Shoppers Want Greener Cars, J.D. Power Says They'll Get 'Em

Washington DC January 12, 2007; Thew AIADA newsletter reported that a panel of automotive and environmental experts met yesterday in Detroit before a crowd of several hundred guests to outline the need for increased investment in alternative fuel solutions, reported The Detroit News.

Representatives from companies including GM, Ford, smart USA, Tesla Motors and Toyota, spoke about the challenges of increasing alternative energy technologies in mainstream production vehicles.

All the speakers emphasized the need for advances in the use of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol and electricity. They also pointed out the economic imperatives for automakers to make environmentally friendly vehicles.

A recent U.S. hybrid vehicle forecast conducted by J.D. Power and Associates predicts hybrid sales in 2007 will account for 2.1 percent of the light-vehicle market—up from 1.5 percent in 2006, with totals reaching a possible 346,000 units in 2007, up 91,000 units, from the estimated 255,000 units sold in 2006.