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Chrysler Ditches GEM Low-Speed Electric Cars, Goes Mainstream

 
1,834 views Apr 26, 2011
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You wouldn’t know it, but until recently Chrysler was responsible for one of the most recognizable electric vehicle brands worldwide. But like the embarrassing cousin at the family reunion, Chrysler’s ownership of low-speed Neighborhood Electric Vehicle manufacturers Global Electric Motorcars isn’t something the automaker likes talking about. 

Until today that is, when Chrysler formally announced it was selling its family of bubble-shaped glorified golf-buggies to Polaris Industries, Inc, makers of everything from snowmobiles and off-road all-terrain vehicles through to motorcycles and its own NEVs. 

The deal is expected to take place in less than 60 days, with Chrysler marking the move from low-speed to “full-function” electric vehicles such as the 2011 Fiat 500 electric, despite it making an expected loss of $10k on each car.

Chrysler’s selling of GEM is yet another indication that the low-speed electric cars which have been traditionally found in gated communities may be about to lose business to full-size, highway capable electric cars capable of being just as cheap to run as the GEM runabouts.  

But Polaris shouldn’t worry about buying a lemon. After all, with golf-courses everywhere from Florida and California to New York and Oregon needing new-lightweight buggies to transport golfers between holes and shopping malls nationwide, GEM should be making low-speed, narrow buggies for years to come. 

After all, every shopping mall cop needs transport, right? 

[Chrysler]





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Comments (5)

  1. Michael Boxwell avatar Michael Boxwell Posted: 4/26/2011 11:00am PDT

    They've sold over 50,000 of these little buggies - and they've made a profit, which is more than can be said for the 'proper' electric cars.
    If the United States had similar legislation for NEVs as Europe does with Quadricycles, I suspect they could have easily sold ten times the number. Whether that would have been a good thing or not is, of course, another question...
     
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  2. By Noel Park Posted: 4/26/2011 3:46pm PDT

    And they used them to get around the CA ZEV mandate, thus avoiding the $1 billion or whatever it was that GM spent developing the EV1. Pretty smart IMHO. They probably sold more GEMs than they will electric Fiats, LOL.
     
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  3. By Iver Lofving Posted: 4/27/2011 6:10pm PDT

    The NEV will be the car of the future. It uses a fraction of the energy that a full sized car does. With peak oil happening we are going to be lucky to have one. The average person spends about $9000 to push around a car. They could do it for $2000 and keep $7000. Take the bus or a zipcar when longer distance transport is needed. We've had one for 3 years now, and they work fine.
     
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  4. fb_100001444034909 avatar Richard Marks Posted: 4/27/2011 6:41pm PDT

    One question, did Polaris pay more than a few bucks for GEM? If they did, they made a mistake. GEM is about 14 years old and that does not cut it anymore. A well equipped 4 pass GEM is over $17,000 and that does not make any sense either. They do "fine" is not a glowing comment of satisfaction about GEM's. Most fleets do not like them because they feel unsafe in them. If you want to use it in a closed community you can save thousands buying golf cart.
    The future is the Superior Low Speed Vehicle, called EcoV. Polaris, you missed your chance but it may not be too late!
     
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  5. By ev enthusiast Posted: 4/27/2011 8:23pm PDT

    good - another big name in the ev business - all will come sooner or later. but sooner is better.
     
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