Rolls Royce plans to manufacture plug-in hybrid

Rolls Royce Motor Cars said it plans to manufacture a plug-in hybrid. “We are entering into discussion with our customers (about a hybrid Rolls),” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce recently announced the introduction of its first electric car in the super-luxury car segment. With the addition of a plug-in hybrid, Rolls Royce will be following in the steps of parent company BMW, who recently developed ActiveHybrid, a car that runs on both gasoline and electricity. The company’s global sales has doubled and Indian sales has increased nearly seven-fold mainly on the back of the less pricey Ghost (including customs duty, the car costs R2.5 crore in India whereas Rolls Royce Phantom is priced R3.5 crore upwards). (February 25, 2011)