I think all the American car makers vastly underestimate the hybrid culture
which is developing. Didn't Toyota have much higher expected totals for
hybrids? Of the two I'd say Toyota has its poop together and can make accurate
predictions.
Do European drivers do mostly city or highway driving? I was going to say
something about them being mostly city drivers so the hybrid would suit them
better than a diesel but then I rethought and now I'm not sure.
For a city dweller I'd say a hybrid makes much more sense. That article that
compared the Lexus hybrid to the Mercedes diesel is junk, you just can't
compare a diesel CAR to a hybrid SUV, apples and oranges.
-Curt
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 05:50:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Christopher McCann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [MBZ] Daimler Chrysler diesel & hybrid prediction for US
market
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/bs_nm/autos_chrysler2_dc
Ridenour said he expected hybrids to make up about
5-15 percent of the U.S. market once they were cheap
enough for the common man. Diesel would take another
5-15 percent with gasoline accounting for the rest, he
said.
In Europe, where diesel makes up about half of car
sales, hybrids would take nearer 5 than 15 percent of
the market.
Ridenour said new models should help Chrysler double
its European market share to 1.5 percent by 2008-09,
thanks in part to new cars being available in diesel
and right-hand drive from the launch.
Christopher McCann, Squier Park, Kansas City, Missouri
-1985 300SD, 209K miles, "Wulf"
(http://www.pictureblogger.com/My-1985-Mercedes-Benz-300SD)
-1976 240D, ManyK miles, "AKP-Wagen" (Alternativen Kraftstoffs
Pr?fenlastwagen = Alternative Fuel Test Vehicle)
-1998 Toyota Sienna CE, 99K miles, "The Van"
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