The largest new car dealership chain in the U.S., AutoNation, has informed its dealerships that they are to sell the Chevy Volt at manufacturer’s retail ($41,000) or face immediate termination.  AutoNation has 27 dealerships selling Chevrolets nationally.

This comes after reports that a lot of dealerships appear to be planning to make up for huge losses during the recession through sales of the one or two Volts they will be given to sell in the next couple of years.  One, reportedly, planned to jack the price by almost 50%, adding a $20,000 premium to the hybrid car.

Of course, none of this repairs the bad economics of the Volt itself nor does it keep the other dealerships around the nation from jacking the price.  What it does mean, probably, is that AutoNation has successfully pulled off a PR stunt that will likely have their Volts sold before they even hit the showroom.

The PR is obvious, since this story has been covered widely.  I first saw it on AutoBlogGreen, then on GM-Volt (from which I nabbed the above photo), and then EVWorld.  All within a couple of hours of one another.  Plenty of others have covered it too, of course, as this has spread like wildfire.  Which, incidentally, makes it a “meme” and thus a virtual requirement for EVMeme to jump on board as well.

So for those who are sold on the Government Motors Volt, it looks like you can get one without paying for the salesman’s vacation package and yacht in the bargain.  At least, if you’re lucky enough to be one of the few who can get to AutoNation before the crowds.

Enjoy your tax-subsidized, premium gasoline-requiring, overpriced car if you do actually get one.  :)

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