$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?
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Still, that is the price of a moderately equipped 3-series diesel or something similar. And that wouldn't be getting terrible mileage either...
Audi A6 3.0t: 49850 euros. BMW 335d sedan in germany: 45900 euros. Opel Ampera: 42900 euros. Audi A4 2.0t 6MT quattro: 37300 euros. Audi A6 3.0t: $50200. BMW 335d sedan in US: $44150. Chevy Volt: $40280 (before subsidies). Audi A4 2.0t 6MT quattro: $32850. There's no news here, beyond the sensationalist opportunity. Cars in Europe incl VAT cost more than a straight currency conversion to cars in the US. I guess a story about the $51k stripper A4 wouldn't have gotten as many eyeballs? Is the Volt expensive? Oh yes. Are straight comparisons between Euro inc VAT and USD sans tax stupid? Oh yes.