Countering a number of forecasts that gasoline-electric hybrid power is just a stop-gap technology en route to hydrogen power, Press insisted: "Hybrids are the technology of the future and will play a starring role in the automotive industry during the 21st century." Hybrids, he said, are "absolutely essential to the future success of this industry."

He said Toyota (TM) "is pursuing" a so-called plug-in hybrid, which has batteries that can be recharged without using the gasoline engine. But he said plug-ins could be years away, depending on advances in battery technology.