Manufacturers Hybrid Car Committment

Toyota Motor Company
Toyota, the leading manufacturer of hybrid cars, currently has five hybrid offerings available; the Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid car, the Highlander Hybrid introduced to the US Market in June 2005 and the Lexus 2006 RX 400h introduced in April 2005. The Lexus GS 450h hybrid luxury sedan and Toyota's Camry hybrid were both introduced in the spring of 2006. 

Toyota currently has approximately 70% of the US Hybrid Vehicle Market. Worldwide, Toyota has sold more than 613,000 hybrid vehicles, and has set sales targets of 1,000,000 hybrids annually by the early 2010’s. The US market will account for 60% of these targeted sales.

Honda
Three models currently represent Honda’s hybrid program, the Insight, the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the US, the Civic Hybrid, the first mass-produced hybrid car introduced in December 2001 and the Accord Hybrid.

Honda currently has approximately 20% of the US Hybrid Vehicle Market. In 2005 Honda hybrid vehicles rose to a new record of 43,356 vehicles for the year. Honda recently announced the development of a new dedicated hybrid vehicle suitable for family use in major automobile markets in the world. With this new dedicated hybrid vehicle Honda will achieve further advancement of fuel-efficient technologies and a major cost reduction, which will enable Honda to offer this vehicle in 2009 in the U.S. and Canada at a price level lower than the Civic Hybrid.

Honda first introduced U.S. consumers to hybrid technology with the Insight in December 1999.  It launched its second hybrid vehicle, the Civic Hybrid, in March 2002, followed by the first-ever V6-powered hybrid, the Accord Hybrid, in December 2004. Civic Hybrid becomes the first- ever hybrid vehicle to earn certification as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero- Emissions.

Ford
The third largest manufacture of hybrid vehicles currently has two hybrid offerings, the Ford Escape Hybrid, named the North American Truck of the Year for 2005 and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which began taking orders late in 2005.

Ford's hybrid sales are up 55 percent for the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2005, according to George Pipas, manager, Sales Analysis and Reporting. In the past two months, combined sales of the Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid sales were double the same period last year.

By 2008, Ford will have five hybrids on the road, including the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Mazda Tribute Hybrids.

Ford currently produces approximately 24,000 hybrids annually. By 2010, Ford plans to increase its global hybrid production to approximately 250,000 hybrid units annually.

General Motors Hybrid Rollout Strategy

Under the current strategy GM will launch a total of 12 hybrid models before the end of the decade.  

Hyundai
Hyundai revealed its Accent Hybrid, a mild-hybrid version of the Accent Sedan at the third China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, late 2005. The Accent Hybrid will go on sale as a 2007 model in Korea this year, with advanced sales expected by the end of 2006 in the US.

In addition to the Accent Hybrid, Hyundai said earlier this year that it would advance sales of the Kia Rio hybrid late in 2006.The company also announced plans to develop and manufacture a Sonata hybrid by the latter half of 2007.

Nissan
Nissan launched its first hybrid model, the Altima Hybrid in the US early in 2007. Nissan Altima Hybrid is only available in states using the Californian emissions standard.
 

Daimlier-Chyrsler
Daimlier-Chrysler is expected to have two hybrid models in the near future; The Dodge Ram HEV, which would be the first diesel-electric on the market and the hybrid version of the Dodge Durango, which is due to start production in 2007

Audi
Audi’s Q7 hybrid is expected to be on US roads by 2008.

Porsche
A Porsche hybrid offering is expected by 2010

Global Hybrid Cooperation