Land Rover Talking About Hybird As Part Of Image Campaign - FT

[hatrack]

Land Rover is to try to head off the growing criticism of gas-guzzling 4x4s by starting work on hybrid petrol-electric engines. The development work comes as carmakers are growing increasingly concerned about a backlash against sports utility vehicles, leading to higher taxes or city-centre bans.

The level of concern was underlined last week when senior officials from many British carmakers were briefed by an American offroader lobby group on what could be done to counter negative views. Ron Defore, the communications director for SUV Owners of America, said: "Our presence at the meeting was to share with what our organisation has been able to do over the last two years: to balance a lot of the media coverage."

EDIT

British executives who attended the meeting with US lobbyists said it was unlikely the American approach - which includes denying any pollution problems - would be adopted in Britain, as it could further alienate consumers. Joe Greenwell, Land Rover chairman and chief executive, said: "We look at all the criticisms with care. We want to address some of the misconceptions but we also see that it is a requirement for us to look at alternative power systems."

He said there was "a dialogue going on" with Ford about using group hybrid technology, which Japanese affiliate Mazda also wants to use. But the long development time meant any hybrid vehicle was at least five years away. In the interim, manufacturers seem likely to step up attempts to convince the public SUVs are not the safety or environmental disaster they are often made out to be. Until now action had been confined to an industry-produced factsheet, but the industry would be "more pro-active" in promoting SUVs, said one person who attended the meeting."

EDIT/END

Yes, all we need is more PR and "dialogue", and that'll make the problem just go away . . . OTOH, at least they're honest in admitting that it's all about image and PR.




http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9162e8a8-2f98-11d9-984e-00000e2511c8.htmlacklash