Chevy Volt production restarts

Chevrolet Volt production begins again in Detroit following a shorter-than-expected shutdown announced in early March to reduce the inventory levels of unsold vehicles.

GM in early March startled observers by announcing a temporary hold on Volt production scheduled for five weeks, from March 19 to April 23, during which time employees would be temporarily laid-off but receive SUB pay.

Ward’s Automotive says GM had more than 6,300 Volts for sale in the U.S. at the end of February - enough to supply dealers for 154 days.

The Volt, which starts at about $40,000, can travel about 35 miles on a single charge of electricity before a gasoline generator kicks in. It can be recharged from a 110-volt home outlet or even faster with a 220-volt charging station.

Analysts have said the car’s high price could remain a barrier as buyers flock to fuel-efficient alternatives like the compact Chevrolet Cruze, which is about half the Volt’s price.

 General Motors sold 7,671 Volts last year, below its goal of 10,000. It sold 1,023 in February and just 603 in January.

U.S. sales of the Volt rose to 2,289 in March, beating the model’s previous best month in December when 1,529 Volt vehicles were delivered.