Volt to be called Opel Ampera in Europe

General Motors has big plans for its Chevrolet Volt and future vehicles that will use its platform. Upcoming vehicles include the Volt MPV5 and the already confirmed Cadillac ELR (formerly known as the Converj).

GM’s Volt has also been rebadged and branded as the Opel Ampera for the European market. According to Opel, the interest in the Ampera is so high that it has upped its forecasts for shipments in the first year of availability. Opel had planned to sell about 8,000 Amperas the first year and the firm now plans to sell as many as 15,000.

The company has already secured 6,000 reservations for the Ampera with a $208 deposit made. GM has already boosted Volt production to meet the demand in the U.S. and GM has told Opel it can meet the demand it has for the Ampera as well.



Opel VP Alain Visser has remarked, "We've got over 6,000 reservations, which is way above what we anticipated." He continued, "We obviously have very direct discussions with Detroit. Our current indications are we have the capacity from a global point of view to fulfill [demand for the Ampera]. So we are OK."

Visser also thinks that the Ampera is a big opportunity for Opel since it is a car that has no rival on the European market right now.



"I think it is a really big step here in Europe, because there are a lot of manufacturers talking about e-mobility…but we (are) the only one with an electric vehicle with no range limitation that is actually on sale today and not a concept car,” said Visser. “It’s a massive opportunity for the Opel brand."