This:
Tuesday, Sept 11, 2007
GM's Forster doubts hybrid potential in Europe
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...452/1149/rss26

comes out less than a week after this:
Toyota European hybrid sales accelerate past 100,000 units
http://www.automotoportal.com/articl...t-100000-units

(Back to Forster, quote)
"We have to find out how much of this political debate on the environment ultimately will influence the buying decisions of our customers," Forster said. "I don't think anyone knows."

What is he smokin'?

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

Remember back in 2001 When the NY Times ran this story?
***
G.M. Will Oppose Efforts To Tighten Fuel Efficiency
KEITH BRADSHER
Published: June 18, 2001
General Motors is taking a stand against efforts to raise federal fuel-economy standards.
G.M.'s chief executive, Rick Wagoner, said on Friday that the company would oppose not only any move to increase fuel-economy standards for automobiles, but also any effort to tighten the definition under which vehicles are considered light trucks, which qualify for more lenient gas-mileage standards than cars.
Mr. Wagoner said in an interview with reporters that federal regulation of automotive fuel economy had been a failure and should be scrapped, not reworked. ''Suffice it to say, it hasn't worked and, in our view, it won't work,'' he said.
He argued that Americans would not want fuel-efficient vehicles as long as gasoline prices remain very low in the United States, at least by international standards.
***
Oh, to be paid so much to be such an ignoramous. Not that he wasn't right -- hybrid sales are up 50% but so are gas prices. Still, what kind of amazing foresight did it take to predict an increase in gas prices?

Yeah, I remember that one. We could easily run this thread to sevral hundred if all of the GM responses to improved FE and hybrids were posted.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

I think they got him from Germany. Just about all of the European manufacturers have issues similar statements...as they rush their own hybrids to market.

truedelta.com
Vehicle reliability, fuel economy, and price comparison information

If you insert one word in your reply, you would hit the nail on the head. DIESEL.

Europe has and will continue to have little need for gasoline hybrids, because they can get the same and/or better results from gasoline hybrids. Unless there is a major shift in the regulatory situation that suddenly collapses the diesel bias in Europe, gas hybrids will be a niche in Europe. Not a large volume player.

Carl-Peter Forster, whom I have met and can assure you is a BRILLIANT engineer, manager, and strategist, is well aware of the environment in North America that makes gasoline hybrids more attractive for passenger vehicles than diesel. He is also keenly aware of the fact that Europe is approaching or at 50% utilization of diesels in passenger cars. Cars like the Mini Cooper Diesel with stop / start are racking up impressive fuel economy numbers (72 mpg) and delivering excellent performance for less cost and less price than gasoline hybrids.

Some companies are looking at developing diesel hybrids. The issue is, and this is the basis of Dr. Forster's remarks, adding a $3 - 5,000 technology (hybrid) on top of a $1 - 2,000 technology (clean diesel) in order to save pennies at the pump might not fit the rational consumer model in any segment that could generate enough volume to pay back the development costs of the applications. Auto manufacturers are analyzing and spinning the data at a rapid rate, but so far nobody's looking to commit to this in any significant way.

Peace,

Martin

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

And yet the German companiess will be introducing their own hybrids in the next year or two. Just for the U.S. market?

truedelta.com
Vehicle reliability, fuel economy, and price comparison information

Audi Q7, Mercedes G Series, BMW X6? In all likelihood, that is probably correct. Remember, Sport Utes are not big (pun intended) in Europe. Europe has a much greater presence of station wagons and 5 door combis and sedans. Notice the absence of those body types in most European automakers' hybrid portfolios. The low and mid markets are heavily populated with diesels. The potential game-changer would be if diesels are not able to crack the Euro V emissions requirements. Euro V diesel requirements are very stringent, though not as stringent as US BIN 5.

When you get to the potential for Mercedes higher end sedans (I know, redundant ) there is potential that they will have an impact in Europe as an enhanced performance variant. Also notice that Europe is really starting to embrace bio-fuels. Both bio-diesel and E85. Sweden in particular is driving a significant amount of government support around FlexFuel usage.

Peace,

Martin

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

Now, this one you can file under the heading of "hedging our bets"

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=92583&lk=sd02

It should not be a big secret that Opel (Europe) and Saturn (US) share products. Should there ever be a Saturn Astra 2-Mode, it does not necessarily mean that there will definitely be an Opel 2-Mode. But it also means it could happen pretty quickly if there appears to be a market for it.


GERMANY: Opel plans hybrid version of next Astra
26 September 2007 | Source: just-auto.com editorial team

Opel is planning a hybrid version of the next generation Astra.

According to an exclusive Automobilwoche report, the General Motors Europe unit is working on a hybrid variant of the next Delta platform that will also support a future Saab entry model.

"Thirtenn different models are based on this architecture," a GM development engineer told the German auto trade weekly. "A hybrid version is especially important for the US market where the Astra has recently gone on sale under the Saturn label."

The type under development is a classic two-mode hybrid as used currently by Toyota (which licenses the technology to other automakers including Nissan). According to GM vice president, Bob Lutz, this technology is inherently more efficient than the E-Flex-System. E-Flex is the name GM will give to plug-in electric cars that GM is hoping to market from 2010. However the platform will be developed to accommodate E-Flex as well, the engineer reportedly said.

Opel showed a diesel hybrid concept of the Astra at the Detroit motor show in 2005.


Peace,

Martin

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues