Much to GM Car Czar Bob Lutz' chagrin, hybrids are a bit more than the flash in the pan he predicted . A study from RCNOS titled "Global Hybrid Car Market Forecast to 2010" (reported by Research and Markets) predicts global hybrid sales will experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12 percent in the next six to seven years. They also prognosticate that the hybrid battery market will grow by 10.4 percent between 2010 and 2015. From 2008 – 2012, the hybrid component market will increase at a CAGR of 17.4 percent. The U.S. is the top market for gas – electric vehicles. RCNS says American hybrid sales should crest the 1m mark by 2012. At the moment, there are only a few major (i.e. remotely credible) players in the hybrid game. But with the Koreans and the Chinese busily developing their own hybrids, the playing field could become crowded in a hurry. And since competition drives prices down, the consumer will be the overall winner. Not to mention air quality and CO2 emissions.
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Has any of Lutz’s brilliant premonitions (marked by his colored commentary) properly predicted anything in the last 5 years?
He’s in Old Coot status with Ted Stevens – old angry and idiotic (oh…and corrupt too).
Reminds me of the famous DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN newspaper headline.
Be kind to Lutz he is the guy that had the brilliant idea to bring in the Pontiac G8. So he missed the minor hybrid thing completely at least he was right on masses of Americans wanting a huge, gas hungrey, phoney scooped, barge. If he was wrong that would mean it makes better sense to fight back against the Prius then to go chasing the few dozen Charger sales out there. You have to pick your battles. Hard to believe GM never seems to aim in the right direction at the right time.
So a 20 MPG Tahoe hybrid gets special treatment while a 30 mpg Focus doesn’t. What’s wrong with this picture?
Precicely. What an absolute crock. If that sign pic is real (and I asume it is), I don’t think I want to shop at IKEA any more. Ever.
ChrisHaak
Frank, your link to Lutz’s hybrid prediction takes us to an edit post function in WordPress.
OOPS! Sorry about that. I copied the wrong link. It’s fixed now.
drifter,
The moderators should flag such posts as yours. A coffe cup with a red circle around and a red line through it should do. Luckily, I had a spare keyboard to hand and more coffee in the vacuum bottle.
selfone,
There’s really not much danger of a Tahoe hybrid taking that parking spot. First, GM would have to sell a few. That seems… unlikely…
There are probably not many Tahoe Hybrid owners that shop at IKEA?
Didn’t Carlos Ghosn make a similar prediction as Bob Lutz’s?
geozinger
You beat me to it.
Why do people beat up on Bob Lutz when Carlos Ghosn said EXACTLY the same thing?
Hybrid “Fad” Set to Hit 1m Global Sales by 2010
So only 13 years into the Hybrid roll-out, they’ll achieve a whopping 1.5% market share?
That is pretty lame. Was that the point you intended to make? Do you realize how many cars are sold worldwide each year?
geozinger – Goshn wasn’t as silly about the way he presented hybrids… but he is not a supporter of the technology.
He, like many others, believe that alternative fuels and drivetrain configurations (that is, engines not based on a conventional petrol powerplant) are the way to go. Of course, the problem with non-conventional powertrains is that they do not achieve acceptance by consumers.
Personally, I feel diversity in thinking is important. Being that there is never a 100% correct answer, I believe it’s important that people try alternative solutions even in the face of topical criticism.
There’s really not much danger of a Tahoe hybrid taking that parking spot. First, GM would have to sell a few. That seems… unlikely…
True. Though I was speaking more of being offended in general that a *store* is being political/playing favorites (and giving benefits) based on what I choose to drive. Kind of reminds me of going to a concert and the artist starts preaching his or her political views [shut up and sing].