General Motors, Daimler plan joint hybrid systems

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Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG plan to jointly develop a gasoline-electric power system to catch up with Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in making hybrid vehicles that save fuel and cut tailpipe emissions.

The carmakers expect to form a joint venture early next year, Detroit-based General Motors and Stuttgart, Germany-based DaimlerChrysler said today in a combined statement. They intend to develop a common technology, highlighted by a smaller electric motor than those currently available, for use in General Motors, Chrysler group and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler had been working on hybrids separately while promoting hydrogen fuel cells as a replacement for the gasoline engine. Japan's Toyota released the world's best-selling hybrid, the Prius, seven years ago, and Honda began selling hybrids in 1999.