GM Holden Begins Australian Volt Field Tests

The first Chevy Volt arrives in Australia as a left-hand-drive model that has been adapted for use by a GM Holden engineering team to begin in-country validation and verification.

The extended-range electric vehicle is making engineering-evaluation trips to cities including Sydney and Canberra.

Chevrolet EREV re-branded Holden Volt in Australia.

“The engineering department will use these validation exercises to ensure the electrical infrastructure around the country supports the Volt and that the recharging process is as seamless as possible for customers,” Paul Gibson, director of electrical engineering-GM Holden, says in a statement.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux says the EREV, to be branded as the Holden Volt in Australia, will be a game-changer for the General Motors subsidiary and the wider automotive industry Down Under.

“It is among the most technologically advanced cars on the road anywhere in the world and spearheads Holden's push to become a leader in the field of technology and sustainable motoring,” he says.

“The Volt will make driving more economical, more environmentally friendly and will fundamentally change the way Australia thinks about alternative-transport solutions. This is the start of something big for Holden and Australia.”

GM Holden has launched a dedicated Volt website in preparation for the EREV’s Australia sales launch toward the end of 2012.