Take Two: General Motors Kills The Electric Car

Bloomberg reports:

March 1 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. stopped work on the Cadillac Converj, an electric-drive coupe similar to the Chevrolet Volt, to focus on cheaper plug-in hybrids for its luxury brand, two executives with knowledge of the move said.

GM concluded that the Converj couldn’t have enough amenities and electric range to be compelling to buyers and produce a profit, said the executives, who asked not to be identified because the details aren’t public.

The decision reverses GM’s public stance of less than two months ago, when Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the Converj was in the automaker’s plans. While plug-in hybrids can’t go as far on a single charge as a car with the Volt’s technology, their batteries are lighter and may cost less than half as much.

“The future lies in plug-in hybrids with smaller electric range,” said Eric Noble, president of CarLab, an Orange, California-based automotive consultant. Dropping the Converj is “a tacit admission from GM that they over-batteried the Volt.”

Pat Morrissey, a GM spokesman, declined to comment on the Converj...

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Joe_Limon - 3/1/2010 10:22:45 PM

-1 Boost

Well this is huge news for Fisker.

It's kinda sad to see this concept disappear. It couldn't have done any worse than the xlr did.

91z4me - 3/1/2010 10:38:10 PM

0 Boost

Not much could have done worse than the XLR. But I expect the design to carry over to the ATS.

DW1968 - 3/6/2010 11:12:53 PM

+1 Boost

I agree, except I would add "yet".

upwards - 3/2/2010 2:33:03 AM

+1 Boost

The exterior looks good enough for another combustion engine with a rwd configuration.

fatandsassy - 3/2/2010 10:02:26 AM

0 Boost

Keep the car just but a high HP 4 cylinder in it with a turbo and sell it all day long. It's what BMW, AUDI, and MB are doing

thstone - 3/2/2010 2:49:06 PM

0 Boost

A bunch of CTS varients and an old SUV. Not exactly a product line ready to take on MB or BMW.