Volt will go to Europe in 2012

The European version of the Chevrolet Volt will be built in USA under the Opel and Vauxhall logos and will go on sale in 2012.

The Opel electric vehicle essentially will be the Volt with different styling, says a source familiar with GM’s plans. The electric Volt will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. It has a target date of late 2010 to launch the gasoline-electric vehicle in North America.

"The first generation of E-Flex models is based on GM’s compact class," Forster said. Yet these cars won’t be especially affordable, he said: "Customers will have to adjust to a substantial surcharge."

The price could be "up to 10,000 euros more than a comparable model with a conventional powertrain." That’s about $15,738 at current exchange rates.