Holden Might Make the Volt Down Under

GM's flagship product Chevrolet Volt might be also produced in Australia by Holden to be sold as a rebadged model on the local market. The news was revealed by a company who stated that such a scenario is possible but it won't happen before bringing the hybrid in Australia and marketed as an imported model. This way, Holden can test the market reaction to such a product and then decide whether it would be a good move to build the Volt locally.

"Having the same platform certainly gives us a first step in terms of future development opportunities but anything involving electric vehicles would be an enormous leap," Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin was quoted as saying by drive.com.au. "We've only just launched the imported Cruze and are working towards a range of locally built, fuel efficient models on petrol and diesel."

"We'll get this piece right then look at potential alternatives including E85, LPG, stop-start hybrids and other powertrains. We plan to bring Volt to market as an imported vehicle in 2012 and we'll look at the market reaction to it before considering any further moves on that front."

South Australian Premier Mike Rann said in Detroit that Holden has the ability to build GM's Chevrolet Volt and encouraged the Australian carmaker to do so, a move that could very easy create new jobs at domestic plants.

"Because the Cruze has the same architectural base as GM's new Volt, it is technologically possible to ultimately have an electric version of the Cruze manufactured on the new car production line at Elizabeth," he said. "While the Cruze will be a fuel-efficient car, I would like to see the Elizabeth plant manufacturing the same model but with an even greater fuel efficiency in the future as the technology develops."

"Developing and adapting this new Holden four cylinder to even lower carbon emission standards will further entrench our car manufacturing industry."