General Motors Company (GM), Ford Motor Company (F): Don’t Get Charged up Over Chevy Volt Sales

Moreover General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) continues to move Volts by offering cheap lease deals. Current options include $299 per month with $2,500 due at signing for 36 months or 0% financing for 48 months. When the automaker is willing to give you an already heavily subsidized vehicle, it makes moving them off the lot a lot easier, though not very profitable.

In General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s favor, not only has it nosed Nissan out of the top spot of alt-fuel vehicles this month, but it has top share again with 18% of the market while Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM) each have a 15% share. While Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) sold fewer cars last month than GM did, notching 221,000 vehicles sold compared to 276,000 at its rival, its gains were the more impressive, up 20% year over year versus a near 15% rise at GM.

I’ll give credit to GM that it has pushed out more Volts than I thought it might, but that doesn’t mean it’s a success. Heavy subsidies — taxpayer granted and otherwise — on a money-losing car that its maker felt the need to cut the price on doesn’t make it a winner. August was a bit of clear highway for it to move on, but September is a month likely to provide more potholes.

The article Don’t Get Charged up Over Chevy Volt Sales originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Rich Duprey.

Fool contributor Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Ford, General Motors, and Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA). The Motley Fool owns shares of Ford and Tesla Motors.

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