Opel is pressuring parent company General Motors for a European version of the forthcoming Chevrolet Volt electric car. The original plan was for the Volt to be sold in Europe as a Chevrolet, with Opel and Vauxhall getting a different car based on the Flextreme concept. Vauxhall/Opel’s model is slated for production in Europe from around 2013.But high expectations for the Volt, partly created by GM’s clever use of web-based marketing, are forcing a rethink.“We’re still not sure what the exact launch plan for Europe is and it does look like it might change, but it should become clearer this week,” said an insider.US sales of the Chevrolet Volt start in 2010 and European sales in 2011. The UK version is expected to cost around £20,000 at current prices, equivalent to the $35,000-$40,000 figure quoted in the US.This price is now understood to include the lithium-ion battery pack, thought to be worth around $10,000 alone. Chevy looked at leasing the batteries to owners, to reduce the list price, but has ruled that process out on grounds of complexity.
Dan Stevens
