Michigan Chevrolet Dealers to Offer Free Loaner Cars for Volt Drivers

With continued investigations being conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and General Motors, current Volt owners may make use of a loaner from Michigan Chevrolet dealers until the investigation ends.
By: Porta Press
 
Dec. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- DETROIT – Michigan Chevrolet dealers probably know about the concern their Chevrolet Volt customers may be having in light of recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) investigation into battery fires after crash-testing Volts.
Now General Motors is putting forth initiatives to ensure customers remain satisfied with their Volt purchase or lease and feel safe in their vehicle.
“The Volt is a five-star safety car,” said Mark Reuss president, GM North America, in a recent press conference. “Even though no customer has experienced in the real world what was identified in this latest testing of post-crash situations, we're taking critical steps to ensure customer satisfaction and safety.”
Michigan Chevrolet dealers may know the “testing of post-crash situations” Reuss is referring to is the NHTSA crash tests during which Volt batteries caught fire. The specific incidents that have warranted further investigation by both GM and NHTSA include:
•   A side-impact crash test on May 12 – three weeks later, the parked Volt caught fire
•   The first new crash test after that event occurred on Nov. 16 with no ensuing fire
•   A Nov. 17 crash test, resulting in an initial battery temperature increase but no battery fire until Nov. 24 at the test facility
•   A Nov. 18 crash test, after which a battery was rotated hours after the crash and then “began to smoke and emit sparks shortly after,” according to the NHTSA
“The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles,” Reuss said.
Michigan Chevrolet dealers may also inform customers that GM is forming a “senior engineering team” to work with NHTSA to see if any changes are in order and help ensure the safety of Chevrolet’s Volt owners.
Volt owners who are feeling hesitant about the safety of their vehicles—though the NHTSA has said Volt drivers who’ve not had a serious crash have no need for concern—may take advantage of a free GM vehicle loaner until the safety investigation is completely resolved.
MI Auto Times will continue to cover the Chevrolet Volt investigation for both automotive dealers and Chevrolet Volt drivers.
MI Auto Times covers all Michigan automotive news all the time, featuring newly released vehicle recall information, relevant Michigan automaker news, vehicle ratings and comparisons, and everything else auto-related Michigan and world readers need to know.
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[Source(s): General Motors, Bloomberg News, Detroit Free Press]
End
Source:Porta Press
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Tags:Michigan Chevrolet Dealers, Chevy Volt, Nhtsa
Industry:Cars, Automotive
Location:Detroit - Michigan - United States
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