Buyers willing to wait for the second-generation Volt to debut may see a price tag that's up to $7,500 less than the $41,000 sticker on the 2011 model. According to GM-Volt, The General expects that economies of scale, along with the possibility of reducing the size of the Volt's lithium-ion battery pack, could contribute to a $7,500 price reduction for GM's next-gen plug-in hybrid. GM spokesman Robert Peterson reiterated that the Volt's price will drop over time, stating:

As with any new technology - from plasma TVs to cell phones - the production costs lower with knowledge gained with each generation. We expect to see similar cost savings, either through the development or improvement of technologies, or reduced production costs.

However, Peterson made no specific mention of a $7,500 price cut. At this time, that number seems to be a well-circulated rumor, rather than an actual target set by GM. If it's an actual target, it makes some sort of sense: the maximum federal tax credit is worth $7,500, and it is set to expire for GM after the automaker sells 200,000 qualified vehicles.