Hybrid Car Review

Despite bankruptcy, GM has declared the Chevy Volt will still arrive in 2010.

GM also reaffirmed its commitment to improve the fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet, meet or exceed new federal fuel economy and emissions regulations, and push ahead with advanced propulsion technology. GM will launch the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle in 2010, expects to have 14 hybrid models in production by 2012, and will have 65 percent of vehicles alternative-fuel capable by 2014.

I'm curious as to what they mean by 'launch' at this point. How many will be available, and who will be able to buy it? Will it just be available for 'fleets' or will anyone be able to buy one. Will they only be built in (very) limited numbers?

There's been a lot of pressure over the past few months on GM to cut the Volt out given it's possibility for failure. So far, GM has kept it on track. It's a PR thing, a green thing, a fuel efficient thing, and even a government mandated thing... which are all good reasons. But mostly, the Volt, like the Prius, will not make a difference to the bottom line for five to ten years from when it launches, so kudos to GM for continuing the project and keeping a long term goal in mind.

Obama says he will not run GM even as he does?
So, which is it?

Speaking at the White House, where he was flanked by Cabinet secretaries and top economic advisers, he added, "What I am not doing, what I have no interest in doing, is running GM." (source: AP on Yahoo)

But at the same time:

Looking ahead, he said, GM will be prodded at every juncture by the administration's top officials.

Umm... Which will it be? Will you be directing them or not?