Ford targets emerging markets, considers new hybrid WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co.(F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Bill Ford Jr. said on Thursday that the automaker is targeting fast-growing markets in Asia and Eastern Europe to boost global sales and profits. He also said Ford was considering the launch of a plug-in hybrid vehicle for its future product line-up. Ford's operations in emerging markets such as Turkey, Russia, India and China are "a critical source of future growth and profits and we are pursuing them aggressively," Bill Ford said at the company's annual meeting. The full article is here. Read more about "Ford targets emerging markets, considers new hybrid"...
Toyota's North American chief sat down with Business Week for an interesting Q&A, Toyota’s Jim Press Discusses the Future Toyota North America’s new head on moving the company forward, his role, the competition and alternative fuel MK: What’s your view on hybrid technology? JP: We recognize more and more hybrid technology is going to be a key technology for the future success of this business. Hybrid is going to be hybrid diesel. Fuel cell cars are hybrids. The internal combustion engine cars we are selling today are hybrids. Flex fuel vehicles will be hybrids. Read more about "Business Week sits down with Toyota's top executive in North America "...
Honda chairman’s mid-year speech outlines plans for R&D and global manufacturing expansion and first-ever OEM C02 reduction target 17th May 2006 Honda chairman’s mid-year speech outlines plans for R&D and global manufacturing expansion and first-ever OEM C02 reduction target Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has just announced specific plans in three areas to accelerate its efforts to achieve further growth: 1. Establishing advanced manufacturing systems and capabilities 2. Strengthening the foundation for overseas growth with new overseas plants 3. Strengthening the commitment to reduce Honda’s environmental footprint We report the plans at some length as some of the most ambitious global... Read more about "What are Honda's priorities?"...
In an effort to cut down vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, President Barack Obama is proposing today new rules that would create a single CO2 emission standard for automobiles four years sooner than anticipated. Current standards mandate a 27.5 mpg level for cars and 23.1 mpg for trucks. The proposed regulations announced today would require cars and light trucks to reach an average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and then increase to 39 mpg for cars and 30 mpg for trucks. The administration predicts these changes will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil by 2016 (roughly an estimated 86... Read more about "The CO2 challenge and the Scuderi solution - Meeting future standards today"...
Scuderi Group to Unveil Design of New Air-Hybrid Engine To European Auto Industry at Engine Expo 2006 Hires longtime auto industry finance executive to oversee European operations WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA - May 3, 2006: The Scuderi Group, the engine development company that has designed a breakthrough Air-Hybrid Engine, announced today that it has expanded operations into the European marketplace. The company also announced that they have hired longtime auto industry finance executive Lutz Deyerling to oversee European operations. Developed by a team of fluid and thermodynamic experts, the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine is expected to deliver a quantum leap in performance,... Read more about "Scuderi Group opens european office; to unveil design of Air-Hybrid Engine at Germany's Engine Expo 2006"...
Ed Wallace has a contributed article in Business Week strongly questioning Ethanol: A Tragedy in 3 Acts Read more about "Business Week Puts Brakes on Ethanol Hype"...
Popular Mechanics has a very long, detailed look at alternativbe fuels in the current issue. How far can you drive on a bushel of corn? Crunching the numbers on alternative fuels. For this special report, PM crunched the numbers on the actual costs and performance of each major alternative fuel. Before we can debate national energy policy--or even decide which petroleum substitutes might make sense for our personal vehicles--we need to know how these things stack up in the real world. To read the entire article, click here. Read more about "How far can you drive on a bushel of corn?"...
Nissan won't rely on Toyota's hybrid technology for long, Ghosn says Nissan will have capacity to build 50,000 hybrid Altimas a year but has indicated it does not expect to sell that many. Although the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid have sold well, Toyota and Honda Motor Co. have scaled back their hybrid production plans. Ford Motor Co. is offering 0 percent financing on its hybrid Ford Escape SUV. "You have to be prudent when all competitors are cutting production or offering incentives" on their hybrid vehicles, Ghosn said. Read more about "Nissan won't rely on Toyota's hybrid technology for long"...
A very interesting article over at AutoChannel about the collaboartion on hybrid technology between US and foriegn automakers. GM, DaimlerChrysler, BMW Premiere Unprecedented Hybrid Technology Read more about "Collaboration Among Foreign and Domestic Automakers Leads to New Hybrid Technology"...
Kiplinger's has an interesting analysis of the true cost of driving a gas-electric hybrid. What driving a hybrid will really cost you Rising fuel prices and tax breaks ease the price of driving green. Here's what it'll cost to own any of the seven best new hybrids vs. their gas-engine counterparts. Read more about "The true cost of gas-electric hybrids?"...