In Bow to Impending MPG Law, Chrysler Chief Says All Cars Will Be Hybrids

NEW YORK — Everything will be hybrid. That was the message sent at a seminar here this morning by new Chrysler president Jim Press, as he settles rather rapidly into his post under new owner Cerberus just a couple months after being lured away from 37 years at Toyota.

Eventually, Press said, every vehicle that Chrysler makes would be hybrid-powered. He offered no timetable, but the United States government’s mandate to increase fleetwide fuel economy by 40 percent by 2020 is a big hurdle that hybrid technology can certainly assist in clearing. Carmakers have been bemoaning the impending regulations for a while, and even managed to get the EPA to back down a little and extend the deadline. Press’s statement was the first by a major auto executive that openly embraces hybrid technology as an across-the board sea change for all vehicles in a company lineup.

Press went on to say that it’s his intent to build and sell as many Chrysler-branded product outside North America as are currently sold in the U.S. (around 2.7 million units). That offers a major shift in Chrysler’s business plan, because the company’s offshore sales are currently a very small part of its overall business. —Mike Allen

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4252629.html

 

Gm or Chrysler?

 

Corrected

Thanks, Stealth.

 

These new MPG laws are BS. The consumer buying patters should determine what changes need to take place, not the government telling us what we can drive. If the buying public wants a vehicle that has 40% better mileage they will start to purchase hybrids. Hybrids have not been the hit automakers thought they would be. To overcome the higher initial cost and increased maintenence cost you would have to drive the car well over 200k for the savings in gas to overcome the higher initial purchase cost when compared to a traditional gas engine. Popular Mechanics did a report comparing a Diesel VW against one of the hybrids and found the diesel to cost less and offer the same mileage with cheaper maintenence cost. If I am forced at some point in my life to drive a electric hybrid truck they might as well paint it pink. Give me some American metal, 8 cylinders sucking down expensive gas with a blue oval on the front and I will die a happy man.

 

It's all because of the Global Warming *****.

 

What the Global Warming ***** and the Tree Huggers seem to be overlooking it the impact these batteries are going to have on the environment. When these batteries die and need to be changed, what happens to them? They have the potential to be worse for the environment than gas vehicle emissions.

 

They're just getting AHEAD of the curve during this Oil crunch instead of Following it like they did in the 70's.

4 Dollar a gallon gas this Summer, 5 bucks Next year. People will be wanting the MOST fuel efficient vehicles they can get their hands on Regardless of what George Bush is Dictating...

 

Here we go again... It's Bush's fault as usual. It has nothing to do with the Dems blocking legislation for new refineries and their denial to let oil companies drill in the ANWAR and off the coasts. I know it's just easier to say BUSH BUSH BUSH than to look at other factors. If it's bad it's always Bush, if it goods it's that way inspite of him. Can't ever win.

 

Dude, the new Federal fuel economy standards were put in place by Bush. That's pretty cut and dry. I don't remember him saying he was "forced" or anything.

From his state of the Union Address:

It's in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power, by even greater use of clean coal technology, solar and wind energy, and clean, safe nuclear power. (Applause.) We need to press on with battery research for plug-in and hybrid vehicles, and expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel. (Applause.) We must continue investing in new methods of producing ethanol -- (applause) -- using everything from wood chips to grasses, to agricultural wastes.


To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels, by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 -- and that is nearly five times the current target. (Applause.) At the same time, we need to reform and modernize fuel economy standards for cars the way we did for light trucks -- and conserve up to 8.5 billion more gallons of gasoline by 2017.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0070123-2.html

 

Point is no matter what Bush did, does, or plans to do is never good enough. If he had stuck to his guns and mandated for more drilling off the coast and in ANWAR everyone would cry he's pushing Big Oil for is own benefit. If he caves to tree huggers and Kyoto mandating alternative fuels then he's shoving it down our throats and we don't have a choice. Bush can't win.

 

or how about this... let the consumer decide. Not the government. If the gas does get that high, the consumer demand for small cars will go up. It is none of the governments business. In fact, get the government out of the way and let us drill for oil and make new refineries. The gasoline price will plumit. Or is the government the answer to everything hibbs?

 

You seem to forget Clinton is the one who let things escalate to this point. And his little buddy Algore sure didn't seem to do anything about GW in the 90's.

The ONLY reason GW is so popular is because MONEY is to be made hand over fist. Global Warming is a cash cow.

 

This is what Happened in the 70's, GM was making Big, gas guzzleing cars and the price of gas went up and people bought Mazda's and Honda's. The same thing is happening Now so they're building Hybrids. Big, Cool, full sized Hybrids. You can't blame them for that.

I've never said I agreed with Bush's new government standards.

Hate to break it to you, Drilling in Anwar won't change the price of Gas One bit. Maybe 5 cents per gallon, but it's going UP faster than that. I don't care if they drill there or not, we drill everywhere else. Just do it safely and as clean as possible but they pretty much do that now.

The issue I have is the oil we get from ANWAR won't ALL come to the US. It'll be put on the World market and sold the highest bidder...

If You've listened to Anything I've said, you'd know I don't WANT the government messing in my business. The Government has done nothing but Grow and Spend.

We need to protect our borders and start looking out for Americans!

You guys get me wrong all the time. I'm Very Conservative in a Lot of issues.

I just don't believe in "Reaganomics".

I don't believe in Un balanced Budgets.

I don't believe in Borrowing money to finance a War (or anything else).

I do believe in invading countries that are a Real threat the the US. Afghanistan, Yes, Iraq, No. North Korea, Yes.

I believe our Tax Dollars should Help Americans. Help American's with Insurance, Yes. Help Iraqi's from an evil Dictator, NO. (this war would have bought insurance for the entire nation for 20 years!)

I don't believe in a Welfare State. The Biggest Welfare reform happened under CLINTON. Not Bush I. Welfare got WORSE under Reagan.

I vote for Republican's AND Democrats. I'm a registered Independent.

Global warming is Real. Accept it. You can argue about the causes, that's fair. But the world is getting Warmer. Deal with it.

The government can spy on Terrorists. They shouldn't spy on honest Americans, I don't care if you Do call it a Patriot Act.

I've got Guns, I ride Dirt Bikes, I drive a Gas Guzzling Truck, I believe in God, I punish my kids when they need it. Anyone calling me a Liberal doesn't really know me too well.

 

WEel said, Mr. Hibbs---I agree with youw whole heartedly.

Tim C.

 

my numbers are close but not exact

i was watching tv with my son , who is 11, after the numbers were given, even he understood the math

in America, for every 1000 people there are like 1060 cars.
in France for every 1000 people there are 650 cars
in India, for every 1000 people there are 11 cars
in China for every 1000 people there are 9 cars

my son said, if everyone in china gets a car, we are in trouble

at the rate the world is growing and countries are progressing, i think a move toward better economy is in every ones best interest.