General Motors Co said on Wednesday its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid will carry an overall fuel economy rating of 60 miles per gallon, topping the Toyota Prius, the industry’s long-time fuel economy leader.
GM has begun to assemble the long-awaited Volt at a Detroit-area factory, with initial sales expected in December.
The EPA fuel-economy rating, which will be displayed on stickers on each Volt sold, was one of the last hurdles for a vehicle that GM has made the center of its effort to restart its reputation for technology and innovation.
The Volt has been named Green Car of the Year and Motor Trend car of the year in recognition of the automaker’s four-year effort to develop a first-of-its-kind, mass-market hybrid that can run on both electric power and gasoline.
The release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rating on the Volt came as GM rolled out a television commercial to thank Americans for its taxpayer bailout, a week after an initial public offering of GM shares.
The tagline of the ad reads: “We all fall down. Thank you for helping us get back up.”
Capturing the fuel-economy leadership from Toyota Motor Corp’s hybrid Prius will give GM bragging rights it has sought throughout the Volt development effort.
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