Sunday, April 08, 2007

Hybrids and Small Cars Staging a Comeback


Toyota, Ford, DaimlerChrysler Hyundai Ante Up; Sour Grapes from GM

By Joe Benton ConsumerAffairs.Com April 5, 2007

Hybrids and other small cars are staging a renewed assault on America's shores as consumers come to the realization that high gas prices are here to stay.
New Toyota Priuses are jamming dealer lots as the Japanese automaker's supply catches up with demand but sales are inching up as well, along with the price of gas. Ford, meanwhile, is working on a plug-in hybrid as DaimlerChrysler looks farther down the road with the Smart ForTwo minicar and Hyundai pins its hopes on diesels.
And GM? Out of synch with just about everyone else, it's complaining about proposals to increase fuel mileage.
It's been a long time coming but hybrids and smaller cars are carving out a growing market share.
California and the Washington, D.C. are the two hottest Prius markets in the country and there are ample supplies of the little car available. Hundreds of the cars languish in Washington-area dealerships poised to take advantage of the next sudden rise in gasoline prices.

Read full story here.

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