GM News: GM's Powertrain Chief Would Like To Share the Volt's Powertrain With Other Automakers

[William Maley]

Imagine a future where the powertrain from the Chevrolet Volt is found under the hood of another automaker's vehicle. This might actually become reality if General Motors global powertrain chief Dan Nicholson gets his wish answered. Speaking to Automotive News, Nicholson said he was open to sharing the Volt's powertrain.

 

"We want to be the partner of choice in propulsion system development in this complex and turbulent era we are approaching," said Nicholson.

 

If this idea is given the green light, it would pay dividends for GM and the other automaker. For GM, giving the Volt powertrain to another automaker would drive costs down due to larger economies of scale. The other automaker wouldn't have to spend so much on research and development for a powertrain like the Volt.

 

Whether this happens or not is a wait and see matter.

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[El Kabong]

It would be a nice powertrain upgrade for a Prius.

[ccap41]

It'd be nice to put into almost any vehicle. Sounds like a great powertrain. What would be ideal would be to allow others to use it and also further develop the system which would be shared back to GM. That way it would benefit all parties. Just like one big Volt powertrain orgy. 

[David]

VOLT Powertrain should be shared with others and scaled up and down to fit everything from Micro compact to full size SUV and Trucks.

[oldshurst442]

Hey..what about a Camaro with a Voltec powertrain?

 

Nah...the Voltec deserves a much better exterior package than that ...so...a yeah...a Prius does sound like a nice start...

[ocnblu]

wut

[Suaviloquent]

Everything, everything has a buyer. Therefore everything has a price.

 

 

Though I question the long-term viability of Voltec. I think the new wave of electric vehicles on their way are already vastly superior - and there should be larger incentives to go all the way to electric, and lesser for compromised plug-in setups.

 

I don't see any big reason why people who want an alternative vehicle need to satisfy range anxiety. Now it's just the once or twice a year issue of long road trips, and by my masterful calculations, fuel savings alone should pay for all the rental car destruction you wish to dump on once or twice a year.