Post by Aurora40 on Sept 21, 2005 11:39:22 GMT -6
Ford: Japanese Hogging Hybrid Parts
Ford's ready to offer more hybrid vehicles to the American public, but the company's executives are pointing the finger at Japanese carmakers and suppliers for the holdup. Together, Ford execs say, they're engaging in "predatory" tactics that are limiting the hybrid components Ford can purchase. Ford Chief Operating Officer Jim Padilla told the Reuters Summit in Detroit that it's a supply issue relating to several technologies that Ford licenses from Toyota and parts that it purchases from Sanyo Electric Co. Padilla added that Ford is "working with multiple suppliers and alternatives" to find another way to build more hybrids, but that prospect is even more expensive than using existing suppliers. Ford sells the Escape Hybrid and plans gas-electric versions of the Fusion sedan and Mariner SUV. Toyota, meanwhile, says it hopes to sell 250,000 hybrids worldwide this year, Reuters adds.
Ford's ready to offer more hybrid vehicles to the American public, but the company's executives are pointing the finger at Japanese carmakers and suppliers for the holdup. Together, Ford execs say, they're engaging in "predatory" tactics that are limiting the hybrid components Ford can purchase. Ford Chief Operating Officer Jim Padilla told the Reuters Summit in Detroit that it's a supply issue relating to several technologies that Ford licenses from Toyota and parts that it purchases from Sanyo Electric Co. Padilla added that Ford is "working with multiple suppliers and alternatives" to find another way to build more hybrids, but that prospect is even more expensive than using existing suppliers. Ford sells the Escape Hybrid and plans gas-electric versions of the Fusion sedan and Mariner SUV. Toyota, meanwhile, says it hopes to sell 250,000 hybrids worldwide this year, Reuters adds.
From: www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?DID=RSS&n=173&sid=173&article=9286
