Chevy Spark EV to be Sold in Europe Too; Will Debut at Geneva Motor Show This surprises me because EV's aren't selling well there (unless your country has a ton of geothermal power). Plus, it's going to cost about $4k more than what the Leaf sell for there. So, what's up?!? Is GM trying to legitimize their Frankenplug in Europe? Inquiring minds wonder about this strategy. .
Erm where does it make mention of European pricing? Remember prices here are much more expensive as we have sales tax of about 20% and our prices are usually all inclusive including delivery, pre inspections and often longer warranties.
Sorry - it's rumor. Based off the following: Nissan knocks $6,400 off Leaf sticker price, sells S model for $28,800 Nissan Leaf (model S) MSRP $28,800. Chevy Spark EV Confirmed for Europe Debut Chevy Spark: After $7,500 Fed tax Credit + After $2,500 State Rebate Cost of $25,000. $25,000 plus incintive money (above) is $35,000 . . . . that amount (not even including CA state rebate money) is where the $4,000 estimated price difference 'rumor' came from. I believe it's called the Daewoo (south Korea) when it's imported into other countries. But here, we like to think of it as an 'american' car. You know ... Chevey ... made in USA?
Hill use Occam's razor instead of conspiracy and you will get a much easier answer. GM has decided that the spark ev is not a compliance car, so they are offering it to Europe in hopes of higher sales, which will help reduce loss per car. Losses in Europe are already high and this won't make them much worse, but if it works it helps GM's green cred. More green credentials may help opel sell more amperas (volts). Norway seems to be buying a lot of teslas. Europe just does not seem to like the leaf or fluence. Some may buy the spark over the leaf just for looks. I don't expect them to sell many, but this is not a bad thing. The bulk of people buying spark evs are going to be charging at home and not at quick chargers. On your other question, the gasoline spark is also the Daewoo Matiz which is produced in korea. This is tie up with Daewoo is much like the gm partnership with Suzuki on the geo metro, although it seems the spark is a much better engineered and more profitable car.
It's called the Chevy Spark here in the UK. I think they are offered as Daewoo in some Countries but they had a dreadful reputation here and were rebranded Chrevrolet. Saying that, the Chevrolet line up here is a weird mix of American and Daewoo models, none of which are really anything to write home about. We get the Corvette and Camaro but in LHD form which means they're useless to drive to their potential (try overtaking in one) and cost a fortune to insure. Chevrolet UK: New and Used Chevrolet Cars, Small cars, Sports Cars, Family Cars and SUVs They're probably hoping the Spark EV will sell at least something. I don't understand why GM have Chevrolet when they also have Vauxhall/Opel.
GM multi brands were a mess that helped get them into bankruptcy. They cleaned up their US brands in the bankruptcy and eliminated many, but Europe is still a mess for them.
Want to know why? Have a look at this line up.... New Cars | Used Cars | Concept Cars - Vauxhall Motors UK See anything you really want? No, me neither. (and who decided to call a car "Adam"? Wth!)
Ok, well I didn't think I'd implied a complex formula to consider pushing Frankenplug. As it is, a USA spec Frankenplug doesn't work in the EU I believe, because they use three phase power there. World wide Chademo use is now over 2,000 units versus (I believe) zero for SAE's offering. With most EU EV's doing poorly it's just hard to reconcile selling the spark there. Why not offer the Spark in Canada then ... after all, EV sales are paltry there too. .
Frankenplug is a USA and EU thing. I expect spark ev sales will eventually make it to Canada if any gm dealers actually ask for it. Other than tesla though, I don't think many bev's have enough juice for really cold weather. That may make bad pr if Canadians actually start buying them.
Thanks it appears that mpge is slowly climbing. 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Beats 2013 Leaf's Combined MPGe Ratings - WOT on Motor Trend 119 mpge for this, the 2013 nissan leaf is now at 116 mpge. I don't know if that will sell this car though, it wasn't too shabby before. The key will be if people like the looks and pricing.
I agree! It is closer to a Honda Fit EV, I would not expect GM to sell many. March 2013 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Report Card
