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GM admits goal of 500,000 EVs by 2017 won't be met

After a little over four years of Chevy Volt sales, General Motors has a better handle on how many people it expects will buy cars with plugs. And it's less than the company thought back in 2012, when then-senior vice president of global product development, Mary Barra, said that GM expected to sell 500,000 "vehicles with electrification" by 2017. In a sustainability report released this week, GM says that half-million vehicle target will not be met but that it still, "believes the future is electric." In the report, GM says that, "For our commitment to electrification, our forecasted outlook currently projects us, along with the broader automotive industry, falling short of expectations for 2017. ... We continue to aspire to our stated goal." GM's electric lineup includes the Volt, the recently popular Spark EV, the slow-selling Cadillac ELR and upcoming Malibu Hybrid, CT6 plug-in hybrid and eAssist technology in the Buick LaCrosse and Regal. GM says it has 180,834 electrified vehicles on the road in the US today. In 2013, it had 153,034; 95,578 in 2012, and 39,843 in 2011. The company's next big plug-in vehicle will be the second-gen Chevy Volt, which is coming to market later this year, followed by the 200-mile Bolt EV coming, we think, in 2017. GM Employees on Mission to Transform Transportation Sustainability report outlines vehicle and manufacturing progress; sets new targets 2015-05-07 DETROIT – General Motors' just-released sustainability report chronicles efforts by the company's 216,000 employees to live out GM's newly defined purpose and values by earning customer loyalty, applying meaningful technology advances and improving the communities where it does business. These actions – led by CEO Mary Barra – further drive sustainability into the company's culture through building safer and smarter vehicles with less environmental impact. "GM will take a leading role in the auto industry's transformation as it undergoes an unprecedented period of change," said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president, GM Global Public Policy. "From GM's labs to its assembly lines, our people are driving the world to a better place through improved mobility." The company believes the future is electric, with billions of investment to support an all-in-house approach to the development and manufacturing of electrified vehicles. It now counts 180,834 on the road in the U.S – up from 153,034 in 2013.

Chevy previews 2016 Malibu ahead of New York debut

With everything going on in Geneva this week, it would be all-too easy to forget that there's still stuff going on back home in America. And the upcoming new Chevy Malibu is a prime example. Chevrolet has announced that it is bringing an all-new Malibu to the New York Auto Show next month, teasing us with this preview image and a few enticing details. For starters, when we say it's all new, this time we mean it's all new. The next-generation Malibu has been built on a new platform that uses more high-strength steel to cut 300 pounds off the curb weight compared to the outgoing model. It's also got a wheelbase that's almost four inches longer, with shorter overhangs front and rear and a roofline that tapers stylishly and more gradually towards the tail. We'll have to wait a little longer – but not too much longer – to find out more, but in the meantime you can read what Chevy's telling us so far in the press release below. Born Again: Next-Gen Chevrolet Malibu Announced Larger, lighter and more efficient Malibu to be unveiled at New York Auto Show 2015-03-04 DETROIT – Designed to deliver more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features than ever, the next-generation 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will make its public debut at the New York International Auto Show this April. Using a blank slate approach, Chevrolet designers benefited from an entirely new architecture, which for Malibu includes a wheelbase nearly four inches longer than the outgoing model. That, in turn, provides increased rear legroom and interior space. Due to a higher-strength steel structure, the new Malibu is also expected to be 300 pounds lighter than the current model, which benefits the sedan's fuel economy and handling. "Malibu's gorgeous styling is the result of a masterful understanding of proportions," said Ed Welburn, General Motors' vice president of Global Design. "The roofline has been stretched rearward giving a more sleek profile, while the front wheels have moved forward and front and rear overhangs have been reduced. Along with the sculpted body side, these cues help Malibu appear more dynamic and sophisticated." More details about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will be shared each week leading up to the vehicle's global debut. The 2016 Malibu is expected to go on sale by the end of 2015. Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year.

How two-state Chevy Spark EV outsold 50-state Volt last month

Is it really just about price? Last month, the Chevy Spark EV got a sizable price drop of $1,500 alongside a lowered lease price of $139 a month (down from $199). Those numbers, particularly that cheap lease, had a tremendous impact on how many all-electric Sparks GM sold last month. There were 920 Spark EVs sold in April, and the Spark EV is available in only two states: California and Oregon. Sales will start in Maryland in the third quarter of 2015, but there are no pre-orders taking place there, so all 920 were West Coast sales. To be more precise, there were about 864 Spark EV leases signed last month, since 94 percent of those 920 sales were retail leases. As Annalisa Bluhm from Chevrolet communications told AutoblogGreen, that level was, "simply insane." "In those states which offer Spark EV, you can get a 1LT Spark EV for less than a 1LT Spark, with more features" Bluhm said. "Factor in that you will save approximately $82 per month by abstaining from gas, and it's easy to see why people went crazy for the Spark." Let's put 920 into perspective. For one thing, it's crazy up from the 151 Spark EVs sold in March 2015 and the 97 sold in April 2014. It's also almost as many as GM sold all last year, and way more than two years ago. The General sold 653 Spark EVs in 2013 and 1,146 in 2014. To throw in a comparison with GM's longstanding plug-in champion, the aging Volt, the Spark EV came out ahead in the monthly tally for the first time ever. In April, the Volt sold 905 units. The plug-in hybrid's best-ever sales month was August 2013, when it sold 3,351 units. Counting all models and powertrains, Chevy sold 3,743 Sparks in April. So, does this success mean that Chevy is looking to bring the Spark EV to more markets? Bluhm said that GM is considering other states and is always looking at the business case, but has "nothing to announce yet." Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.