GM Said to Drop Volt-Based Cadillac to Focus on Plug-In Hybrids




General Motors Co. stopped work on the Cadillac Converj, an electric-drive coupe similar to the Chevrolet Volt, to focus on cheaper plug-in hybrids for its luxury brand, two executives with knowledge of the move said.


Quote from the article:

GM concluded that the Converj couldn’t have enough amenities and electric range to be compelling to buyers and produce a profit, said the executives, who asked not to be identified because the details aren’t public.

The decision reverses GM’s public stance of less than two months ago, when Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the Converj was in the automaker’s plans. While plug-in hybrids can’t go as far on a single charge as a car with the Volt’s technology, their batteries are lighter and may cost less than half as much.

“The future lies in plug-in hybrids with smaller electric range,” said Eric Noble, president of CarLab, an Orange, California-based automotive consultant. Dropping the Converj is “a tacit admission from GM that they over-batteried the Volt.”

Pat Morrissey, a GM spokesman, declined to comment on the Converj.



Source: GM Said to Drop Volt-Based Cadillac to Focus on Plug-In Hybrids

Digg it! Slashdot Del.ico.us Technorati Fark it! Blinklist Furl NewsVine Windows Live Netscape Google Bookmarks Reddit! LinkaGoGo Tailrank Wink Dzone Simpy Spurl Yahoo! MyWeb NetVouz RawSugar Smarking Scuttle Magnolia BlogMarks Nowpublic FeedMeLinks Wists Onlywire Connotia Shadows Co.mments


Rate this story

Rating:


Post New Comment

Your Name:


Subject:


Icon:
Note  Alert  Question  Star  Idea  Disk  Smile  Wink  Sad  Mad  Happy 
Tongue  Sleep  Cool  Very Sad  Frown  Up  Down 

Message:


Disable smilies in this post.
Disable block tag code.
Add [url] tag at URLs.