Asian automakers pin hopes on green cars

Automakers are planning to introduce green cars this year despite slow sales of low-emission diesel vehicles. Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp. will introduce its all-new hybrid Prius in Japan by mid-May and in the Philippines by July, while German automakers Daimler AG and BMW AG have said they are planning to market hybrid cars in 2009. Chinese companies are also jumping on the bandwagon. Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. said it plans to launch hybrid cars A5 and A3 in 2009 and 2010 respectively, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) said it will sell hybrid vehicles in China by the end of 2011 and First Automotive Works Corp. (FAW) said it plans to produce 120 hybrid buses this year. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. signed an agreement with distributor Universal Cars designating Hong Kong as the second place in Asia where its electric car, the i Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle (i MiEV) will be tested starting May. (February 16/27/ March 2/10/15, 2009)