Posted on 01/31/2005 8:17:49 PM PST by newgeezer
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The head of Nissan Motor Co., breaking ranks with some of his leading rivals, said on Saturday that building fuel-sipping hybrid vehicles makes little sense in today's world because of their high costs.
"They make a nice story, but they're not a good business story yet because the value is lower than their costs," said Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn.
Nissan will, in fact, start manufacturing a gas-electric hybrid version of its Altima sedan for the U.S. market in 2006.
But Ghosn said the model was only intended to help Japan's second-largest automaker comply with strict fuel economy and emissions standards in states like California, not because he expects it to be a money-maker.
Nissan will license some technology for the hybrid Altima from Toyota Motor Corp., which is the world leader in hybrid production along with Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
The hybrids made by Toyota and Honda are in high demand, but production levels are still relatively small.
Toyota plans to nearly double production of its hybrid Prius car for the U.S. market this year, with production totaling some 100,000 vehicles.
Ford Motor Co. is alone among U.S. automakers in producing mass-market hybrid models; Ford recently announced plans to introduce four new models between this year and 2008.
Ghosn's comments, which are likely to draw criticism from environmental groups, came in an address to the National Automobile Dealers Association, which opened its annual convention in New Orleans on Saturday.
In his speech, he noted that only about 88,000 of the 16.9 million light vehicles sold in the United States last year were hybrids, adding that they are still considered "niche" products and something way outside the automotive mainstream.
He also poured cold water on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which many automakers see as the industry's next big technological breakthrough.
"The cost to build one fuel cell car is about $800,000. Do the math and you figure out that we will have to reduce the cost of that car by more than 95 percent in order to gain widespread marketplace acceptance," Ghosn said.
Ghosn, who is credited with a dramatic turnaround at Nissan, is poised to take over as chief executive at France's Renault SA in May.
His future role, simultaneously running operations at two major automakers, is thought to be an industry first.
Nissan -- owned 44 percent by Renault -- scored the biggest sales jump of any major car maker in the United States last year, with a 24 percent surge to 986,000 vehicles.
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"What is this fascination with encumbering everything with law?
Because the Villagers haven't enough sense to do what is needed."
If you don't trust the people, why not get Congress to elect a new People?
They're workin' on it!
How good are those battery carts in a collision??
Any specs yet??
move to Phoenix and slap a bunch of solar cells on one, and I might consider it. Right now I see them as the "Stanley Steamer" of our day.
It may be a good investment someday, but the technology is just not there yet.
" How good are those battery carts in a collision??
Any specs yet??"
None that I know of, but the batteries are buried pretty deep in into the chassis, along the bottom of the car, way past the crumple zones. You'd have to hit it pretty hard (35+mph, my guess based on how my old Acura got totaled) to crush them.
Oh, not to crush THEM, but to have the BATTERIES CRUSH another tincan car!
I like what Brock Yates called them in a Car and Driver a few months back:
The Toyota Pious.
My husbamd's Toyota Tercel get 45mph on the freeway. Why would I want to pay so much for a hybrid?
You lucky guy. What I wouldn't do to have enough money to buy one of those things for my husband. His dream car.
Someday.
The only device coherent enough to have a meaningful conversation with is a laser.
Mark
Since Renault is French (or I think it is), I will not be buying any Nissans.
I try not to profit the friend of my enemy or my enemy. (BTW, don't buy Chinese.)
Those $8 or $9 are worth a lot more in China than in the US due to PPP: goods and services that would cost at least I'd reckon $80/$90 could be obtained in China for the yuan equivalent of $8/$9
"My husbamd's Toyota Tercel get 45mph on the freeway. Why would I want to pay so much for a hybrid?"
I really love getting caught behind a riceburner doing 45mph on a 65-70mph speed limit freeway.
OK, so I meant 45 miles per gallon! Nice catch.
Not Useless. Note how far fuel-saving technology has gone since the early 70s. Yes, perhaps hybrids aren't the way of the future, but unless people take the drive and say let's do something about it, fuel efficiency's not going to happen.
Yeah, but we know Barbra is so full of it she overloads her Depends so give her a break.
Just kidding you.
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