Automotive News reported today that Ford may be next to introduce a hybrid in the US.
The editors also came down harshly upon William Clay Ford for his
support of environmental issues. For those of you that may have missed out on earlier articles, Ford, who is the great grandson of Henry Ford and now the new forty-one year old Chairman of the Board of Ford Motor, the second largest manufacturer in the world, has outspokenly announced his support and concern over environmental issues. He has admitted that Ford had strayed away from being environmentally responsible as a company, but would no longer do so.
He has elected to personally drive a Ford Ranger EV pickup truck
to and from work, with NiMH batteries. With this positive attitude
Ford may indeed be next in the marketplace with an HEV.
Another point of interest in the current issue of Automotive News is that David Hermance, general manager of powertrains at Toyota Technical Center U.S.A. announced that the automaker sells about 2,000 Prius hybrids in Japan each month, and will bring the model to the United States in 1999. (Yes, that's correct, 1999. this was not supposed to happen until 2,000, based upon all previous statements.)
This could be the stimulus Ford and GM need to accelerate their market introductions. Let's hope this turns out to be true.
Regards.
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