Chevy Volt Demand Outstripping Supply -- GM; Sales Down 50%

Link here to Christian Science Monitor.

Sales of plug-in electric cars fell slightly in November, with continued steady sales of the Nissan Leaf not enough to make up for a decline in Chevy Volt numbers.

This month's total may not quite equal last month's plug-in sales of 6,784. The big unknown, however, is deliveries of the Tesla Model S--which Tesla won't discuss.

This year's sales leader, the Chevy Volt range-extended electric car, logged 1,519 sales.
That brings the Volt's total so far this year to 20,828, though the November number is barely more than half the October total of 2,961--a number helped by now-expired sales incentives.

Drudge Report noted that Volt sales in November were about half what they were in October. Drudge seemed to imply that the decrease was somehow related to the election. GM, however, said they had the same problem Apple has with the iPad: they can't keep up with demand.

The 3,000 Chevy Volts sold in October was a record. 

GM said that they experienced a shortage of inventory in November in their biggest market, California, if I correctly understood the press release:

"Volt sales were modest in November due to availability in most key markets including California, our largest market," said GM spokesperson Michele Malcho. 

"We had a really low daily stock for most of the month," she continued, "and expect to have more Volts available in December."

I can't make this stuff up. Maybe I'm misreading something.

And note: "now-expired sales incentives." December inventories should increase. Especially if the sales incentives have expired.