BMW and France's PSA Peugeot Citroën issued a press release this week stating that the two companies, the longtime partners in engine development, would begin developing hybrid technologies together. Bloggers jumped to the conclusion that the move is a sign of strength and shows a renewed commitment about electric drive vehicles. They immediately started guessing about which models would get hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrains. The announcement is more accurately interpreted as a sign of weakness—a fearful response to falling way behind in the hybrid space.
Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both Nissan and French carmaker Renault, gave the keynote address to kick off the show’s media days. After nodding to the severe financial pressures facing all carmakers in the current market slowdown, he reiterated Nissan’s plans to offer an electric vehicle in the US and Japan in 2010 for commercial customers and large fleets, with showroom sales to consumers in 2012. Ghosn envisions as many as seven million pure electric vehicles being sold around the world by 2020.
U.S. auto journalists got their first “ride and drive” of the efficient and quirky Mini Cooper Clubman at a press launch in Monterey, California on Tuesday.
