VW considers hybrids for Japan

Volkswagen (VW) AG announced that it is considering selling hybrid vehicles in Japan. Harald Ludanek, who heads VW’s development and vehicle recycling divisions, said the cars to be sold in the country would likely be hybrid versions of the German automaker’s Toureg sport utility vehicle (SUV). The automaker plans to sell a gasoline-electric version of the Toureg in Germany by 2010 and would also likely sell the car by then in its international markets. Ludanek said hybrids are well suited to big cities, where traffic is heavy, as it would help conserve fuel to partly run cars on electricity. (April 10, 2009)