of the Volt as an “all-electric” car. Edmunds.com, Motor Trend and other publications pointed out the car has a small gasoline engine that supposedly exists mostly to extend the Volt's range, so that motorists are not left stranded in the center lane when the battery runs out of juice.

But auto critics who test drove the car back in October said that during heavy acceleration, the Volt's gasoline engine kicks in to provide an additional power boost. GM didn't deny that but, oddly, insisted that it doesn't make any difference.

379 mile range

According to GM, the Volt is an electric vehicle that offers a total driving range of 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas-and tailpipe-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery.

When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator kicks in and operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full change.

GM describes demand for the Volt as “strong,” and said dealer inventories are tight.