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Nissan/Renault unconvinced about future for hybrids

Sat 24 September 2005 View all news

A leading motor industry executive has expressed doubts about the prospects for growth in demand for hybrid petrol-electric vehicles, describing them as a "terrible business proposition".

The remarks by Carlos Ghosn, joint chief executive of Nissan and Renault, come as many manufacturers are moving rapidly to bring more fuel efficient hybrid models to the market.

Mr Ghosn said that reports of a recent rise in demand for hybrids - following fuel price increases - are anecdotal and that he is yet to be convinced that consumers want petrol-electric hybrids rather than fuel efficient diesel cars, 'flex-fuel' cars that can run on biofuels, or fuel cell vehicles.

Mr Ghosn's remarks are at odds with recent developments in the car market. In the past month GM has teamed up with Germany's Daimler Chrysler and BMW, while VW and Porsche have also joined forces to develop more hybrid models. (See September newsletter story link below)

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Nissan/Renault unconvinced about future for hybrids

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