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Launch of Chevrolet Volt to begin in California, U.S.A.

2009-12-02

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Los Angeles – Chevrolet announced today at the Los Angeles International Auto Show that the Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability will be available late next year in California – the largest new-car market in the U.S. Other U.S. lead regions will follow.

Chevrolet is also partnering with three California utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as part of an extended, real-world demonstration and research program to introduce customers to electric vehicles, advance vehicle electrification and establish vehicle charging programs to pave the way for consumers. General Motors is leading the program with a grant of more than $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"It is natural that California is the lead market for Volt. Not only is it the largest automotive market, Californians are known to be leaders in adopting groundbreaking new technologies," said Brent Dewar, GM vice president, Global Chevrolet Brand.

Volt production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced. The initial Volt launch markets, including California, will play a vital role in validating the retail market readiness for electric vehicles. GM is working with key utilities across North America to prepare each regional market in advance of the retail market deployment. Chevrolet will start delivering the Volt to Europe by the end of 2011.

As part of the research and demonstration program, Chevrolet will supply more than 100 Volts to program participants to use in their fleets for two years. Chevrolet will also utilize OnStar telematics technology to collect vehicle performance data and driver feedback that will be reported to the DOE and used to improve customers' experiences with the new technology.

Because the Volt is designed to conveniently charge anywhere, the program also includes installing more than 500 charging stations for residential, business and public use. The charging stations will be used to learn more about the installation, the vehicle charging process and to gain customer feedback on the experience.

Wayne Brannon, president and managing director, Chevrolet Europe said: "We are very excited about today's announcement. The information and learnings resulting from the activities and partnerships in California, will be very valuable for us as we are mapping out the plans for the Chevrolet Volt launch and distribution in Europe."

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle that goes further. It is designed to drive up to 60 kilometers on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to more than 500 kilometers before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.

The Volt is more than its advanced electric propulsion system. With technology beyond the battery, the Volt takes personalization, feedback and interaction to new levels.

The Volt's "Efficiency Meter" in the digital instrument cluster gives the driver real-time feedback on driving efficiency. The heating and cooling system has three efficiency modes, while activating the Volt's "Green Leaf" button provides access to vehicle Power Flow, Charging and Energy information. The driver will be able to set the charging schedule inside the vehicle or remotely, based on time of day or cost. And the Volt even has audio and visual cues to alert the driver when the car powers on, off and when charging is activated.

The Volt has been keeping a high profile in and around Los Angeles in the days leading up to the auto show. On Tuesday, David Thomas from Florida was the first consumer to drive a pre-production Volt after winning a nationwide contest to name a Volt paint color – Viridian Joule.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' leading global brand with annual sales over 4.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet delivers expressive design, spirited performance and strives to provide the best value in every segment in which it competes. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. The new Chevrolet line-up includes the small Aveo, compact Cruze sedan, Captiva SUV and mid-size Epica. The all-new Spark city car will be launched in early 2010. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Spain, Italy, U.K. and Germany. Established by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is preparing to celebrate its centenary with the launch of the ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. More information on Chevrolet can be found at http://www.chevroleteurope.com or http://media.chevroleteurope.com. For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt