| The struggling Dearborn-based car manufacturer | | | | regretted that the company did not immediately |
| Ford Motor Company announced that it will be | | | | develop hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles. |
| producing more hybrid vehicles in the near future | | | | The company though has taken steps to address |
| as the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles increases. | | | | environmental issues. Their Ann Arbor plant is |
| The company said that they are facing | | | | considered as one of the most environment |
| engineering challenges in the development of | | | | friendly vehicle assembly facilities in the country. |
| these future hybrid vehicles. | | | | Currently, the hybrid vehicle market is being |
| Nancy Gioia, the Director of Ford's Sustainable | | | | dominated by the largest Japanese car |
| Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs, | | | | manufacturer that is Toyota. The Prius alone, the |
| said in a conference at Ann Arbor, Michigan that | | | | first mass produced hybrid vehicle, posted |
| Ford will be producing more hybrid vehicles aside | | | | doubling sales figures in the past months. Toyota |
| from the current Ford Escape Hybrid and the | | | | earlier announced that they have already sold |
| Mercury Mariner Hybrid. | | | | more than one million units of their hybrid vehicles. |
| The announcement is the first hint about Ford's | | | | Ford's Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, |
| future plans for hybrid vehicles since April this | | | | meanwhile, are far behind Toyota hybrid vehicles |
| year. During that month, FoMoCo President and | | | | in terms of sales. While Toyota has already sold |
| Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally appointed an | | | | 77,000 units of the Prius in the United States auto |
| executive to a new position which is tasked with | | | | market for the first five months of the year, |
| addressing environmental concerns. | | | | Ford only managed to sell 11,000 units of the |
| With the introduction of the Ford Escape Hybrid in | | | | Escape and Mariner Hybrids combined. The 11,000 |
| 2004, Ford became the first American car | | | | units sold by Ford indicate an eight percent |
| manufacturer to offer a gas-electric hybrid | | | | increase compared to the first five months last |
| vehicle. In 2006, Ford introduced the Mercury | | | | year. For Toyota though, the increase in the sale |
| Mariner Hybrid in the United States auto market. | | | | of the Prius reaches about 50 percent. |
| The Mariner is similar to looks and operation to its | | | | Environmental advocates are calling for Ford and |
| sibling, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. | | | | other car manufacturers to market plug-in hybrid |
| Due to reduced sales in the United States, Ford | | | | vehicles. These are vehicles which has a battery |
| backed off on their initial goal fore the production | | | | pack that can be charged via a common |
| of hybrid vehicles. This move was criticized by | | | | household socket. These vehicles can also run on |
| environmental advocates pointing out that the | | | | pure electric power over relatively short distances. |
| company has lost its dedication to protecting the | | | | This means that for city driving, these vehicles will |
| environment by halting its plan for more hybrid | | | | not consume any petroleum fuel and will produce |
| vehicles. | | | | no greenhouse gas. This makes them more fuel |
| In response to the criticism and the increasing | | | | efficient and environment friendlier than gasoline |
| demand for hybrid vehicles, Bill Ford, the | | | | engine-powered vehicles even those equipped |
| company's Executive Chairman said that he | | | | with green filters. |