GM Confirms Cadillac Volt on the Way for 2013

Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, has re-confirmed the Cadillac Converj (or something like it) would go into production for 2013. The Converj will be built using the Volt Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) base.

But the Cadillac variant will be built for those "Who don't mind paying a large price for a luxury vehicle."

Lutz was speaking at a SAM event in Detroit. Back in November, the GM board approved the Cadillac variant.

Building a luxury Volt will certainly help everyone. By expanding the base of cars being sold, more will be made. That will bring costs down, allowing GM to make a profit off of a car that is supposed to cost $40,000. That means, if the Volt is a big hit, GM will eventually be able to build more every year.

Lutz re-iterated the price tag estimate and the production (40-50,000) per year to start. But also pointed out "First Generation vehicles are hard to make profitable."

But one word of caution. At $40,000, I'm betting buyers are going to be expecting at least some luxury.

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2010 Ford Focus Unveiled

As we begin 2010, it looks like the compact C-segment is shaping up to be one of the most highly competitve segments in the auto industry. The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, VW Golf and Jetta, along with the new Chevrolet Cruze are fighting for the hearts, minds and dollars of the masses. And then there's the Ford Focus.

Photo Credit: TopGear.com

This week in Detroit, Ford is unwrapping an all-new Focus for the 2012 model year. When the original Focus debuted internationally in 1998 and then in the U.S. a year later, it was more or less a common design. The U.S. version, however, suffered from a series of manufacturing issues and recalls within its first year of sales. Meanwhile, the overseas model got a full redesign in 2004, but Americans kept the MK1 Focus until three years ago when it got an unfortunately awkward re-skin. This time around the new Focus is truly global and adopts the latest evolution of Ford's European "Kinetic" design language. Judging by our first exposure to the 2012 Focus, every other contender in the segment may have a real problem to deal with next year. Learn more about the new Focus after the jump.

Credit Source: [AutoBlog]

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Toyota iQ Hybrid Coming?

The Inside Line says it has the scoop on the new subcompact Toyota hybrid coming to the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

The subcompact being teased will be the iQ, coming to the US with a hybrid version sometime in 2011. Not only that, but it will have four different models coming after the initial launch. From a five-door hatchback up to a sedan version.

They go on to speculate the iQ will mate a 1.5 liter gas engine with an electric motor for about 100-120 hp combined, which will net the driver about 60 mpg. If they are right about the price tag ($15,000), we could finally be looking at a truly low priced hybrid. The Honda Insight was supposed to be the hybrid for everyone, but at $20 thousand, not everyone can look to buy it.

According to a statement, Toyota's Detroit Auto Show exhibit will also feature the small FT-EV II concept, which debuted at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, and a Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) which is presently being field tested in select markets around the world. The exhibit, constructed with significant quantities of recycled and repurposed materials, will also serve as center stage for a new dedicated hybrid concept vehicle making its world debut at NAIAS on Jan. 11.

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Lexus HS 250h Gets Five Star Rating for Safety

The NHTSA has awarded the 2010 Lexus HS 250h a five star rating for both front impact for the driver and right front passenger positions and side impact for the driver and left rear passenger positions.

The safercar.gov website shows the HS 250h gets five stars except for the rollever test in which it received four stars.

Press Release from Lexus follows:

TORRANCE, Calif. (Jan 6, 2010) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Lexus 2010 HS 250h, the world’s first dedicated luxury hybrid, a rating of five out of five stars for both front impact for the driver and right front passenger positions and side impact for the driver and left rear passenger positions.

The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and rollover safety. The crash test ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research facilities. The announcement was released on the NHTSA website www.safercar.gov.

According to Lexus, the body structure of the HS 250h plays a key role in the fundamental safety characteristics. To help protect the driver and passengers, the body is designed to be strong but strategically resilient to help absorb and distribute energy in the event of a crash. High tension steel components are carefully located in the body structure, doors and other areas to help ensure strength in key areas.

Also incorporated is a standard class-leading 10-airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with dual-stage front airbags and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, and both front and rear seat-mounted side airbags to help protect front and rear passengers in certain types of severe frontal or side collisions. The front passenger’s twin-chamber airbag helps disperse the forces applied to the passenger immediately after deployment. Additionally, front and outer rear seatbelts incorporate pretensioners with force-limiters to help protect occupants in the event of certain severe frontal collisions. Active front headrests are also standard.

The HS 250h, which went on sale in August 2009, has an impressive 187 total system horsepower and has achieved EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 35 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway for a combined 35 mpg utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline - an 80 percent better city mpg rating compared to the average near luxury car.

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Prius Top Seller in Japan for 2009

The Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JAMA) is reporting the Prius has continued its hot streak in Japan. In fact, it's the number one car in Japan for 2009, the first time a hybrid has taken the title.

JAMA is reporting Toyota sold 208,876 Prius in 2009, which is almost 3X as many as they sold last year. Sales have been pushed by a government incentive program. The incentives add up as much as 294,500 yen (just over $4 thousand) on a car that can cost between 2.05 million to 3.27 million yen depending on the options drivers want.

According to a Business Week source, Toyota makes about 200,000 yen off of each Prius it sells. Although that's less profit than they would make on a Crown (1 million yen) or the Lexus LS (2 million yen).

The government incentive program is set to end on September 30.

Ever since the third generation Prius launched in Japan, it has topped the sales charts.   And it has stayed there despite the very long waiting list.  If you order a Prius today in Japan, you won't get it for months.  And so, because of the long waiting lists, the Prius has a very good chance of becoming the top selling car in Japan for 2010, too.

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Hybrid Car Sales, December 2009

Hybrid cars sales were up in December 2009 by 46.3% from last December, for a total of 24,690 units sold.  Most of that increase comes from Prius, which improved by almost 50% from last year. 

The thing to note about that, however, is Toyota was winding down the second generation Prius and getting ready for the third generation Prius.  But, at the same time, it could be argued Toyota has been rerouting Prius sales to Japan, where it's the number one selling car in the country right now.  So, this months total is likely lower than they could be.

A couple of things to keep in mind with these numbers.  I am not reporting mild hybrid sales here (Vue, Aura, and Malibu).  Also, sales of the new S400 hybrid were not broken out by Mercedes-Benz, so I can' add them in here.  And, GM did not break down their sales by model, so unlike other months, I'm just reporting GM total hybrid car sales.

 

Monthly Sales		December 2008		December 2009		% Change
Make	Model	N	%	N	%
Chrysler	Aspen/Durango	46	0.3	0	0	-100.0
Ford	Escape/Mariner	1149	6.8	1157	4.7	0.7
Ford	Fusion/Milan	0	0	1686	6.8	0.0
GM	Total	1729	10	931	3.8	-46.2
Honda	Accord	1	0	0	0	-100.0
Honda	Civic	1036	6.1	471	1.9	-54.5
Honda	Insight	0	0	1639	6.6	0.0
Nissan	Altima	710	4.2	842	3.4	18.6
Toyota	Camry	1888	11	1513	6.1	-19.9
Toyota	GS	51	0.3	54	0.2	5.9
Toyota	HS	0	0	1980	8	0.0
Toyota	Highlander	890	5.3	1029	4.2	15.6
Toyota	LS	50	0.3	15	0.1	-70.0
Toyota	Prius	7859	47	11775	48	49.8
Toyota	RX	1463	8.7	1598	6.5	9.2
Total		16872		24690		46.3
Cumulative Sales		Cumulative 2008		Cumulative 2009		% Change
Make	Model	N	%	N	%
Chrysler	Aspen/Durango	81	0	0	0	-100.0
Ford	Escape/Mariner	19522	6.3	16480	5.8	-15.6
Ford	Fusion/Milan	0	0	17022	6	0.0
GM	Total	6677	2.2	8797	3.1	31.8
Honda	Accord	198	0.1	1	0	-99.5
Honda	Civic	31297	10	15119	5.3	-51.7
Honda	Insight	0	0	20572	7.3	0.0
Nissan	Altima	8819	2.9	9357	3.3	6.1
Toyota	Camry	46272	15	22887	8.1	-50.5
Toyota	GS	678	0.2	469	0.2	-30.8
Toyota	HS	0	0	6699	2.4	0.0
Toyota	Highlander	19391	6.3	11086	3.9	-42.8
Toyota	LS	980	0.3	258	0.1	-73.7
Toyota	Prius	158886	52	139682	49	-12.1
Toyota	RX	15200	4.9	14464	5.1	-4.8
Total		308001		282893		-8.2

Ford, Nissan, GM, Honda and Toyota Hybrid Car Sales in December 2009
Ford Escape and Mariner Hybrid sales held steady, but Fords overall hybrid sales are way up with the introduction of the new Fusion and Milan Hybrids.  Nissan Hybrid sales were also up, but given the limited distribution of the Altima Hybrid and Nissan sales don't really impact the overall picture.

GM Hybrid sales were down by over 46%, which is not a good indicator, given the other car makers were all up, but the picture is a little cloudier than first impressions make it out to be.  Individual model sales were up and down across the board, but overall sales were buoyed by the introduction of new models (Fusion and Milan) and the Prius 'rebound' from last year.

Toyota, as usual, dominated hybrid car sales, accounting for over 70% of the hybrid car market. 

Fusion Impacting Other Hybrid Sales?
Probably the most interesting thing to notice this month is the possible impact the Fusion/Milan Hybrid is having.  Although nothing seems to impact the Prius sales (except for itself as it goes through new generations, gets re-routed or whatever), the Civic Hybrid and Camry Hybrid sales have been suffering.  My guess is customers are opting for the new Fusion and Insight and the HS 250h.  It's not enough to be hybrid, now that there are options out there.  It's likely that customers are more aware now there are other possibilities, comparing those options, and are opting for the best features. 

Based on previous polls, hybrid car buyers are choosing their cars for the image and status, with little regard to the cost, which may indicate why the HS has done well so far.  And the Fusion/Milan hybrids may be doing so well at the expense of the Civic and Camry Hybrids because it offers better fuel economy, while not stripping out any luxuries you might want. 

At the same time, the Insight has not been the Prius killer some expected, since the lower cost which was supposed to appeal, just isn't that appealing to those who are going to buy hybrid.  Until the price really comes down farther (almost $20,000 isn't exactly a bargain after all), hybrid buyers are not opting to go cheaper at the expense of mileage.

Cumulative Hybrid Car Sales for 2009
I've already spoken a bit about the cumulative totals, but I'll just sum up my thoughts once again. 

The cumulative reported hybrid car sales for 2009 are down by 8.2%.  That isn't bad, compared to the overall decline of over 20% for light vehicle sales.

Cumulative Sales	Cumulative 2008		Cumulative 2009		% Change
Make	N	%	N	%
Chrysler	81	0.0	0	0.0	-100.0
Ford	19,522	6.3	33,502	11.8	71.6
GM	6,677	2.2	8,797	3.1	31.8
Honda	31,495	10.2	35,692	12.6	13.3
Nissan	8,819	2.9	9,357	3.3	6.1
Toyota	241,407	78.4	195,545	69.1	-19.0
Total	308,001		282,893		-8.2

GM cumulative hybrid sales were up by almost 32% from last year, with the introduction of the Sierra and Silverado Hybrids helping.  But the SUV and truck hybrid market GM has focues on doesn't seem to be making a big impact in the overall hybrid market.  That leaves them behind even Nissan despite having five models to Nissan's one.  GM would probably be quick to point out they have three other models, but they are all mild hybrids and are soon to be phased out of production anyways.  Instead, they will be launching themselves into the plug-in hybrid world in the coming year.

Nissan increased their sales overall by 6.1%, marking a solid increase by the Altima Hybrid, which is unusual.  Most of the car makers increased sales from last year because they introduced new models, while Nissan still has just the one (which is made with Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive).  But sales are still limited to just eight states, making Nissan a bit player in the hybrid market.

Ford's hybrid sales were way up, marking a 71% gain over last year.  Unfortunately, that's due to a doubling of their hybrid models from 2 to 4.  Which means the gains aren't as impressive as you might first think.  It's still not bad, and I'm sure Ford is very happy to see their market share increase to just behind Honda.

Honda hybrid car sales were up by 12.6%, marking the transition they have been making away from the Civic Hybrid to the Insight, which seems to be stealing sales away from the Civic Hybrid.  While not the numbers Honda had hoped for from the Insight so far, it still puts them in second place.

Toyota sales were down for the year by 19%, despite the introduction of their new HS model.  But since their new model, as compared to the Fusion/Milan and Insight, is a luxury model, the sales numbers for the HS are very good so far.  But the low numbers didn't help make up for the lower numbers across the board from the other models.  The Prius, especially, suffered as the transition was made from the second generation to the third generation.  Sales rebounded immediately after the introduction of the new model, but not enough to make up for the slowdown at the beginning of the year.

Where To From Here?
Keep in mind that sales in 2008 were down from 2007 (almost 10%), which just goes to show you how badly and how long the recession has been affecting car sales in general.  Again, hybrids outperformed the overall market by a handy margin, showing fuel economy is still a big factor in people's thinking.  So even thought the market may been lowered, hybrids are still showing they are a strong emerging market.

The future is in a bit of a flux, however.  The introduction of the Chevy Volt, even in limited numbers, will push hybrids in a whole new direction.  Other smaller car makers will also be entering the arena with their hybrids, mostly luxury models.  In other words, hybrids are truly transitioning from niche to something else. 

Yes, they still only made up 2.8% of the overall market, but more and more car makers are focusing in on hybrids or diesels or plugs for the future.  And with the new fuel economy regulations (CAFE rules and in California), automakers are going to have to do what they can to increase their fleet fuel economy.  So, 2010-2012 should see quite an uptick in hybrid penetration.

Related Posts:
Hybrid Car Sales in 2008
Hybrid Car Sales, December 2008
Hybrid Car Sales, November 2009

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Chevy Volt App

Despite being months away from production, Chevy unveiled a Volt App for the Droid by Motorola, Apple iPhone and Blackberry Storm smartphones. The coolness factor is high, if you have a smartphone.

• displays charge status – plugged in or not, and voltage (120V or 240V)
• provides flexibility to “Charge Now” or schedule charge timing
• displays percentage of battery charge level, electric and total ranges
• allows owner to manually set grid-friendly charge mode for off-peak times when electricity rates are lowest
• sends text or email notifications for charge reminders, interruptions and full charge
• displays miles per gallon, electric only miles, and odometer readings
• shows miles per gallon, EV miles and miles driven for last trip and lifetime
• remotely start the vehicle to pre-condition the interior temperature

A reminder to plug your car in could be extremely handy,  but just knowing how much of a charge you have left can be good, too.  I have to wonder how well the car can keep track of your mpg (the displays in car can be off by several mpgs and most people who keep track know to keep their own log).

The remote start and door unlocking capability work through OnStar, but you can do so through the application, rather than calling into OnStar directly.

Using the remote start to heat up your car in the winter allows you to do so while you are still plugged in (a little bit wasteful, but still understandable).  By doing it while you're still plugged in, you can get the most range out of your battery charge.


The application was developed by engineers in the OnStar EV lab, and its been in use by the development team in the prototypes to gather real-time data on the prototypes in use.

Demonstration applications for the Motorola Droid and Blackberry Storm will be available at OnStarMobileDemo.com beginning 10 p.m., EST, January 5. The demonstration application for the Apple iPhone will be available on the iTunes store on January 6.

Hybridcars.com points out other car makers are working up their own applications:

Similar smart phone applications, and remote charging controls, are expected from Nissan for its all-electric Nissan Leaf, and from Toyota for the plug-in version of the Toyota Prius. In August 2009, Ford introducted of an “intelligent” system for drivers to manage charging of its planned electric and plug-in hybrid cars. That system is being installed in 20 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid demo vehicles.

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