Nissan Prepares to Launch its Electric Car by 2012
With a number of companies rolling out their versions of hybrid cars, what can be expected next? Yes, nothing less than Nisan getting to share the fame with its preparation to launch the electric car by 2012. Elizabeth Lee, Executive Vice President of Universal Motors Corporation (Nissan’s Philippine assembler) says that Philippines will be first among the ASEAN countries to receive the electric cars in 2012.
Lee further adds that apart from simply electrically-driven cars, automakers are also keen to launch the hybrid (gasoline and electric models) soon. On behalf of the CAMP members and as President of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc., she reports that such Nissan models will roll onto the roads in the years to come.
She says that since these vehicles are much costlier than fuel-driven cars that do not reduce carbon emissions, they are more common in developed nation such as the Unites States, Japan and Europe. However, she feels that is the costs are lowered, then developing nations such as the ASEAN counties can also avail them easily.
Though Lee is quiet optimistic about hybrids hitting the ASEAN nations such as the Philippines, other automakers feel that developing nations aren’t ready as yet to receive the hybrid models effectively. For instance, President of Toyota automakers, Horoshi Ito is of the opinion that fuel-efficient cars should be brought into Philippines only when the driving conditions of the country improves.
