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Last week GM announced pricing for its upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt, revealing that its range-extended electric vehicle will have a MSRP of $41,000. This came as quite a shock to many considering that the similarly advanced Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicle will have a starting MSRP of just $32,780.

Well, the shocks just keep on coming, with news coming out today that some Chevrolet dealers are already telling potential Volt customers that there might be a significant markup on the first batch of cars because of limited supply. Some estimates put the markup as high as $20,000 on top of the Volt’s $41,000 MSRP.

"We have had a couple indications that some dealers out there are doing this," GM spokesman Rob Peterson revealed to the Detroit Free Press. "Other consumers have reported positive experiences."

Unfortunately, GM has no power to stop the practice from happening and recommends customers shop around if they’re being faced with steep premiums on the Volt. Still, it doesn’t appear as though GM will have any trouble selling its first batch of cars. Just last week the automaker announced that it would increase 2012 production of the Volt by a remarkable 50 percent due to strong and increasing public demand.

It’s not all bad news, however, especially for lease customers. The three-year lease price for the Volt will be around $350 a month, with a $2,500 down payment--only a dollar more than the lease for the Nissan Leaf, despite the Volt's much higher purchase price.

[Detroit Free Press]