DETROIT – For Chevrolet dealers in the Pacific Northwest and Mid-Atlantic states, the arrival of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range means new faces coming through the doors of their stores. 

“We’ve been here a long time and the Volt is bringing in people we have never seen before,” said Alan Starling, a dealer in Starling Chevrolet in St. Cloud, Fla. 

Starling Chevrolet is not alone. According to initial buyer surveys conducted by General Motors, more than half of the Volt owners had not been in a Chevrolet dealership in the past 10 years and nearly one-third of Volt buyers never had been to a Chevrolet dealership.

“The Volt is an intriguing proposition that’s drawing new faces to Chevrolet dealerships to learn more about the car and re-discover the brand,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “To date, the Volt has been available for sale at dealerships in only seven states. In the next four months the number of Chevrolet dealers with Volts available for test drives and for sale will increase from 550 to more than 2,600.”

The Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant recently resumed production of the Volt following a four-week planned shutdown for model-year changeover followed by a slow ramp-up to the current rate of 150 units per day four days a week. More than 700 Volts are being shipped to participating Chevrolet Volt dealerships in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington for use as demonstration units.