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07/21/2008 09:59 AM

Green Car News: GM Collaboration, New Lexus Hybrid

SustainableBusiness.com News

General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) is expected to announce a collaboration for plug-in electric vehicles this week with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), according to a Reuters report. 

EPRI is a research group representing U.S. electric utilities that account for 90% of the nation's electricity production. Neither GM or EPRI confirmed the report that the two would announce a partnership at an electric vehicle promotional event later this week in San Jose, California.

GM competitor Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) in March announced a three-year agreement to work with EPRI to develop technical approaches for integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles into the nation's electric grid system.

GM is expected to begin production of its al-electric Chevrolet volt in 2010.  Republican presidential candidate John McCain visited the GM center designing the car on Friday and said Americans who buy one should be able to receive a $5,000 tax credit.

GM is expected to announce a battery supplier for the Volt before the end of summer.

Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE: TM) intends to produce 100,000 units a year of a new Lexus model to be released in 2009, according to a report in the Nikkei business daily over the weekend.

The vehicle, like the Toyota Prius, will be sold only as a hybrid and will have a 2- to 2.5-liter engine.

Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc, in Fukuoka prefecture will adjust its factory to change from producing hybrid versions of Toyota's Highlander to producing the new Lexus model, according to the report.

Toyota has said it will present new hybrid-only models under both the Toyota and Lexus brands at next year's Detroit Auto Show. 

The Japanese automaker recently announced a shift in North American production priorities that favors fuel efficient vehicles, like the Prius, over full-size trucks and SUVs.

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