Volt Woes Spread To Europe, Affect Ampera
The Volt’s battery woes are having an effect on its European sibling. Automotive News [sub] reports that Opel/Vauxhall will delay delivery of the Volt’s sister-model Ampera, while investigations by U.S. authorities into battery fires following government crash tests of the Volt continue. An Opel spokesman told AN:
”We are not currently delivering the cars to customers while we set up the process to deal with these highly charged batteries to make sure they are safe.”
Opel had already started deliveries of the Ampera to dealerships in Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland for y year-end launch. European sales of the Volt were officially kicked-off last week as two Amperas were delivered to the U.S. embassy in Paris.
Built with the Volt at GM’s Hamtramck plant near Detroit, the Ampera shares the Volt’s technology including the lithium-ion batteries. The styling is slightly different.
Meanwhile, even battery suppliers deem it necessary to keep a tweeting distance.
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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I don't know why people get all excited about a few flaws in the Volt. It's close enough for government work, isn't it?
"I realize that this seems like a really compelling difference to a few fanboys. But most of the market isn’t that concerned." Well that's your opinion. Personally I think your way off track. But let's stop right here because trust me I don't have anywhere near the "free time" you do nor the desire to go back and forth with you over the net.