After the UAW agreement with GM, it came to light that the "e-flex global delta platform" will be produced at a factory which previously has been devoted to Buicks and Cadillacs. That led to some speculation that the Volt might come in at a higher price point than originally planned, and get branded as a Cadillac.
I didn't buy into that. I propose a different scenario.
We already know from GM's statements that e-flex is supposed to be adapted to sell in different countries with different fuel requirements. For the Americas, we get the Chevy Volt with a flex-fuel "range extender" engine that can handle gasoline or E85. Europe gets the Opel Flextreme with a diesel engine. GM have also said there will be a fuel-cell version, and they have said that they see huge potential for fuel cells in China.
The Chinese are planning to build a large number of nuclear reactors which could be used to produce hydrogen fuel. China doesn't have the extensive gasoline infrastructure or electrical infrastructure of the USA yet, so they would like to leapfrog straight to hydrogen. Whether that will work remains to be seen, but if hydrogen is going to work anywhere it would appear to be there.
Buick is already a hugely successful brand in China.
So. . . If you put 2 + 2 together, you get: an e-flex car with a hydrogen fuel cell, branded as a Buick Electra, aimed squarely at China. Why Electra? Well, come on. . . It's a familiar and established name within the Buick marque, yet it's not currently being applied to any other vehicle. They'd have to be brain-damaged not to use it.
As a global platform, GM would of course be planning to set up production in China and Europe. However, the US plant will lead the way and introduce the products. If they are successful, then plants elsewhere in the world will follow.
I didn't buy into that. I propose a different scenario.
We already know from GM's statements that e-flex is supposed to be adapted to sell in different countries with different fuel requirements. For the Americas, we get the Chevy Volt with a flex-fuel "range extender" engine that can handle gasoline or E85. Europe gets the Opel Flextreme with a diesel engine. GM have also said there will be a fuel-cell version, and they have said that they see huge potential for fuel cells in China.
The Chinese are planning to build a large number of nuclear reactors which could be used to produce hydrogen fuel. China doesn't have the extensive gasoline infrastructure or electrical infrastructure of the USA yet, so they would like to leapfrog straight to hydrogen. Whether that will work remains to be seen, but if hydrogen is going to work anywhere it would appear to be there.
Buick is already a hugely successful brand in China.
So. . . If you put 2 + 2 together, you get: an e-flex car with a hydrogen fuel cell, branded as a Buick Electra, aimed squarely at China. Why Electra? Well, come on. . . It's a familiar and established name within the Buick marque, yet it's not currently being applied to any other vehicle. They'd have to be brain-damaged not to use it.
As a global platform, GM would of course be planning to set up production in China and Europe. However, the US plant will lead the way and introduce the products. If they are successful, then plants elsewhere in the world will follow.
