Deposits For Plug-Ins Not Ready

This is interesting. A dealership in California started accepting deposits on plug-in Prius, even though Toyota has not announced a timeline for a plug-in hybrid to hit the road. And people were handing over $500 just to sit on the waiting list.

I can understand putting a 'hand up' for the Volt, but putting $500 down for a car that doesn't exist (and may not, you never know) doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

But Toyota stepped in and stopped them from doing it anymore (TOYOTA OPEN ROAD BLOG: The Plug-in Prius: Waiting is the Hardest Part for Dealers and Customers)

The Toyota blog explains how, for now, their only plan is to develop a commercial fleet by 2009/2010. As of right now, they don't even have a plan to sell them to anyone else.

In the meantime, I've begun wondering why GM hasn't set up a deposit system for the Volt. It seems like the next logical step. Everyone knows the Smart car got great mileage out of their $99 deposit, creating a waiting list a mile long.

With the demand so high for even a glimpse of the Volt, you would think GM would take that next step.