Currently reading: Audi boss: 'The Volt is for idiots'
Audi of America president speaks his mind

Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen has dismissed General Motors' Chevrolet Volt as "a car for idiots".

Speaking to veteran American journalist Lawrence Ulrich, de Nysschen said that few customers will be prepared to pay the estimated £25,000 asking price for the Volt, which will go on sale in Europe as the Vauxhall or Opel Ampera.

Vauxhall Ampera trials to begin - latest news and video blog

"No one is going to pay a $15,000 (£9000) premium for a car that competes with a (Toyota) Corolla,” said de Nysschen. "So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."

De Nysschen, a long-time advocate of diesel power, admitted that plug-in hybrids are good in concept and hold advantages over diesels in stop-and-go driving. However, he maintained that electric cars are more about making a statement at present.

“They’re for the intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are,” he said.

De Nysschen concluded by saying that the Volt will fail to sell and the government will be forced to subsidise it and boost sales, having forced GM to develop electric cars.

Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Audi reviews, news and video

Join the debate

Comments
38
Add a comment…
lilianna 4 April 2014

I think Peugeot should have

I think Peugeot should have sorted out a decent hot hatch rather than spending time on the RCZ.
ShvsIrns 5 September 2009

Re: Audi boss: 'The Volt is for idiots'

boyz .... you guys are funny. Come out swinging at the man as if he attacked you personally. On the contrary to the majority perception, I thought he said a kind comment about the human race.

And anyone who compares a Corolla to an A3 is an idiot.

blowerbentley 4 September 2009

Re: Audi boss: 'The Volt is for idiots'

It's bad business practice to openly criticise a competitor in this way. Even worse to criticise their customers. It's a strange, maybe even idiotic, stance to take when Audi are planning electric cars of their own.