Holden Volt unplugged

Liz Dobson, Additional reporting by AP
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Holden New Zealand has confirmed that it’s pulling the plug of the Volt electric vehicle here after an official announcement on the new version of the sedan.

General Motors will only produce a left-hand-drive version of the second-generation Volt so the vehicle will not be available outside of America or Europe.

Holden New Zealand’s managing director, Kristian Aquilina, confirmed the decision to Driven as the company began the launch of its European-built vehicles.

The company is launching the Astra three-door hatch and the Cascada convertible from GM’s Opel branch. But the Volt won’t be part of the new import line up.

“Despite all the work developing that brand it has not been a commercial success [for Holden NZ],” said Aquilina.

Only 16 units were registered since it went on sale here in late 2012. The Volt was the first car capable of pure-electric driving to launch in New Zealand.

Originally priced at $85,000, the electric plug-in’s price has dropped to $75,000.

Aquilina said Holden New Zealand had no plans to introduce another electric car or any hybrid vehicles.

Meanwhile, General Motors is knocking nearly US$1200 ($1593) off the price of the 2016 Chevrolet-branded Volt plug-in hybrid car. It says the new Volt will start at US$33,995 including shipping. The current version costs US$35,170. Prices do not include a $7500 federal electric car tax credit.

The new Volt can go about 80km on battery power before a petrol generator takes over. The current car goes about 60km on its battery.
GM says it can reduce the price because lithium-ion battery and other costs are coming down.

Sales of battery-powered vehicles have suffered due to lower petrol prices in the US.

-Additional reporting AP