Nissan Motor Co. is planning to build a hybrid vehicle to be released by 2010 said a news report by Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun. Nissan has lagged behind other Japanese automakers when it comes to hybrid technology partly because Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn remains unenthusiastic about hybrids. He argues that hybrids make little business sense because they have low profit margins despite having higher retail prices.
Meanwhile, Nissan has signed a deal with Toyota back in 2002 under which the latter will sell its hybrid system to Nissan. A product of this licensing tie is the hybrid Nissan Altima sedan due to be released in the US by next year. Ghosn has said that the hybrid Altima was merely a necessity to clear California’s average fuel economy regulations.
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:46 am
I predict this will bomb. Hunter Cashdollar
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:46 am
How does it clear California’s regs? Hunter Cashdollar
October 18th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Do you believe hybrid cars have future?!