CNW says potential buyers are less intrigued by General Motor’s groundbreaking plug-in vehicle than they were just a few months ago. A spring 2011 study released by CNW showed that, back in March, more than 21 percent of early adopters were “very likely” to consider buying a Volt. In its July study, that figure had plummeted to 14.6 percent. Even self-proclaimed electric vehicle enthusiasts were pulling away from Chevy’s plug-in hybrid, with consideration falling from 25 percent in March to 17 percent in July.
Most distressing is that in all categories of the vehicle-buying public, interest in the Volt diminished. So, what’s changing the minds of potential buyers? Not surprisingly, says CNW, the Volt’s lofty price of $39,995 has turned out to be its Achilles heel.
Long-time readers and people with good search-fu will note that CNW has a varied history when it comes to the green car market. Back in 2006, for example, the group released a report – later widely panned for being incorrect – that a Hummer was better for the environment than a Toyota Prius. We have no idea if CNW’s Volt study will someday fall from grace in a similar fashion.
