Nissans CEO Carlos Ghosn warned that sales would be slow in the first half of 2006, but would pick up in the second half. In the mean time, he's still very skeptical about the future of hybrid cars.
It's really not surprising that Ghosn isn't excited about hybrid cars, given Nissan doesn't have a hybrid car in its lineup, yet. They will soon, but even then only eight states will carry the Nissan Altima hybrid. Also, it will be running off of Toyotas technology, not their own. Nissan is working on their own hybrid technology in the meantime.
TODAYonline
Nissan Motor Co chief executive Carlos Ghosn warned shareholders to brace for a tough spell in the months ahead but predicted a pick up in sales in late 2006.
Ghosn reiterated his scepticism about new fuel-efficient hybrid cars being championed by Toyota Motor Corp, noting that in Japan the gas-electric vehicles represented less than one percent of the total market.
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Only 1% of the market in the US and Japan is hybrid, but both of those markets are growing at a phenomenal rate. Which is why Nissan can no longer afford to avoid it.
But while Europe recently passed the 50,000 mark for hybrid cars, that does not mean they are warming up to the technology. Since diesel (less stringent laws on exhaust than in the US) and small cars are more prominent there, the gas savings are less likely to lure main stream buyers.
What you're seeing in Europe is environmentalists and other buyers who wish to get in on the other incentives (such as waivers on the congestion tax in London).
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