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Demand Falters for Hybrid Powertrains in Big Vehicles
Carmakers are dropping hybrid options in the U.S. for some of their largest vehicles because of poor demand, USA Today reports.
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Carmakers are dropping hybrid options in the U.S. for some of their largest vehicles because of poor demand, USA Today reports.
The newspaper notes that General Motors Co. has phased out hybrid powertrain options for its big Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs.
Similarly, Mercedes-Benz has dropped a hybrid version of its big S-Class sedan because of weak demand. And Lexus says its optional hybrid powertrain accounted for only about 1% of sales of its big LS sedan last month.
The idea of hybridizing the powertrain of a large vehicle is appealing because such systems can boost fuel economy 30% or more compared with a standard gasoline-powered version. It's also easier to package a plug-in hybrid's larger battery in a big vehicle. But one analyst tells USA Today the $3,000 premium for hybrid systems deters luxury-vehicle buyers by making a very expensive vehicle even costlier.
Still, the newspaper says, carmakers aren't giving up. It points out that Mercedes is readying a plug-in hybrid system for its redesigned S-Class luxury car. And Nissan's Infiniti brand says about 10% of buyers of its big QX60 crossover are opting for a hybrid system.
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