No one wants to be named a flop. Everyone wants to be a success. But in the real world there are winners and losers. Unfortunately for these two all-new 2011 model year vehicles, they've been deemed duds.
The thing is we told you this a LONG time ago.
First up is the gas/electric 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Although it is the most practical electric vehicle on the market -- thanks to its gasoline-fed motor -- it just didn't live up to the figures that General Motors projected. Even worse, the vehicle has experienced some fire issues thanks to the Li-ion batteries.
Then there is the cutesy Fiat 500. Going into 2011, many were excited for the 500 because of its chic style and iconic history. Only problem is that folks didn't exactly turn up with their checkbooks out. In the land of the brave, small is a hard sell, especially when you're trying to move 50,000 units. Every time the subject came out on air with FOX News I always stuck to my guns that after the Smart and MINI Cooper, which had been on sale for years, the 500 was too late to the game and there wouldn't be enough buyers.
But out of curiosity, we want to know: Are THESE two cars the FLOPS of 2011?
...3. Volt
Company: General Motors
GM (GM) was originally so excited about the Volt that the company had announced in January it was speeding up its roll-out by six months. But by November the excitement had fizzled out. Larry Nitz, GM’s executive director for vehicle electrification told Reuters, “It’s naive to think that the world is going to switch tomorrow to EVs [electric vehicles].” Indeed, sales for the vehicle have been consistently low. Only 125 models were sold in July 2011. This was after GM spokeswoman Michelle Bunker was quoted as saying that the Volt was “virtually sold out” due to its popularity — a statement later shown to be misguided. Adding insult to injury, Chevy Volts are under investigation for fires involving the cars’ lithium-ion batteries. For concerned Volt owners, GM has offered free loaner cars...
...6. Fiat 500
Company: Fiat
This year, Fiat released its new 500 — a three door car that is under 12 ft. long. The car was expected to be a big seller, rivaling BMW’s Mini. Even before the car’s launch, however, detractors were predicting failure. Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford (NYSE: F), stated in Panorama magazine, “I do not see a large market in the U.S.A. for a smaller car than the Fiesta. Those that tried failed.” He was right. According to online magazine DailyTech, “Fiat expected to sell 50,000 500s during 2011 in North America. Through the first seven months of 2011, Fiat sold fewer than 12,000.” Sales were so poor that Chrysler Group, which manages the Fiat brand in the United States, ousted U.S. chief Laura Soave this past November...
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