Question of the Day: Does it Matter Which Automaker Has the First Plug-in Hybrid on Sale?
Media reports indicate General Motors may not be able to bring the Volt to market before Toyota’s plug-in Prius. Beating Toyota to market would be a huge psychological win for GM, but would it make any difference to the public? I think as long as the products do make it to market, it won’t matter who makes it first unless the gap between introductions is very large. Let us know what you think in comments.
Comments
Reilly
I believe first isn't as important as well done. Toyota owns the concept of hybrids, even though the Prius wasn't the first.
hwyhobo
I believe first isn’t as important as well done.
+1
GM had EV, so what. It's time to do it right, and not just with one vehicle, but with multiple. Now, that will show commitment, and it is that commitment that will be revolutionary, not the technology itself.
Son of a Beach
Does it matter in the long run? Of course not. How Existential of you, Floraday! Really, what matters? Global warming will kill 6 billion people and nobody seems concerned about that, and plug-in hybrids won't have the least impact on this. But then, on a purely philosophical level, nobody is going to make out of this alive, so, no, it doesn't matter. Phrase your Questions better.
mbslrm
IT will give them bragging rights.
And they will be able to be on their second generation while everyone else is on their fist or 1.5 generation.
hwyhobo
Global warming will kill 6 billion people
Clearly, it has already fried some grey matter.
MidnightTides
I believe first isn’t as important as well done.
While it does matter very much who does it well, what are the chances that Toyota will screw it up? So if GM comes out with the Volt 12 months earlier, they'll catch all of the people who want a plug-in hybrid/gas sipper now. Assuming it's good, when the Prius debuts there won't be much reason to by a Volt instead. All right, there might be a reason to buy if the Volt is much cheaper, but with the financial woes that GM has, they need to sell a car that makes money.
Ducati Minor
Yes. Perception is the key.
If GM sells the first plug-in HEV, the news press will be skeptical and use the Volt as the source for vindication or ridicule. GM is a lot like the troop surge in Iraq: it's made a lot of progress, people are accepting the positive development, but are still displeased with the overall matter.
Toyota has taken a spanking from the motor press and environmentalists, but sales continue to grow and the general media remains positive about it. If Toyota releases the first, you can expect to hear your local news reporter hint at how far ahead the Japanese are of Detroit's "ignorant" automakers.
Landcrusher
Yes, but only for a VERY short time. Being first often has advantages, but these days having the best product will eventually win out because of the internet. There is so much information out there that the "perception" that you are best because you were first will wear off quickly if you are not really the best.
dieselhead
Since Toyota will make the plug-in Prius as dull to drive as humanly possible, I couldn't care less when it is launched. The question is, does GM have an idea to make the Volt a good car? That would be revolutionary.
Son of a Beach
@hwyhobo
Use your grey matter to research environmental population load density maximums, which currently stands at 8 billion. Compare that with post-environmental catastrophy projected maximum population load density of about 2 million. Now let your little noodle do the math. Google History Channel/Mega Disasters.
Son of a Beach
@hwyhobo
Use your grey matter to research environmental population load density maximums, which currently stands at 8 billion. Compare that with post-environmental catastrophy projected maximum population load density of about 2 billion. Now let your little noodle do the math. Google History Channel/Mega Disasters.
hwyhobo
@Son of a Beach, I suggest Art Bell as the right venue for this.
Mena
Son of a Beach, why sweat it? Ultimately, unless we ALL (or a good majority) choose to do something about "it", there's nothing each one of us can do anyways. Screaming till the cows come home just causes people to look away from you not towards you. Remember, most of those 6 billion people are just regular folks. I suggest you do research on what great leaders do to move the masses as that will be required to move the masses.
Ducati Minor
1/3 of those folks are in two countries: China and India. You wanna cut human numbers? Pass a child tax. There. I solved the problem. Where's my award?
PluggedIN
I wouldn't buy a Prius unless I was forced to! Dull, boring, uninspired, need I go on?
If GM can get the Volt right, then being first is not going to be the deciding factor, having a vehicle that the 'car crowd' will buy is what it is going to take...
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