2012 Holden Volt

Bad news for Australian drivers interested in GM’s Chevrolet Volt as the local version of the car that will be marketed under the Holden brand and which is expected to arrive later this year will reportedly cost well over AU$60,000 (equal to US$62,000).

While Holden has yet to publicly announce prices, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that GM’s subsidiary told its dealers that the Volt will carry a retail price of AU$59,990 before on-road and dealer costs, which the newspaper says rises to as much as AU$66,000 (US$68,200) with the aforementioned fees.

The similarly sized Holden Cruze, upon which the extended range electric car is based platform-wise, starts from AU$21,990 (US$22,700).

In the U.S., the Chevrolet Volt starts from US$39,645 (AU$38,400) before the US$7,500 federal tax credit which can bring the price down to US$31,145 (AU$30,150).

In other parts of the world, the Chevrolet Volt will carry base price of RMB 498,000 or about US$76,400 in China and €41,950 or US$60,800 in Europe.

In addition, Holden told its dealers that it would only bring 100 cars this year and no more than 500 in 2013. “If demand is 300, we will only bring in 300,” one dealer told the news daily adding that, ”If demand is higher than 500, we will bring in no more than 500.”