Chevrolet Volt 'Freedom Drive' to Celebrate Newest Launch Markets

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Jul 01, 2010, 01:02 ET

AUSTIN, Texas , July 1 /PRNewswire/ --

Chevrolet Volt making a four-day, 1,776 mile trek from Austin to New York City
Chevrolet is using social media to allow fans to connect with the Volt team throughout the drive via the following sites:

To celebrate Chevrolet adding Texas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to the launch markets for the Volt, this unique electric vehicle with extended range capability will be driven 1,776 miles from Austin to New York, while passengers post real-time updates along the way.

The drive will demonstrate the unique capabilities of the Volt, the only electric vehicle that can operate under a full range of driving conditions and climates without limitations or driver concerns of being stranded by a depleted battery.

"This drive is a demonstration of the freedom the Volt will provide customers – freedom to drive where you want, when you want," said Tony DiSalle, director of product marketing for Chevrolet Volt. "Whether you are driving 50 miles or 1,750 miles, the Volt is the only electric vehicle that can be a family's primary car."

Fans can follow the Volt's journey on Chevrolet's various social media properties, including the Chevrolet Volt Facebook, the @ChevyVolt Twitter account, the Chevrolet Posterous page, and the ChevroletVoltAge.com page, where viewers will find photos, videos and text updates on the Volt's location and performance. The team will be using the hashtag #VoltDrive during the event.

Over the course of the four days, the Volt will stop in Little Rock, AR on July 1; Nashville, TN and Roanoke, VA on July 2; Washington, D.C. and Frederick, MD on July 3; Philadelphia, PA and finally, New York City on July 4.

The "Freedom Drive" will demonstrate Chevrolet Volt's unique capability of driving approximately 40 miles as a pure electric vehicle, with a total driving range of 340 miles, with electricity powering the car at all times and speeds. For trips of up to 40 miles, the Volt gets it power solely from electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt's battery runs low, a sophisticated engine-generator seamlessly engages to extend the driving range to about 300 miles on a full tank of gas.

According to AAA, the Volt will join approximately 34.9 million travelers crossing the country to celebrate the 2010 Fourth of July holiday. AAA predicts that automobile travel will continue to be the dominant mode of transportation, with travelers taking trips at least 50 miles away from home.

The company is accelerating the national launch of the revolutionary electric vehicle in response to intense interest in the Volt from customers across the country. Today's announcement brings the initial Volt retail markets to seven, including California, Washington D.C. and Michigan. The retail launch in Texas and New York will begin with Austin and New York City in late 2010. Chevrolet dealers in the balance of Texas and New York, as well as New Jersey and Connecticut, are scheduled to begin receiving Volts in early 2011.

Volt production begins late this year at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck facility. Pricing has not been announced.

To read the market announcement, visit http://media.gm.com.

About Chevrolet: Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including the Cruze Eco and Volt, both arriving in late 2010. Cruze Eco will offer up to 40 mpg highway while the Chevrolet Volt will offer up to 40 miles of electric, gas-free driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range (based on GM testing; official EPA estimates not yet available). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com or join the conversation at www.chevroletvoltage.com.

About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.