GM Idling Volt Production for Five Weeks

GM's spokesman Randy Fox said that GM has no intention of pulling the plug on the hyped and criticized Volt. Their "dreams do come true" forecast of getting 45,000 annual sales has crashed. Chevy has awakened to the fact that only 7,671 of the electric vehicles were sold in 2011 roughly 3 thousand less than forecast.

As a result, over a thousand workers were temporarily let go while GM delayed production of the Volt in order to adjust their inventory. The five week production halt is not a sign that GM is giving up on the Volt they maintain.

Chevy's compact Cruze offers 40mpg and costs half of what the Volt does currently and sales are booming. In addition, a new breed of "mild" or "micro" hybrids will cause people to pause before agreeing to buy the more expensive controversial Volt.

Car industry analysts are theorizing the public will consider getting milder cheaper versions of the Volt and Leaf if prices are lowered and safety is the top consideration.

More Chevy Volt talk at Washington Post.