Stop!

Do auto makers have to become battery makers?

Can automakers afford lithium?
Today, lithium is already available on the high end of the luxury hybrid market. Soon, however, lithium battery packs will be available in many other hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.
Still, can automakers derive a profit from lithium-powered vehicles?
Certainly on the high end, automakers are very capable of deriving profits from battery-powered [...]

Chrysler Says It Turned a profit in Q2

Some people may be on the lookout for flying pigs today.  Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the company turned a profit in the second quarter. Automotive News reports, "Chrysler Group posted its second straight operating profit as the automaker continues to recover from its 2009 bankruptcy. The announcement was made today by CEO Sergio Marchionne in a call with analysts. He didn't say how much Chrysler earned. Specific numbers will …

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

Honda to Introduce Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle by 2012

Honda has announced that it plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) to the U.S. market by 2012. “Japan’s No.2 automaker was one of the world's only car makers to offer gasoline-electric cars during the past decade but has begun looking like a laggard without a ‘strong’ hybrid or concrete plans to mass-produce pure electric cars,” writes Reuters. The introduction of two new fuel-efficient models will allow …

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

Sonata: Hybrid sedan slayer

Let the hybrid price wars begin
Sedans aren’t the biggest sellers when it comes to hybrid cars. However, if hybrids are to ever achieve more than 3 percent market penetration, then sales of hybrid sedans will probably have to increase significantly.
Fortunately, with the Hyundai Sonata hybrid poised to hit the market as the smoothest, cheapest and [...]

Report: Honda to roll out plug-in hybrid car in 2013

Automaker working on hybrid that can be recharged at home and an all-electric vehicle, both ready in about three years, Nikkei paper reports.

Originally posted at Green Tech

China primed to reshape the US auto market

The most important auto market in the world
For the first 6 months of this year, more cars were sold in China than in America, yet the potential of the Chinese market has barely been tapped. Thus, automakers are quickly pouring resources into China in a race that won’t just affect China, but almost certainly the [...]

Former Toyota, Chrysler Exec Press Consulting to Renault-Nissan

Jim Press, former Toyota and Chrysler executive, is now working for Renault-Nissan, the   automaker confirmed.

A company spokesman confirmed Press, who once was Toyota's top American executive and subsequently Chrysler vice chairman, has been working as a consultant to the automaker's global sales and marketing group for four months. He has been visiting dealers in the United States, Europe and Japan, the automaker said.

Nissan’s Leaf Electric Vehicles Sold Out

 
Nissan’s Leaf EV sells out for 2010 with orders exceeding the company’s expectations. LEAF will go on sale in Ireland in February 2011 at an all in retail price of €29,995 – – making electric vehicles now a real option for the Irish family car buyer.
There will be just one version of Nissan LEAF available [...]