GM > Toyota: "No Thanks On Hybrid Tech"

[Perian]

Link: http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=53266
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Automotive News / May 30, 2005

Another hot rumor bites the dust:

General Motors won't rely on Toyota technology for its hybrid programs, a top GM r&d exec says.

"Nobody knows whether hybrid-vehicle demand will remain at 3 percent of new-car demand or go up to 15 percent," Larry Burns, GM's vice president for r&d, told a Japanese reporter last week. "If the market goes up, we have to develop hybrid technology by ourselves."

Rumors have swirled in the Japanese press that GM was near a deal with Toyota Motor Corp. on hybrid technology. The swirl became a frenzy after GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Toyota President Fujio Cho dined privately in Japan two weeks ago.

But Burns - who ought to know, since he heads alternative powertrain research at GM - stuck a fork in those rumors last week in a Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper interview.

[jro4566]

Another sign that GM is waiting too long...

[SobeSVT]

Not good. Hybrid vehicle demand soars

[Globalist]

"Nobody knows whether hybrid-vehicle demand will remain at 3 percent of new-car demand or go up to 15 percent," Larry Burns, GM's vice president for r&d, told a Japanese reporter last week. "If the market goes up, we have to develop hybrid technology by ourselves."

The longer this guy is in charge of GM's R&D and Strategy, the more I worry for GM's future.

[atomicshark]

Let me get this straight...When demand goes up to 15% then GM will develop Hybrid powertrains?

Is he kidding??? Already Honda and Toyota have a huge head start with their hybrids. Yes they are not profitable and they are expensive, but this is where the market will go when costs come down further and performance improves. Toyota and Honda are actively working on this and it is hard work.

How does GM think it will just jump right in and be competitive 5 or 10 years from now when the Japanese would have already been at it for 2 decades?! Hybrid technology is no simple feat...GM should be working on this full time right now, especially since they want to go at it alone. GM can not afford to yield this market to Toyota.

[plane]

I think that overall, there's more to the story than what is being printed here or in the general press. GM already has the hybrid agreement with DCX. Isn't some of GM's hybrid bus technology supposed to trickle down to passenger car hybrids? And didn't GM recently show off a diesel hybrid that had weight/size characteristics similar to existing engine/tranny combinations?

I don't think the news is all that bad. GM needs to follow through now. Not in 2007, but now.

[rueben44]

I really hope GM has something up their sleeve because him saying that they will wait till the demand goes up sounds stupid and the reason Toyota is gaining in sales. People form perceptions about such things and will see Toyota as an Automotive leader and GM as a follower that is second best.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by atomicshark

Let me get this straight...When demand goes up to 15% then GM will develop Hybrid powertrains?

Is he kidding??? Already Honda and Toyota have a huge head start with their hybrids. Yes they are not profitable and they are expensive, but this is where the market will go when costs come down further and performance improves. Toyota and Honda are actively working on this and it is hard work.

How does GM think it will just jump right in and be competitive 5 or 10 years from now when the Japanese would have already been at it for 2 decades?! Hybrid technology is no simple feat...GM should be working on this full time right now, especially since they want to go at it alone. GM can not afford to yield this market to Toyota.

Funny how you failed to mention Ford. Escape Hybrid is a huge hit, Mariner Hybbrid is following in less than a month. Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Fusion and Milan Hybrids are coming nest year. Well . . .

GM can't afford to yield this market to Toyota...? They already did.

[surferdude00711]

I don't get it; does GM expect a massive DOD intoduction on all of its engines or something?

[CadillacAurora442]

Originally Posted by Perian

Link: http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=53266
----------------------------------------------------------
Automotive News / May 30, 2005

Another hot rumor bites the dust:

General Motors won't rely on Toyota technology for its hybrid programs, a top GM r&d exec says.

"Nobody knows whether hybrid-vehicle demand will remain at 3 percent of new-car demand or go up to 15 percent," Larry Burns, GM's vice president for r&d, told a Japanese reporter last week. "If the market goes up, we have to develop hybrid technology by ourselves."

Rumors have swirled in the Japanese press that GM was near a deal with Toyota Motor Corp. on hybrid technology. The swirl became a frenzy after GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Toyota President Fujio Cho dined privately in Japan two weeks ago.

But Burns - who ought to know, since he heads alternative powertrain research at GM - stuck a fork in those rumors last week in a Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper interview.

You heard it first right here. The rumor was a propaganda ploy. Hybrids are nontechnology, thery were outdated before they hit the street. GM has the world's most advanced fuel cell technolgoy.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by CadillacAurora442

GM has the world's most advanced fuel cell technolgoy.

... in what car that I can buy in my local GM dealer?

[Codester66]

i guess in the grand scheme of things, hybrid tech is only a stepping stone until we sufficiently develope a replacement to gas period, so id almost rather GM spent their money elsewhere. somewhere, somehow there has got to be a plentiful, renewable or independant energy source, and i think its time we get smart about our energy habits and aggressively pursue every possible alternative, and focus more on long term gains rather then short term profits and outlooks. the oil industry would rather us invest in hybrid technology then find something else altogether, i know im looking wayy on down the road, but were capable of anything we put our minds too, lets aim for the best, barnone

[GmNation]

Originally Posted by CadillacAurora442

GM has the world's most advanced fuel cell technolgoy.

I belive BMW has a more advanced fuel cell car. Or maybe it's mearly on-par.

[GMfan2381]

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

Another sign that GM is waiting too long...

Really I mean what are they waiting for a GD invitation! A hybrid is more than a powertrain option, its a marketing device! You would think that GM could see this... A hybrid anything means you can charge more for it, advertize the #@$@ out of it, and hide your less than efficient models behind it. I know GM is buddying up with DCX on hybrid equipment, but dont say "ugh, yeah, were really not to sure on how that market is going to pan out..." Then wait untill it ballons, then try to get in late only to realize that everyones moving on to the next thing. You can make the market for this! Just make them now!

[Cortazzo]

Right now hybrids are a green smoke screen for toyota as they ramp up production on more thirsty pickups and suvs. If the general could put some available technologies on all of their cars and trucks and gain 2-4 mpg overall, i think it would be a huge coup with far greater environmental benefit to 100k hybrids a year. What if 1 million GM pickups a year got 20mpg+, the impact would be huge.