Yesterday, Automotive News (subscription required) reported the news that the Detroit Hamtramck facility, where the 2013 Chevrolet Volt is made, is to pause production of the plug-in hybrid for four weeks.
The second time General Motors has temporarily halted production of the plug-in car, the four-week halt, like last time, has been partly caused by an oversupply of Volts.
In other words, GM is making Volts, along with its European sibling the Opel Ampera, faster than it is selling them.
According to GM however, oversupply isn’t the only reason the plant is closing down for four weeks from September 17.
First 2011 Chevrolet Volt built on production tooling at Detroit Hamtramck plant, March 31, 2010
A GM spokesperson told us yesterday that the downtime was also planned to allow the plant to ready itself for production of the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala, which it will start making in the first quarter of 2013.
Then, GM says, it will add a second shift to cope with production of the Volt, Impala, and limited numbers Malibus.
The last time GM throttled back on Volt production, it had more than 154 days’ worth of Volts in inventory. On August 1, that figure had lowered to 84 days’ supply, 24 days higher than the ideal auto industry target of 60 days.
It’s worth noting however, that last time GM temporarily halted production of the Volt, it resumed production a week earlier than it originally planned.
But with every temporary halt in production, there is at least a silver lining.
With a surplus of stock, at least you won’t have to wait to buy a 2013 Volt.
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