General Motors has announced a delay to the addition of a second shift at its Volt assembly plant in Michigan. GM announced back in May that it would be adding a second shift in late Autumn with a view to doubling Volt production levels. The company has instead stated it will be able to double production following the overhaul of its plant this summer, together with a lower-than-previously-announced number of employees. These moves will enable GM to double production by the beginning of 2012 whilst only operating a single shift.

The Volt, which will be sold in Europe as the Ampera, will be made in quantities upwards of 60,000 over 2012 – an upgrade of the 45,000 forecast previously given by the firm. The vehicles will be made in a single 10 hour shift over 4 days a week.

The news will be cause for disappointment among many people in the Michigan area, since a good deal more workers were initially planned – which would have totalled hundreds more workers. By that point production of the Chevy Malibu is expected to have begun.

While the union, UAW Local 22, is keen to see more shifts added, GM says the improvements in efficiency at the plant will be better for workers and better for customers, since costs will be further reduced.

The electric vehicle is beginning to play an important role in the American economy, which has been long-used to the petrol engine. But new electric vehicles will provide the same economic opportunities as does the combustion engine – from car hire to annual breakdown cover provision, from auto maintenance to the humble car wash.