Those living in America’s hat (*ahem*) often receive new vehicles a few weeks or months after our lucky neighbours to the South (Chevrolet Trax and a few others notwithstanding). But not this time.
Now, for reasons largely unknown, Canada is set to receive the second-generation 2016 Chevrolet Volt before much of the U.S. In fact, we’ve just learned 39 states won’t receive the next-generation version at all this fall. Instead, they’ll receive a mildly updated version of the new vehicle – dubbed the 2017 Chevrolet Volt – in spring of 2016, according to InsideEVs.
Chevrolet hasn’t provided a clear reason for why it’s chosen to launch the car in Canada but as the news outlet points out, General Motors of Canada has already priced and taken orders for the new model. A Chevrolet spokesperson on Twitter also confirmed the vehicle will hit Canadian streets in November/December.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for those living in certain states, for the 2016 Volt will still launch in California later this month, followed by CARB states – Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Massachusetts – soon after. Ironically, Michigan, where the 2016 Chevrolet Volt will be built, won’t immediately get the second-gen green machine.
Meanwhile, 2017 Chevrolet Volt production for all of North America begins in spring of next year.
Comments
Quebec is the Mecca of electric cars in Canada. The cheap hydro electricity and solid residential electrical infrastructure promotes the sale of electric cars. Quebecers are buying alone most of the Chevrolet Volt sold in Canada. I predict that the Chevrolet Bolt go there know very successfully. With the Chevrolet 2016, I think that GM wants to capitalize on the enthusiasm of Quebecers to continue to dominate the Canadian market for electric cars to get ahead of the new Nissan Leaf.
What Marco says makes sense.
Almost makes up for the lack of the SS, and, years ago, the mid 2000’s GTO, that were never sold up here. Or not. We got the Orlando, and we owned one for a while. Nice idea, for a utility wagon, but severely under powered and odd sightlines/beltline.
Just saw pictures of Honda’s new 2016 Civic and the GEN 2 Volt is more attractive as well as being more compelling to buy for people who are interested in fuel economy given how the GEN 2 Volt now has a battery range of 53 miles before the 1.5L 4-cyl engine kicks in.