Carmakers

June Hybrid Sales Up From a Year Ago

June hybrid sales suggest that hybrids are recovering more quickly than the overall car market—just as they defied the economic downturn several months after overall car sales started to decline in 2008. June marks the sixth consecutive month of higher hybrid sales.

Fisker Tries To Create Distance from Tesla

It’s not surprising that Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors—two California-based makers of high-end electric-drive sports cars—are viewed as similar companies. Fisker makes an $87,000 plug-in hybrid and Tesla produces a $109,000 all-electric roadster. But Henrik Fisker, founder of the Southern California-based company that bears his name, was in Northern California where Tesla is based, to explain how and why the two companies are different.

2015 is New Magic Date for Fuel Cell Vehicles

Wishing upon a star or throwing a coin in a well might make dreams come true, but when it comes to fuel cell vehicles, auto industry executives are hoping that chanting in unison will turn hopes into reality. The mantra from execs: “Fuel cell cars for sale by 2015.”

First Drive/Mileage Loop: 2009 Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube, the original little mass-market boxy car, has been running around Japan for 10 years. While it has stubbornly stayed put on its home soil, competitors with a similar “hip to be square” design philosophy—like the Scion xB, Honda Element, and Kia Soul—have carved out a sizeable US market. The Cube, now in its third generation, has finally reached American shores.

Mulally Prioritizes Ford’s High-MPG Technologies

Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford, pledged yesterday to form an alliance with the Edison Electric Institute to work on plug-in cars. Speaking at EEI’s annual convention in San Francisco on Thursday, Mulallly outlined his company’s path toward high fuel-efficiency, which included—but by no means was limited to—electric vehicle technology.

$8 Billion in Loans Goes to Ford, Nissan & Tesla

Department of Energy Secretary Chu announced the first round of $8 billion in low-cost loans from its $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The loans are going to Ford, Nissan and Tesla. This funding was set aside not by President Obama as a bailout to keep auto companies afloat—but in September 2008 by former President Bush in order to retool plants to build more advanced technology vehicles.

BMW Hybrid Spotted in the Wild

There are numerous reports coming out about a BMW 7-Series hybrid having been spotted on German roadways with no camouflage to hide itself. The car is being labeled as the 755ih, but this is purely an Internet-generated model name… at least for now.

Mystery Vehicle from the Bayou

Venture capitalists from Silicon Valley and a reformed billionaire oil man have joined forces, hired a world-renowned car designer, acquired an old automotive lamp plant in Louisiana, and gathered a generous government incentives, all the while vowing to “change the automotive business in the United States.”

Toyota Prepares for Prius Gold Rush

As Toyota ramps up Japanese production on the Prius and projects a seven-month wait for new orders, it is now anticipating a similar reaction to the U.S. release of the model and searching for local capacity to fill orders in the model’s largest market.

Mini-E Charging Surprise

The plan to lease the Mini E—an all-electric version of the Mini Cooper—has hit a snag. The market test of about 500 Mini E cars in New York, New Jersey and California was to include a special 220-volt charging unit so leasees could recharge their cars in 3.5 hours. But the installation of the charging box has to be approved by each local municipality.

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