Nissan Altima Hybrid? Only if you live in one of eight states
Nissan's first hybrid, the forthcoming 2007 Altima HEV will only be sold in eight states. To put a geographical point on it, the Japanese automaker will sell the eco-friendly sedan in the Northeast and California: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey will join the Golden State. All of the states in question have adopted versions of the latter's zero-emissions vehicle program, which in effect will force manufacturers to sell hybrids.
Nissan admits it has the ability to churn out 50,000 hybrids-- more than it expects to divvy up between the eight markets, so it can technically build for other states if demand warrants it.
What do you think, is Carlos 'Hybrids Don't Make Sense' Ghosn missing an opportunity, or just making a good business decision? Sound off in 'comments.'
[Sources: Bloomberg News; Nissan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
klaatu 12:43PM (4/21/2006)
Nissan are screw-ups and couldn't manage to get a jar of mayonnaise open. What morons.
Just like the mid-late 1960's when Datsun (Nissan) had a chance to really do well and expand their US dealer network with Studebaker and failed to do so, allowing the stronger Toyota to pass them as top selling Japanese maker in the US, once again short-sightedness and stupidity are going to cost Nissan - big time.
By the way I just saw a news item that gasoline is $4.05 in Los Angeles right now, and $3.09 in New York and Pennsylvania right now.
Hybrids are the future for the time being, Nissan is not doing a proper job of this and Ghosn is not fully behind hybrids.
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Keith 12:59PM (4/21/2006)
I would rather see a move to small diesels a la Europe.
Diesels are a natural for ethanol and can easily match the economy of hybrids for less cost.
Ethanol would make the U.S less dependant on imported oil and there would be less fluctuations in price.
The ciy of Stockholm, Sweden, runs all their transit bus fleet on ethanol and are convinced it is the best solution to cut greenhouse gases.
Also very high compression ohv engines work well with ethanol which is why Indy race cars use alcohol for fuel. -Keith
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Mike 12:59PM (4/21/2006)
Good business decision. Those 8 states passed laws encouraging Hybrid sales and, reasonably, contain consumers more willing (motivated) to purchase these products.
Down in Texas? Probably not as likely.
So, see where demand lies, and then make the cars accordingly. That's likely why he says he's got the ability to manufacture 50,000 but I wouldnt commit the labor dollars without knowing if the market will pay.
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James Fabin 1:01PM (4/21/2006)
I'm not a big fan of the Hybird cars - not that I'm against Hybrids, I just like more get-up and go in my cars. But, I do applaud Nissan for making the investment to offer a Hybrid Altima for those who are fans of the Hybrid vehicles.
Limiting the production to the 8 states that have the highest demand for Hybrids will help Nissan get the cars onto the roads and not have them sitting on dealer lots - I'm confident that if the Hybrid trend continues, and the Altima does well (like the Prius), Nissan will look at increasing production to make the vehicle more available across the country.
James
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Cameron 1:03PM (4/21/2006)
I agree with Nissan's reluctance to enter the hybrid market. Who wants to deal with hundreds of pounds of expensive batteries years down the road? The mileage gain just isn't worth it yet. Hybrids aren't the answer.. alternative fuels are. Also, just make gas more expensive in America and see how much less the emissions are. The worst 10% of vehicles produce 50% of the pollutants. Make gas cost more and suddenly all the rednecks still driving 1970s American crap guzzling 9 miles per gallon will be off the road. SUVs will diminish.
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Dave 1:16PM (4/21/2006)
I think Ghosen is right about this one. Hybrids are an interim solution, so if monetary resources are limited than focus on the end game, which is alternative fuel.
Still, it is rather funny to see the Nissan PR minions preach the brilliance of this vehicle while Ghosen continues to tell the media that hybrids are lame and they're just doing it because they have to.
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keithp 1:20PM (4/21/2006)
I don't know what your news source is, but I live in the LA area and all the gas stations I passed on the way to work this morning were in the low $3 range for premium.
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barberoux 1:20PM (4/21/2006)
Wow there cameron Taking money for poor needy urban achivers. YOU ARE SCUM! I can't believe anyone would spew this kind of garbage. You need to check yourself before your mouth writes a check your body can't handle.
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s 1:46PM (4/21/2006)
Gas in Los Angeles is not 4.07 it's 3.07 a gallon
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Gale 1:47PM (4/21/2006)
It make business sense. Nissan is profitable for a reason. These cars won't make money, and they're doing just what they have to do and not pissing away profit from other sales sources. Plus, they're offering three pretty good mileage vehicles: Versa, Sentra and 2.5 Altima CVT for the rest of the market.
Plus, my neighbor will vacation in New England next summer & buy one while he's in Mass anyway. I'm waiting for the Cube.
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Snakey 1:47PM (4/21/2006)
So people who comment here are either a) retarded (as in the case of Tim and barberoux) or trolls?
Hybrids aren't the answer, in fact since most of america spends their driving time on the freeway, the fuel efficiency of hybrids is less than a good common rail diesel injection engine. Hybrids do terrible at freeway speeds (IE, 65-80 MPH) while diesels only do moderatly worse than their city MPG and a whole lot better than Hybrids.
Not to mention biodiesel with minimal conversions. Hybrids in their current form cost more energy to produce because of the added engineering, manufacturing and technology (all of which produces emmisions 3rd party to the car's engine) that it will actually produce more CO2 in the end anyway.
When NiMH batteries make their way into Hybrids and we can eek 100 MPG city, 65 MPG Freeway, they I'm on board.
Until then, sell them where people buy them; california and the eastern seaboard.
-Snakey out
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Snakey 1:57PM (4/21/2006)
Looks like I have to go with choice a from my last post after a follow-up like that...sheesh.
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Corey W. 2:11PM (4/21/2006)
"...zero-emissions vehicle program, which in effect will force manufacturers to sell hybrids."
I'm not familiar with this, what are the details to this program? In those states are manufactures required to produce hybrid vehicles.
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Dave 2:31PM (4/21/2006)
They missed the target by not including Virginia. I have read that Virginia is second in overall hybrid ownership behind CA, in large part due to the hybrid inclusions for HOV...and the horrible traffic around here.
But, really, who cares? The Altima is already tired looking and isn't exactly going to beat out Civics, Camrys, and the successful Prius.
Ghosn is an elfish clown who has a mediocre car company producing mostly boring cars. They put an awesome engine in a nasty interior the first time around, then built an ugly Maxima, and a ridiculous minivan. I am sure that Nissan and Infiniti are doing well enough, but they will always be also-rans.
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M1EK 3:32PM (4/21/2006)
Snakey, you're an idiot. The Prius gets better highway mileage than any of VW's US diesel offerings, despite being much bigger.
That goes double for the rest of the trolls here. Diesel can't beat hybrid in the real-world; the only way you can get close is to compare a diesel compact to a hybrid midsize.
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James 3:50PM (4/21/2006)
Mercedes Benz will soon sell the Bluetec diesel option on the E-Klasse...for the WHOLE 50 STATES.
With this in mind(VW is the current oilburner sales champ in the US market, albeit minus the 8 states). I'd bet other brands will soon follow Mercedes Benz'es lead(Subaru and Honda is already talking diesel..). ULSD will soon rollout this year, thus new MBZ engine option.
Diesel is the future.
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Charles S 4:32PM (4/21/2006)
Well, the Hybrid-Haters are at it again... so what else is new...
Here's some good/BAD news for diesel-lovers:
"J.D. Power & Associates says global demand for diesel light vehicles is expected to nearly double over the next 10 years" - Tire Review
US is expected to go from 3.2% to 10% in diesel share by middle of next decade.
The good news is that all the diesel-lovers will get their wish; plenty of people are expected to buy into the diesel hype. The bad news? Unless the production of diesel is going to increase at the same rate as the demand, good luck in saving any money! BTW, while diesel gets a little better MPG, refineries get less diesel per barrel of oil than gasoline, so you do the math.
Despite all the "expected" savings of a diesel design, right now, the primium price of a diesel is just about as high as hybrids, get less performance, less MPG, and cost more per gallon of fuel.
Oh, don't forget, the premium diesel vehicle like Mercedes E-Class diesel will cost you $50K, and people complain about a $25K hybrid?
Hate hybrids? I have no problem if you buy yourself a regular compact car. Get nit-picky on a hybrid, but then turn around and say how wonder a diesel version is gonna save the day? What a bunch of biased BS.
Diesel is more reliable and last longer than hybrids? Do a search on "diesel recall" and, gee, what ya know, diesel engines are not immune to problems!
Diesel got more "power" than a hybrid? Err. Ok. I think every VW TDI with same size or less than a Prius gets WORSE 0-to-60 times than a Prius. Hey, I think diesels drives fine on the road, but don't go saying that hybrids sucks when diesel passenger cars can't do it any better.
I fully support biodiesel, and if folks want to go cold-turkey on petroleum and go 100% biodiesel, GREAT! More power to you! I don't know how many people can do that, but I can guess it's a relatively small number. I'd do it if I can get biodiesel within a reasonable distance. I think the nearest one to me is over 100 miles away, and how many people can even claim that fact?
Get real, folks.
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Koba 4:39PM (4/21/2006)
Ghosn is just angry that he has no control over the market. Hybrids, while not the solution that they are touted as, are a step in the right direction, and can lead to very impressive gains in the next 20 years.
Ghosn knows that they sell because of the hype, and doesn't want to have to compete on another company's terms. Nissan is strong today because it offers a solid, interesting alternative to Toyota and Honda. It must be embarassing to have to admit that instead of developing hybrids to compete in a super profittable market, Nissan wasted billions developing one of the worst (fuel economy wise) full size truck/SUV combos on the market today. This is all a serious lack of foresight on Ghosn's/Nissan's part, and I hope that it isn't a sign of things to come.
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Koba 4:42PM (4/21/2006)
And BTW, the solution to the fuel crisis will NOT come from auto manufacturers. What this country needs is a reliable, well developed public transit system. If gas is ten dollars a gallon, car makers only want to cut fuel consumption, not eliminate it.
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Grant Guthrie 5:02PM (4/21/2006)
The $4.05 a gallon was for full-service premium gasoline in beverly hills, not really a representative sample.
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