Disclosure: Al Dullinger is a GM employee
Sometimes, timing is everything. This proved especially true for Al and Mary Dullinger, a duo-Volt family from Toledo. The couple purchased their first Chevrolet Volt last year and, it took them just two weeks to decide they needed a second one.  At the time, Mary wasn’t able to get a Crystal Red Volt, instead settling for a black Volt. Despite loving her car, that Crystal Red Volt was on her mind each time she got into her car. 

Eventually, Al decided it would be a nice Valentine’s Day present to trade in one of their Volts and get Mary that shiny red Volt she wanted. So, Al reached out to some folks at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant explaining he would be purchasing a red Volt for his wife and asked if there was any way they could see her Volt get assembled. The plant’s management agreed to provide the Dullingers a very rare and very select opportunity to do just that and allow Mary to drive her Volt off the assembly line.

Despite being a 29-year employee of GM’s Toledo Transmission Operation, Al was in awe of what he saw at "D-Ham". More than once he remarked it was completely fascinating to actually see all of the various parts of the vehicles come together and he especially enjoyed watching the battery being installed in the car. Both Al and Mary also loved seeing the Volt that would eventually sit in their driveway going through the assembly line.

When asked who was the more efficient driver the couple gave wry smiles. “Al has the better lifetime MPG rating,” remarked Mary. “But I still have the most battery range on a single charge.” 

Still, both Al and Mary each have daily commutes well within the Volt’s EV range. Al even gets to plug-in and top off his charge while he works. However, they both have a little extra reminder to plug in some days. Their four-year old granddaughter, Claire, even helps them remember to plug in when she visits.

Many employees at D-HAM came by and congratulated the Dullingers on their purchase and wished them well. Both Al and Mary returned those congratulations with thanks for the hard work being done at the plant.

Of course, the big moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived when Mary was able to step into her new 2013 Crystal Red Volt and drive it off the assembly line. She wasn’t in the Volt for very long before additional final inspections had to be made and will have to wait a few weeks before she can pick her car up from the dealership, but there was a very big smile on her face as she got out of the vehicle. “That was great,” she beamed. “That was just great.”

Note: the Detroit-Hamtramck plant does not currently offer public tours

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