Clean Green Cars: GM sees more demand than supply with the Chevy Volt in the beginning

GM sees more demand than supply with the Chevy Volt in the beginning

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, Green Daily

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

GM has already warned us that the Volt will be in short supply at launch. But that isn’t stopping Bob Lutz, GM’s vice chairman in charge of marketing, from going out an talking about how popular the car - due next year - already is. Lutz told Automotive News (subs req’d) that the promotional efforts GM has laid on thick are working. Once the car is further along the production process, Lutz said GM will “pull out the heavy artillery and get Volt buzz” going, hinting that a short-term test drive/lease like Project Driveway is being considered.

Over 50,000 people have signed up for a “want list” over at GM-Volt.com. About a year and a half ago, 20,000 people had signed up. GM will build “tens of thousands” of Volts in the first year, GM’s Dave Barthmuss repeatedly told attendees at this weekend’s Alt Car expo in Santa Monica. To compare, Nissan has collected names of about 22,000 people who are interested in the all-electric Leaf in the two months since it was unveiled.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt