Suzuki Wll Launch Fuel Cell Cars by 2010

MAKUHARI, Japan, Oct 22, 2003; Reuters reported that Suzuki Corp, Japan's top minivehicle maker, said on Wednesday it aimed to match General Motors Corp's goal of commercialising fuel cell vehicles by 2010.

But Suzuki, which is one-fifth owned by GM, the world's biggest auto maker, said the target could be tough to meet due to the technical challenges of adapting fuel cells for minivehicles.

"There are still many hurdles to be cleared in terms of cost and production...The exact timing of commercialisation will become clear in the next four or five years," said Suzuki President Hiroshi Tsuda in an interview at the Tokyo Motor Show.

GM, which has invested about $1 billion in developing fuel cells to power electric motors in vehicles, wants to be the first auto maker to sell one million fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

Fuel cells create electricity without pollution by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with water as the only by-product.

To match the range of today's gasoline-powered vehicles, FCVs would have to carry hydrogen in large fuel tanks, posing a challenge for makers of small cars like Suzuki.

The lack of infrastructure to supply and store hydrogen is also a worry, but auto makers like GM are betting that as costs come down, consumer demand will follow.

"We believe that if we build it the market will come," said Lawrence Burns, vice president at General Motors.