The Volt’s legacy will likely die with it
The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid was among the passenger cars that GM announced it would discontinue late last year. Despite its demise, rumors persisted that GM would replace the Volt with a hybrid crossover. However, Mark Reuss, the incoming president of GM, recently put a stop to such rumors, suggesting that GM is done with hybrids altogether.
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Reuss recently responded to a series of questions following GM’s investor conference last week. One such question revolved around the possibility of GM producing future hybrid vehicles.
In response, Reuss answered that, “Hybrids are just countermeasures to an ICE (internal combustion engine).”
“You can spend your money on getting the real answer, which is providing the customer a zero emissions, sustainable, affordable solution,” he went on to add.
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These comments suggest that GM is no longer interested in producing hybrid vehicles for the American market. Instead, it will focus solely on electric vehicles.
GM’s electrification efforts are already underway. Cadillac will reportedly serve as GM’s top producer of EVs, and the automaker recently unveiled a new Cadillac EV crossover during the North American International Auto Show.
The Buick Velite 6 may very well be the automaker’s last traditional hybrid model
Despite this move away from hybrid vehicles, GM is introducing a hybrid to the Chinese market later this year: the Buick Velite 6. This vehicle will come offered with a full-electric option.
When GM introduced the Volt and its Voltec system nearly a decade ago, they represented the most efficient tech that GM had to offer. Yet, thanks to the rapidly advancing nature of the EV segment, it would seem that this once iconic hybrid is now obsolete.
News Source: Green Car Reports
Zachary Berry currently resides in the Dayton, Ohio area. However, he enjoys traveling from place to place, as he was born in Oklahoma City and has also lived in Albuquerque and Orlando (such is the life of a military brat). Zachary graduated from Ohio University with a major in Strategic Communication, which is fancy talk for advertising and public relations. Beginning his career at The News Wheel as a lowly intern, he was able to climb his way to the top, eventually claiming his place within the last cubicle on the left. Other jobs that Zachary has held include driving around a safari truck at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When he’s not putting his nose to the grindstone, Zachary enjoys watching and critiquing movies and television. See more articles by Zachary.
