General Motors Europe UK unit Vauxhall launches its US-made, Chevrolet Volt-based Ampera range extender car next month through a specialist network of 24 dealers in metropolitan areas.
This, said product manager Simon Prior, would be the real test of the car, acclaimed earlier this month as European Car of the Year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Seven hundred prospective buyers have already expressed what Vauxhall claims is a genuine interest in the GBP33,000 car (US$52,522) and the sales target for the rest of this year is a modest 2,500-3,000. This is expected to rise to around 5,000 next year. The launch has been boosted by a 20-car order from a leasing company.
TV advertising starts on 23 April.
Launch manager Ian Allen said that compared to an Insignia 2.0-litre diesel [European equivalent of North America’s Buick Regal], annual savings on running costs for a company car driver could be as high as GBP4,000 thanks to benefit-in-kind discount, first year capital allowance, no road tax and fuel savings of GBP1,100 a year, based on driving 12,000 miles.
High mileage drivers – those driving 25,000-30,000 miles a year – will be better off driving an efficient diesel, he said. Target customers for the Ampera are those driving 12-15,000 miles a year.
The Ampera is launched here with a choice of two models, the Positiv at GBP32,250 and the Electron at GBP33,995 (after deducting the GBP5,000 government grant). September sees the arrival of a sub-GBP30,000 entry model at GBP29,995.
The message that Vauxhall wants to convey is that, although the Ampera looks expensive to buy, it is very cheap to run, costing around GBP570 per year to charge overnight compared with petrol or diesel costs of GBP1,350.
Allen said estimates from Glass’s and CAP, the used car pricing experts, suggest the Ampera will be worth around 40% of its new value at GBP14,500 after three years/60,000 miles.
Electric car sales – a reality check
EV drivetrain supplier goes bust; Japanese Leaf owners fret over electrcity source
