GM to auction off first Volt

Money to benefit science and math education in the Detroit Public Schools. See Story from the Detroit News by clicking on link below. Apparently, the bidding has gone up to 118k so far for this first retail sale VIN number Volt.
Serious questions, however. Does this product (along with the Nissan Leaf) mark a transition in the global auto industry related to technology, and to what degree is that the case? Will this be a long or a short time period revolution? If a major technology shift, will this change the content of undergraduate engineering curricula? Will the new generation cars be made primarily in the U.S.A. or overseas? How will India and China fit into the new industry, assuming there is one? Will the Volt help bring back GM? Will plug-in hybrids be the way the industry will re-configure in the years ahead? Would you rather buy a 41 K Volt, or for nearly the same money a BMW or Mercedes (or even a Lexus, if you are inclined to go that way?). Is your home wired for such a vehicle to recharge after hours? What market segment will be attracted to this brand? Perhaps there is a market in California and New York, but will there be customers in Missouri, Iowa, and Utah?

GM to auction off first Volt to aid DPS | detnews.com | The Detroit News