Volkswagen had painted a bulls-eye on Toyota and wanted to beat the Japanese by 2018. At least in terms of production numbers, Volkswagen will have Toyota beat this year. Instead, VW has to contend with GM.
The long-term new energy strategy of Volkswagen and Toyota on the other hand could have been devised in a joint planning session. Volkswagen believes that near-term, the plug-in-hybrid has a great future, whereas Volkswagen’s CEO Martin Winterkorn won’t live long enough to witness the boom of the pure electric car.
The German newspaper Handelsblatt has an interview today with Winterkorn. It echoes in large parts the interview which I had ten days ago with Toyota’s Chief Engineer Satoshi Ogiso. The two sound amazingly similar: Bullish on plug-in hybrids. Cautious on EVs. (Read More…)
Tagged as Bertel Schmitt, Electric vehicles, future technology, Germany, hybrids, Japan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Recent Comments
AMC_CJ - A tad less then 23k for the Mustang (before taxes and all of that great stuff). The Fiesta I saw on the lot, but had been sold,...
CJinSD - You’re right CelticPete. Car and Driver tested a 3 cylinder 1.0 liter Ecoboost Focus. It was pathetically slower(2.7...
niky - Whereas the modern equivalent (in terms of size and specs), the Mitsubishi Mirage, gets 40… combined. Of course, having driven both, the Mirage is nowhere...
CJinSD - I’m seeing a pattern where you involve yourself in discussions to counter act correct conclusions, Power 6. I’d love to know what...
Beerboy12 - Two things. One is the Fiesta is a small car so a 2 liter would be to big. Second, Turbo’s are about pressure...
CJinSD - 6 million, 249 million, what’s the difference? I suspect you could tell if it suited you.
-Nate - I see a huge amount of incorrect W-123 info here ~ The folks who don’t like a particular vehicle feel free to bash it mercilessly , no facts required ....
CJinSD - Adjusted for 2008 EPA standards, that car would be rated 25 city/32 highway MPG. It also wouldn’t pass emissions or safety standards, and it would be as...
Marcelo de Vasconcellos - i’ll easily beat all of you, in the less is more department. Our two cars have in total 2.0L, 8 cylinders and 143 horsies.
360joules - Perhaps automobiles can run on the hot air emitted by politicians and government ministers? Limitless!