Toyota Announces Hybrid Camry For US By 2006 - Channel News Asia

[hatrack]

TOKYO : "Japan's top carmaker Toyota plans to sell Camry passenger cars with hybrid engines in the United States as early as 2006 in a bid to spur competition over low-emissions vehicles there, a daily said.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second-largest automaker, aims to sell more than 100,000 of the vehicles a year, mainly in the North American market, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

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The move to mount a fuel-efficient hybrid engine in the Camry is designed to help Toyota push further in the race for a larger market share for vehicles with lower emissions in the United States, the business daily said. Toyota is expected to reduce prices of the Camry's hybrid versions to more affordable levels by the time they hit the market in 2006 or after, it said.

On Tuesday Toyota announced a license agreement with US automotive giant Ford for use of its hybrid gasoline and battery-powered technology. Toyota, which has obtained some 900 patents related to the hybrid technology overseas, disclosed neither the license fee nor its duration."

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[IrateCitizen]

1. US Auto companies have f***ed themselves again...

Back in the 1970's, they refused to move toward smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Then, the oil crises hit, and people started buying up Toyotas, Hondas and VW's in droves. The US companies saw their sales drop off considerably.

Throughout the 1990's, they have focused their efforts (and money) on fighting higher fuel efficiency standards rather than simply trying to exploit developing technologies. Toyota and Honda have taken the opposite approach -- exploiting new technologies rather than fighting higher efficiency standards.

Now, Toyota stands in a position to dominate the US hybrid car market -- with Honda not far behind. The American companies will once again be left standing like the proverbial dinosaur in a tar pit.

But don't worry -- I'm sure that when their profits fall and they're ready to lay off half of their work force, there will be a government bailout coming their way. :grr:

[NNadir]

3. This is absolutely true. N/T

[papau]

2. FORD's hybred Escape SUV due on or around Sept/Oct 04

I am looking forward to seeing the specs!

[phantom power]

4. I heard

that they backed off this promise, and now none of the big-three are planning a hybrid release before 2007.