Will GM’s Shakeup Kill the Volt?
It’s not clear yet what the management shake-ups at General Motors this week, which sent the CEO, Fritz Henderson, packing and shuffled around senior management, will mean for the Chevrolet Volt, the much hyped electric vehicle (with a gas engine for added range) due out next year.
Fans of the Volt–which is also called a plug-in hybrid–have been nervous about its fate ever since an Obama administration commissioned report in March said the vehicle isn’t likely to be an economic success. The car is likely to be too expensive, it said, which is due to its large battery pack. Fans have got more reason to worry now that the man the federal government appointed as chairman of GM, Edward Whitacre, is taking over as CEO. Although he says he’s taken the position temporarily, his move puts him in a better position to influence day to day operations and decisions about products. That could hurt the Volt if he agrees with the government report.
Since last March, when the government bought a 61 percent share of the company, GM executives have repeatedly said the Volt program will continue, and that the car will come out on time. This week, after Henderson got the axe, it stuck to that story at the L.A. auto show, with vice chairman Robert Lutz highlighting progress on the Volt in a keynote speech. But since then Whitacre has started to make major changes to GM management. It’s unclear what the company will look like when the dust settles.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.