When GM emerged from bankruptcy, the company announced it was in talks with eBay to sell vehicles on the auction site. This sounded peculiar at a time when hundreds of dealers were being shut down, but the reasoning behind it is starting to become clearer.
In an interview with autocar, Chevrolet's brand manager, Ed Peper, stated that selling Volts on eBay was "...something that's definitely crossed our mind." The online auction format would allow GM to sell the highly prized Volt at a premium (due to bidding wars), without having to get a bad rap for huge dealer markups. This would undoubtedly help GM to recoup the massive investment they have poured into the Volt's development.
As we have previously reported, the 2011 Volt features an advanced electric drive unit that produces 150 hp and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. Power is provided by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, which enables the Volt to travel up to 40 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge it.
No word yet on when to expect the Volt to make its eBay debut, but the car should begin arriving at dealerships sometime in 2010.
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You mean ripping off buyers directly, I hope the auction starts at 0.99p and no one bids to the very last second that could mean the Volt would cost them even more ;o))