From Bankruptcy to Bailout to Success – GM Comes Out a Better Company By: Daniel Kerbein & Evelina Molina for Ventana Latina “We have a waiting list 40 people for the new Bolt EV,” says Douglas Snow, Sales Consultant at Platinum Chevrolet. “These buyers are not just waiting to see and test drive this vehicle – they've filled out their purchase paperwork and put down a deposit.” On the weekend before Christmas, a Bolt demo arrived from GM, and people flocked to the showroom for a test drive. I also visited Platinum Chevrolet that weekend, because the dealership is a leading player in our three-county coverage area, and I wanted to find out what could have given this car such an exciting reputation. Ventana Latina Team Test Drives the Bolt During my test drive I experienced a car that is fun to drive, with confident handling and a pinpoint turn radius. A state of the art panoramic rear view mirror display in HD, plus a backup camera that even warns of objects close to either side of the car. And of course, good off-the-line acceleration, which some test drivers have compared to that of a Tesla. The Bolt EV's battery capacity is 60 kilowatt-hours, and if pressed to the limit, it will use more than 90 percent of that. In practical terms, says Snow, “You can drive this car 240 miles on a single charge. That kind of range is as good as a Tesla, for less than half the price.” Most owners are likely to drive the Bolt in daily use, recharging every couple of nights, perhaps no more than once a week. One factor has to be the awards the Bolt has won - including 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the 2017 AutoGuide.com Reader’s Choice Green Car of the Year, Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2017, Green Car Journal's 2017 Green Car of the Year. Time Magazine even listed it among the Best 25 Inventions of the Year of 2016. From Bankruptcy to Bailout to Success – GM Comes Out a Better Company This is the kind of success that puts the 2008 recession, and GM's 2009 bankruptcy, into the realm of distant memory. The U.S. Government issued the company a bailout of approximately $50 Billion, which has since been repaid with interest, along with $39 Billion in tax revenue and saving more than a million jobs in the auto industry. “That whole bailout, the bankruptcy and recovery was probably the best thing that ever happened to GM,” says Snow, looking back on events that happened less than 8 years ago. “The company became leaner, and we learned to innovate. The taxpayers made a profit.” And, he points out, General Motors “has won more awards for sustainability than any other U.S. auto maker.” Last but not least, this EV is built for comfort as well as speed - almost an anomaly in the world of cars. In the words of Green Car Reports, “the Bolt is a five-seat, five-door hatchback, with the footprint of a compact car but more interior volume than a (Tesla) Model S.” Comparisons to Tesla keep coming up when describing the Bolt. From performance to battery range, even seating space and comfort. These high standards prompted financial analysts at JP Morgan to state, “the Bolt represents solid competition for the upcoming Tesla Model 3.” They even expressed a concern over the fortunes of Tesla during the coming model year. The verdict is in: The silent, low-cost Bolt has all the necessary features to dominate the field. Chevy Bolt EV – Means No More Gasoline! The new Bolt runs entirely on its charge. No gasoline needed. This means no gasoline to purchase, zero emissions, no oil changes, no smog checks, no spark plugs, no radiator coolant, no muffler, no catalytic converters. None of that stuff, for the life of the car. All those savings – and, you get a hefty California rebate, a Federal tax credit, and some very valuable perks in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties. And best of all it's good for Mother Earth too! TAKE A TEST DRIVE TODAY! (707) 525-1800
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Daniel KerbeinI hope you enjoy my blog entries on the subjects of Eco-mobility and sustainable transportation alternatives, which I have found very interesting to my audience. Archives
February 2017
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