Chevy Volt Silver Exterior - H 2011
ChevroletChevy’s parent company, General Motors, has offered to buy back any Chevy Volts from unsatisfied costumers. The announcement comes on the heels of an investigation into battery fires in the electric car.
The company said in a statement Thursday, “We are serious about keeping customers happy. We would ultimately consider all options but no new initiatives were announced today.”
The Volt came under scrutiny after a couple of batteries caught fire during NHTSA crash simlations. GM insists the Chevy product is safe, and has said that Volt batteries damaged during real-world crashes have not burned.
The company offered loaner cars to unhappy owners earlier this week, and made the usual buy back offer even though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not issued a safety recall on the vehicles.
GM CEO Dan Akerson told the Associated Press, “I think in the interest of General Motors, the industry, the electrification of the car, it’s best to get it right now than when you have — instead of 6,000 — 60,000 or 600,000 cars on the road.”
He also told Reuters that the company would alter battery packs if the government recommended it.
There are roughly 6,100 Volts on the road, and only 34 owners accepted the loaner offer, according to Chevy’s Alan Batey.
On Thursday, the Volt topped a Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey, with 93 percent of car owners saying they’d purchase the vehicle again.
