Bucking Trend, More Gas Guzzling Hybrids U.S. says

When will they ever learn? The big three auto makers still don’t get it, which unfortunately will result in more lost jobs and car sale profits going overseas to foreign competitors. Instead of anticipating the trend to more fuel efficient cars, they embraced the by gone era of gas guzzling four wheel behemoths.

According to the New York Times, with jaw dropping recklessness and indifference to the American worker and consumer, U.S. car makers have decided to dig their hole much deeper offering hybrid versions of their biggest vehicles. Again, their BIG cars and trucks:

“Now Detroit is hoping to cast its biggest sport utility vehicles (General Motors and Chrysler) in a new light: green. (And) are betting that their 5,500-pound, eight-seat S.U.V.’s — long the scourge of environmentalists — can be reformed as hybrid models, albeit ones getting 20 miles to the gallon (that’s from 14 mpg).”

It gets worse:

"G.M. plans to follow (that) with hybrid versions of the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Chrysler is planning hybrids of its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen sport utilities and the Dodge Ram pickup. At Chrysler, sales of big S.U.V.’s have plunged 22 percent this year. But a spokesman…said adding hybrids, which will be available this fall, reflected the company’s commitment to the full-size sport utility market."

This inexcusable behavior by GM and Chrysler shines a light on why this country is losing ground around the world shifting to the new emerging economic opportunities. America’s competitors are not so foolish.

“While G.M. and Chrysler are converting their biggest vehicles into hybrids, other automakers are going in the other direction. Honda, for example, recently said it would build a hybrid version of its Fit subcompact. Despite the slow start for the Yukon and Tahoe hybrids, G.M. officials said they are pleased with the initial market reaction.”

One personal complaint, and this is directed at all the car makers. Minivan hybrids are missing in action. Imagine all the families who rely on this basic mode of transportation. Are they all crazy?