Shocking way to run a company - Chevy Volt

Some interesting news from the New York Times:

Steven Rattner Dishes on the Chevrolet Volt
Steven L. Rattner, as President Obama�s former auto bailout chief, worked with General Motors as it struggled to find its footing amid a bankruptcy reorganization in 2008. During that time, the company was also developing the Chevrolet Volt, an innovative plug-in hybrid car that is going on sale soon.

In his new book, �Overhaul,� Mr. Rattner, who faces legal troubles unrelated to his work on the auto task force, writes that the Volt, which is priced at $41,000, is costing around $40,000 apiece to build. �At least in the early years, each Volt would cost around $40,000 to manufacture (development costs not included),� he writes.

In an interview a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Rattner said he had learned of the Volt�s costs in the course of due diligence during the G.M. bankruptcy process. �I don�t know the precise number,� he said. G.M. was nonetheless �right to do it,� he added, even in the absence of profit, because the program helped quiet critics �who�ve said for many years that the company was behind the curve.�

Yes I know that manufacturing costs will come down once the car is in production but still, that is a hell of a number to deal with. Not the way I would run a company...