Zetsche sees Chrysler petrol-electric car on market in 2-3 yrs

AFX News Limited

January 7, 2004

DETROIT (AFX) - Chrysler Corp plans to commercialise its first hybrid petrol-electric vehicle by about 2006, CEO Dieter Zetsche told the Financial Times.

The hybrid is likely to be a small or medium-sized passenger car that would form part of a new line-up of such cars that the US arm of DaimlerChrysler AG expects will replace its Neon and Stratus models.

In an interview with the newspaper during the Detroit auto show, Zetsche said: "You could expect us to come to market (with a hybrid) in the time range of two to three years."

To develop its hybrid, Chrysler has said it will use technology developed by its Mercedes division.

Chrysler lags behind its US rivals in developing hybrids, which offer significantly improved fuel economy compared to conventional all-petrol vehicles. Toyota and Honda, meanwhile, both already sell hybrid vehicles in the US.

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