$41,000 For A Volt? A Bargain - Compared To An Ampera

America – the greatest country on earth. At least when it comes to Chevy Volt prices. You think its $41,000 tag is expensive? Wait until you hear what the Europeans will have to fork over for the rebadged Opel Ampera, and the Volt will look like the greatest deal on earth. Especially after subsidies. Ready?

Opel will sell their Ampera in Europe “from” €42,900. In today’s (slightly stronger) dollars, that comes out to breath-restricting 58,747.26 smackeroos. For the base model. Remember, in Europe VAT has to be included, but anyway, that’s what the dealer will demand.

The Volt in Ampera clothing won’t be available before Q4 2011, but the crowd that indulges in pain, suffering and humiliation can already book theirs. On-line, in the privacy of their homes.

Automobilwoche [sub] comes to the easily understandable conclusion that “the car that is being hawked as ‘revolutionary’ by its maker will be significantly more expensive in the Old World than in the U.S.A.”

Subsidies? Wie bitte? No subsidies for civilians. The European industry is lobbying hard for subsidies, but governments remain tightfisted. With great fanfare, the German government made a charitable donation of €100m, to be spent on “field tests, connectivity with renewable energies, a market launch for diesel-hybrid buses, development of a recycling method for batteries, and studies of the ecological and economical benefit of electromobility.”

Deadpans focus magazine: “That study shouldn’t take long. Benefit: Zero.” An Opel Astra Diesel can be had for half the price.

Automobilwoche calls the U.S. sticker of $41,000 a “comparatively reasonable introductory price.” Isn’t it wonderful to live in God’s own country? What will you do with all the money you save?