Chevrolet Volt Canadian Launch Markets Revealed
Chevrolet announced today that Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Oshawa, Ottawa-Gatineau, Vancouver and Victoria will be the initial launch markets for the Chevrolet Volt in Canada. Arriving at Canadian dealerships in the second half of 2011, the Volt is an award-winning electric vehicle with extended range that offers Canadians the ability to dramatically reduce their vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Chevrolet Volt is a game-changer, offering consumers an electric vehicle without compromise,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM of Canada. “These seven cities represent some of our largest automotive markets in Canada, where customers and major fleet operators are known to be leaders in adopting groundbreaking environmental technologies.”
The initial Volt launch markets will play a key role in validating’ market readiness for electric vehicles in Canada, where relatively low-carbon electricity generation provides dramatic greenhouse gas benefits compared to conventionally-powered vehicles.
GM is also working with key utilities across the country to prepare each regional market in advance of the retail market deployment. It is anticipated that before the end of the 2012 model year, the Volt will be more broadly available for sale at dealerships nation-wide, although Volt-authorized service points will be available across Canada during the initial launch.
The Chevrolet Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a full range of climates and driving conditions without limitations or driver concern of being stranded by a depleted battery. As the world’s first electric vehicle with extended range capability, the Volt has a total driving range of about 580 km. For the first 40 to 80 km, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a 1.4-litre gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly engages to extend the driving range about 500 km on a full tank.
The Volt has already garnered numerous awards in advance of its year-end launch in the U.S. Some of those awards include, but are not limited to:
• AUTOMOBILE Magazine 2011 Automobile of the Year
• Car and Driver 10Best
• Green Car Journal’s 2011 Green Car of the Year
• Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year
The Volt was first shown as a concept in January, 2007 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In June of that year, GM’s Board of Directors approved the start of product development for the Volt and the Voltec electric propulsion system.
In September, 2008, the production version of the Volt debuted during GM’s Centennial celebration. Today, the Volt is being produced at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, with the first US retail customer deliveries in December.
Canadian pricing will be announced closer to launch.
Customers interested in purchasing a Volt are encouraged to visit our website at www.chevrolet.ca where they can sign-up for regular product updates.
