Earlier this year GM was forced to suspend production of the Volt due to low customer demand, but the plug-in's Detroit-Hamtramck plant is now humming along thanks to a sharp increase in California sales. The Volt has become particularly popular in Southern California, where gas is still about $4 per gallon.
Although the Volt is still selling well below initial targets - just 1,680 Volts found new homes in May - the plug-in is gaining ground in California, which has typically been a sore spot for GM. The Detroit automaker has just a 9.3 percent share of the California market versus 17.4 percent nationwide.
According to R.L. Polk data, 837 Volts were registered in California during the first quarter of 2012, accounting for nearly 23 percent of all Volt sales. Michigan was the Volt's second largest market during the first quarter, accounting for about 6 percent of Volt sales.
However, meeting California's new-found demand isn't as simple as cranking up production. Volt's sold in California require a special emissions package, which can't be added outside of the factory. The emissions package does, however, qualify the Volt for a $1,500 state rebate and access to California's high occupancy lanes.
