Autoblog

This could be Japanese-only news, or just a case of bad translation, but Toyota Managing Officer Toshio Furutani has apparently told Japan's Nikkei Business News that Toyota wants every vehicle in the Lexus product line to offer a hybrid option, and that "in the medium to long term, Toyota was considering making the Lexus lineup hybrid-only."

That sounds like he could mean Lexus, period, all over the world. But our questions come from the fact that the same report said that the Nikkei listed only the LS and GS models as currently available with a hybrid option, neglecting to mention the RX. And the fact that for Lexus to offer only hybrids in the U.S. would be an eyebrow-arching brand decision. Not that there isn't anyone out there in the market for a hybrid IS-F, but would you really risk it? We'll wait for a follow-up from someone at Toyota, or we'll just assume Furutani's comments were meant for other ears than ours.

[Source: Reuters]

Toyota lawyers arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court today and were denied an appeal to overturn a ruling originally upheld by a federal appeals court in Washington last year. The case involved a technology patent held by a company named Paice LLC, which contended that Toyota used the same microprocessor developed by the McLean, Virginia-based company on its hybrid vehicles that inputs torque information for both the gasoline-powered engine and the electric motor. The $4.3 million dollar award against Toyota will stand, and Toyota is required to pay royalties to the firm to the tune of $25 for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h sold. Ouch. Sometimes the price of success is steep.

[Source: Detroit News]

At the same time Toyota was announcing its hybrid technology product plans for the next five years Tuesday, DaimlerChrysler representatives were in Tokyo to promote their clean diesel technology for the Japanese market. Like the U.S., Japan has never embraced diesels for passenger vehicles, while fuel prices in Europe have driven diesel cars to about a 50 percent share of the new-car market.

Hybrids have yet to take off in Europe the way they have in the U.S., because diesels achieve similar fuel economy and low CO2 emissions much more cheaply. In the U.S., EPA regulations and high-sulfur diesel fuel have kept diesels to a small part of the product mix, although the availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel starting in 2006 is encouraging DaimlerChrysler to take a run at the U.S. with its clean diesel technology.

Toyota's take on the future of the two technologies is that upcoming tighter emissions regulations, particularly in the U.S. and Japan, will require more advanced (and more expensive) diesel technology. At the same time, Toyota says it is on track to halve the cost for hybrids. With the diesel-hybrid price gap narrowing, and the fuel efficiency and ultra-low emissions potential of hybrids, Toyota sees the balance tipping in its favor before too long.

[Source: Reuters]

Toyota's Thailand arm is lobbying the government for hybrid tax incentives. The nation's biggest automaker is hoping authorities will incentivize its Dual Synergy Drive hybrids with engines larger than 3.0-liters.

For its part, the Thai government already allots a 10-percent excise tax on sub 3.0-liter hybrids, but the cars remain unpopular, in part due to huge import tariffs (reportedly in excess of 80 percent!). However, the country has recently signed a number of free trade agreements that will go a long way towards leveling the playing field as early as next year.

That said, Toyota's request appears unlikely to be granted, as it is reportedly against government policy to encourage the use of larger vehicles that demand more resources.

[Sources: ThaiDay; Lexus]

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]

Nissan, like the German automakers, initially was hesitant to develop hybrid vehicles. But seeing Toyota's and Honda’s success in the fast-growing segment, Japan’s second largest automaker tentatively took steps to the ‘green’ side by licensing parts from Toyota for the upcoming hybrid Altima which is to debut later this year.

Now it looks like Nissan is further embracing the trend. According to Bloomberg, Nissan is now developing its own battery, inverter and motor for its future vehicles. Mitsuhiko Yamashita, executive vice president of Nissan, states the new components will provide nearly double the output of today’s current hybrid technology. However, states Bloomberg, the technology will not available until 2009 at the earliest.

[Source: Bloomberg]