SgtRock you continue to be either uninformed or purposely deceptive. Your history of posts suggests it is the later.
--In October of 2008 GM was given the first 13.4B in bail out money, under TARP (Troubled Asset Recovery Program).
TARP wasn't even signed into law until October 2008.
GM was not approved to even be considered a financial holding and hence eligible for TARP until December 2008.--http://www.worldcarfans.com/108120415351/wagoner-heading-to-bailout-hearing-in-chevy-volt-prototype [December 4 2008]
All the article you referenced says is that GMs CEO was going to drive to the bailout hearings Washington in a Chevy Volt. So let's see he was driving a Volt in December 2008 - before GM had even received any federal money.. Kind of defeats your own argument don't you think?
By December 2008 GM was already securing contracts with suppliers, the UAW and putting in place facilities for mass production of the Volt. Is it a surprise that when asking for money Wagoner would be touting GMs latest, greatest technology?
More facts about the GM Baiout:" On December 2, 2008, General Motors submitted its "Restructuring Plan for Long-Term Viability" to the Senate Banking Committee and House of Representatives Financial Services Committee.[22] Congress declined to act, but in December 2008 the Bush administration provided a "bridge loan" to General Motors with the requirement of a revised business plan."
"On the March 30, 2009 deadline President Barack Obama declined to provide financial aid to General Motors, and requested that General Motors produce credible plans, saying that the company's proposals had avoided tough decisions, and that Chapter 11 bankruptcy appeared the most promising way to reduce its debts, by allowing the courts to compel bondholders and trade unions into settlements."
June 1, 2009: GM filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
July 10, 2009: A new company financed by the United States Treasury, "NGMCO Inc"purchased the most of the assets, and the trademarks of the General Motors Corporation.
In total $51 billion taxpayer money has gone in the GM bailout. Until December 10, 2013, the U. S. Treasury recovered $39 billion from selling its GM stake. The final cost of the GM bailout cost the U. S. taxpayer $12 billion ($10.5 billion for General Motors and $1.5 billion for former GM financing GMAC, now known as Ally).
According to a study by the Center for Automotive Research the GM bailout saved 1.2 million jobs and preserved $34.9 billion in tax revenue.
The facts are a matter of historical record, Your contention that production of the Volt was part of GMs bailout terms is not accurate and your ongoing attempt to say it is despite being shown the facts speaks to your motivations and character.
Personally, I was very opposed to TARP and was not happy when Bush and Paulson held the country hostage to get it passed. I was not if favor of ANY of the government bailouts during the 2008/2009 financial crisis (on which I blame both the 'Clinton and the Bush administrations along with their Wall st. puppeteers.). I was opposed to the GM bailout but even more so the much larger bailout of AIG and the big banks. At least GM's bailout involved a Chapt 11 bankruptcy and the bondholders and shareholders were required to take a haircut. And GM is an actual company producing something of value and not the pox on humanity that the big banks have become- but I digress....
In anycase - regardless of what I think about GMs bailout, the Volt is a great car (ask anyone who owns one) with great engineering and given the political forces aligned against it, it continues to slowly gain sales as part of the early wave of EV adoption. I'm also a big fan of Tesla - it is clearly leading the way and and forcing the big automakers to play catch up.