Nikkei Financial - The Race To Control Next-Generation Hybrids.

Online, September 10, 2010 (Newswire.com) - TOKYO (AP) -- Nikkei Financial Analyst David Thomas advising on the race for control of the next generation of plug in hybrid and all electric cars going into mass production welcomed Volkswagen recent announcements relating to their electric range of low carbon cars. Volkswagen announced is aiming to dominate the market for green cars as it looks launch a new generation of hybrid and electric cars.

The carmaker, Europe's biggest producer of cars, will launch an all-electric vehicle in the US by 2013 under the new plans. The VW Golf or the Up! city-car will be launched as an all-electric vehicle in the US by 2013 under the new plans. The Touareg sport-utility vehicle will go on the market as a petrol-electric hybrid later this year, followed by a Jetta hybrid in 2011.

The electric car is likely to be based on the current prototype E-Up! and will be a small city car. The carmaker. By 2012, Passat and Golf hybrids will also be available. Volkswagen spends around 5 billion euros (£4.25bn) a year on research and development of such new cars and technologies.

However, Nikkei Financial Analyst David Thomas commented "Competition to dominate the market for electric cars will be tough". Honda, the Japanese carmaker, announced plans on Monday to launch a hybrid version of its Civic compact powered by lithium-ion batteries within a year. An all-electric car will be on sale by 2012, Honda said.

General Motors plans to build 10,000 units of its new Chevrolet Volt electric car next year, and Nissan Motor Co. will begin selling its all-electric Leaf compact.

Toyota bought a $50 million (£33m) stake in Tesla, which sells the all-electric Roadster sportscar, in May and the carmakers plan to cooperate on developing battery-powered cars.