Joint Hybrid Efforts Proliferate

While German automakers have long offered up advanced diesel technology as their answer to higher fuel efficiency, this has often fallen on deaf ears in the U.S. as gasoline-electric hybrids have taken off in this market. Apparently, there has been some talking going on behind the scenes. Now, Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen say they will collaborate in developing a hybrid powerplant for their vehicles, with Audi taking the lead in this joint development program. Working jointly on hybrid development is becoming a popular thing, as evidenced by an effort involving Volkswagen and Shanghai Automotive to jointly bring a hybrid vehicle to China, and another joint hybrid effort by BMW, GM, and DaimlerChrysler to develop hybrid technology for their vehicles.