Production of the more efficient Altima hybrid variant will begin next year, according to Dan Gaudette, Nissan's senior VP of North American manufacturing.
 |
| Production of the more efficient Altima hybrid variant will begin next year. (Photo: Nissan Canada) |
Other major manufactures will be attempting to make their marks in the gasoline-electric hybrid market in the near future. Having observed the success of the Accord V6 Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid, vehicles which have more than doubled sales this year, Ford Motor Company will be coming to market with hybrid versions of its Mazda 6-based Ford Fusion and US-only Mercury Milan sedans within three years time. Domestic giant General Motors will also be shifting its plan for the production of gas-electric hybrids beyond the HEV versions of its full-size Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, but hybrid SUVs and a gasoline-electric Malibu family sedan/wagon are expected to hit showrooms before 2008. It is expected the new GM hybrids, full- not mild-hybrids, will be powered by new technology developed along with DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group will launch an HEV version of its Durango SUV as well.