Chrysler to produce petrol-electric hybrid car
By Jeremy Grant in Detroit
Published: January 6 2004 18:32 | Last Updated: January 6 2004 18:32
Chrysler, the US arm of Germany's DaimlerChrysler, plans to join a growing number of carmakers exploring hybrid petrol-electric vehicles with production of its first hybrid vehicle.
The hybrid is likely to be a small or medium-sized passenger car that would form part of a new line-up of such cars that Chrysler expects to replace its ageing Neon and Stratus cars.
Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler chief executive, told the Financial Times: "You could expect us to come to market [with a hybrid] in the time range of 2-3 years."
Chrysler lags behind its Detroit rivals in developing hybrids, which offer significantly improved fuel economy compared to conventional all-petrol vehicles.
Toyota and Honda both sell hybrid vehicles in the US. Toyota's first hybrid, the Prius passenger car, was launched in 1997 and won the annual North American Car of the Year award at this week's Detroit motor show.
Ford expects later this year to start selling its first hybrid, a version of its Escape small sport utility vehicle. GM plans a range of hybrids this year.
Demand for hybrids has been relatively robust, especially in California, the single largest vehicle market within the US.
Toyota recently said it would be increasing production of the Prius to satisfy higher than anticipated demand in the US.
To develop its hybrid, Chrysler could use technology developed by Mercedes, the luxury car division of DaimlerChrysler.
"We are talking about this with our Chrysler colleagues," said Peter Antony , project leader for one of two Mercedes hybrids, a diesel-powered concept called the Grand Sports Tourer, unveiled as one of two non-production concepts this week that would be Mercedes' first foray into hybrids.
This week, former Chrysler chief executive Lee Iacocca warned that Detroit should accelerate development of hybrids "or risk losing the hybrid market to Japan" and that China was aiming to "leapfrog ahead of America" with hybrids and other environmentally friendly vehicles.
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