Why? Lots of reasons. I followed the entire drama as it was happening (through a mailing list on electric vehicles). Essentially, the Saturn Impact was introduced as a concept car in the early '90s. GM, Chrysler, Ford, all of these guys turn out concept cars for the whiz-bangery, but then tell people how much it cost to build them, and people give the company a pat on the back and wishes for the future. For this particular unveiling, the reporters dared to drool and ask when they would be available.
Now they were stuck. They pretty much had to build them, and California's California Air Resource Board ruling on emissions gave them a viable opportunity to make them kinda profitable. Every Impact they put on the road gave them credits for the trucks they sold (and actually profited from).
So they built them, but put heinous roadblocks to actually getting one. There was a questionaire one had to complete asking about income, past purchases (like Betamax machines). Pass the exam, and you were on the list . . . to lease one
( ... )
The splashed pedestrian ad brought back a memory. Were you with me and the rest of the gang that skipped a high school pep assembly to visit the librarian at the jr. high and as we made our way back to the high school a car swerved and went through a massive mud puddle and drenched us?
Comments 7
Why did they crush those EV-1s?
Reply
Now they were stuck. They pretty much had to build them, and California's California Air Resource Board ruling on emissions gave them a viable opportunity to make them kinda profitable. Every Impact they put on the road gave them credits for the trucks they sold (and actually profited from).
So they built them, but put heinous roadblocks to actually getting one. There was a questionaire one had to complete asking about income, past purchases (like Betamax machines). Pass the exam, and you were on the list . . . to lease one ( ... )
Reply
WTF?
grrr...
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment