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20101018-NEWS--0003-NAT-CCI-AN_-- 10/15/2010 5:16 PM Page 1

OCTOBER 18, 2010 • 3

85th year — No. 6434 briefs jolt: Great range, small supply Shortage won’t stop Chevy Q&A: Is Volt a hybrid or an EV? ➤ 23 hicles, DiSalle said. New Ranger will patrol GM calls the Volt an extended- from plugging hybrid to the masses the gate — given its pricey $33,500 range electric, although it’ a plug-in 180 nations, but not .S. sticker after a tax credit — will deter- hybrid, according to SAE’s definition. Ford Motor Co. heralded its new David Barkholz inquiring and that they’re going to be mine how many of the vehicles GM (See related story, Page 23.) [email protected] Ranger last week as a pickup that will disappointed,” said Mark Janowiecki, will produce in the year. starts TV commercials Chevrolet is taking the Volt plug-in general manager of Vic Canever this month during World Series be sold in 180 countries. The United hybrid to the masses with a big mar- Chevrolet in Fenton, Mich. Many ads, few cars broadcasts. At the same time, a social States won’t be among them. The keting campaign that includes World The dealership, which has a waiting When the Volt is launched in No- media blitz will begin on Facebook strategy leaves Ford on a course to be Series commercials this month. list for the Volt, has been informed by vember, it will be sold initially only in and elsewhere, DiSalle said. without a compact pickup in its home Trouble is, the supply of the cars Chevrolet that it will get only one Volt , New York City, Washing- Chevrolet says the Volt is a game- market beginning next year for the will be anything but big in the first in 2011, in the second quarter, and a ton and Austin, Texas, DiSalle said. In changer because it is free of the 25- to first time in almost three decades. year of production. demonstration car that it can buy March, the selling market will expand 100-mile range between charges that The current Ranger, the fourth Co. is making only 10,000 through and keep on hand, Janowiecki said. to include , the rest of Texas limits most electric cars. generation of a line launched in 2011. That will be the case for many of the and the tri-state market of New York, The Volt, DiSalle said, can go 25 to 1982, isn’t scheduled to be That worries some Chevrolet deal- 650 Chevrolet dealerships that will and , he said. 50 miles powered solely by batteries ers who will face customers excited sell the Volt in seven markets during Chevrolet is rolling out a mass- before switching to a 1.4-liter gaso- replaced when it goes out of about the Volt but will be unable to the first year of production, said Tony marketing campaign now, even with line to the electric drive production in St. Paul, Minn., toward get one until 2012. DiSalle, Volt product marketing di- short availability, to promote the Volt the end of the 2011 model year. “We expect a lot of people will be rector. How fast the Volt comes out of and tell consumers about electric ve- see VOLT, Page 23 Sales begin next summer for the pickup. — Rick Kranz Sources: GM is on track How the ’s powertrain works for mid-November IPO The Volt’s powertrain Major powertrain components NEW YORK — General Motors Co. operates in four modes Ⅲ Main traction is on track to move ahead with its Ⅲ Motor-generator, with 2 functions: converts engine power 1. Battery charged, low speeds initial public offering during the week to ; helps drive wheels as an electric motor From a standstill to city speeds, the of Nov. 15 after a recent round of Ⅲ 1.4-liter I4 engine used mainly to power the generator Volt’s main electric drive traction meetings with sovereign wealth motor uses only electricity from Ⅲ Planetary gears and 3 independent that function like funds in Asia and the Middle East, the ion batteries. The a , managing and distributing power from 2 electric said sources with knowledge of gasoline engine does not operate motors and gasoline engine to the drive wheels preparation for the deal. in this mode. Ⅲ Propulsion battery that is charged from outside current or The U.S. Treasury Department is by gasoline engine 2. Battery charged, high speeds expected to be the major seller of — Rex Roy common stock in the GM IPO and is Using the Volt’s second, smaller electric motor for additional power, prepared to take a loss on the initial GM engineers can keep the main sale of stock, sources have said. drive motor in its “sweet spot” as the The GM IPO is expected to be priced two motors work in tandem to propel the on Nov. 17 with the debut on Nov. vehicle up to 100 mph. No need for the 18, three of the sources said. At gasoline engine in this mode. meetings with investors, bankers 3. Battery depleted, have emphasized GM’s strong low and moderate speeds position in , the slowing pace of When the available power from the Volt’s losses at its unit in Europe and batteries has been consumed, the its lowered breakeven point in the gasoline engine turns on. It powers U.S. market, two sources said. the motor-generator to produce — electricity that runs the main drive motor. ’s ad campaign will tout safety 4. Battery depleted, high speeds In certain high-speed highway Toyota Motor Corp., continuing to cruising situations, the Volt blends recover from its recall crisis, plans a in from the gasoline engine national advertising campaign for the and the smaller electric motor to supplement the larger traction electric Toyota brand that will highlight safety. motor. In this mode, the gasoline Don Esmond, senior vice president of engine mechanically assists the automotive operations for Toyota’s main drive motor, but the engine is not U.S. sales arm, said last week that capable of powering the Volt on its own. the new advertising will highlight quality, reliability, dependability and safety while targeting consumers who Key facts don’t own a Toyota. The spots will Ford exec Fields will be Webinar offers debut by year end. social media tips Toyota has taken several steps to rebound from the recall of millions congress keynote speaker Auto dealers may know the benefits When: Jan. 11-13, 2011 of Toyota and Lexus models over — Five years ago this of a having a social media strategy. unintended acceleration. It has month, Ford executive Mark Fields Fields: Ford Where: Detroit Marriott at the But how do they create one? And made five computer-controlled returned to the from America’s chief what are the tricks to developing one Europe amid great expectations. leads the that will stick? braking and vehicle stability Cost: $995 early registration fee Fields, who will be a keynote automaker’s by Nov. 19 (save $300) Automotive News will provide an- technologies across all speaker at the Automotive News effort to match swers on Thursday, Oct. 21, during a models and will make a brake Information: 313-446-0420 or World Congress in Detroit on Jan. 12, what it makes to autonews.com/worldcongress Dealer Intelligence Webinar called override system standard. was named Ford Motor Co.’s presi- what it sells. “10 Ways Social Media Can Help Exclusive lead sponsors: — David Phillips dent of the Americas and was asked Dealers Boost Their Reputations.” PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM to overhaul Ford’s failed turnaround Fields, 49, has led an effort to match Rob Hagen, CEO of Next Genera- CORRECTION plan production to demand, thus keeping tion Dealer Services, will lead the dis- Alan Mulally joined Ford as CEO incentives in check. He also has over- cussion along with NextGen’s social Ⅲ On Page 36 of the Oct. 11 issue, less than a year later, and the two ex- seen a series of important product 2002, he was president of Mazda Mo- media strategist, David Johnson. the wrong photo accompanied a ecutives formulated and executed a launches, including the Fiesta sub- tor Corp. This 60- live Webinar will description of the Audi quattro con- turnaround strategy that worked. compact this summer. The 2011 Automotive News World begin at 2 p.. EDT and will include cept coupe seen at the Paris auto Market share has been climbing, and Fields took over his current posi- Congress will be Jan. 11-13 during me- an interactive Q&A session. The cost show. You’ll find a photo of the con- Ford this year posted its biggest first- tion in October 2005 after three years dia week at the North American Inter- to attend is $99. To sign up, go to cept at autonews.com/quattro. half profit in 12 years. in top jobs in Europe. From 2000 to national Auto Show in Detroit. autonews.com/webinars. c