In early 2001 I signed up for a waiting list to purchase a Ford Escape Hybrid in 2003. Excited by the prospect of purchasing a responsible SUV, I gladly signed up for the list and the opportunity to pay $5000 more for a truck that I wanted.
Unfortunately, in 2003 while Congressional negotiations over SUV standards were being conducted, Ford released a statement that the efforts to improve standards were stalled due to unavailable technologies. The result was the Republican controlled Congress had the political cover it needed to vote down the increase in standards amendment.
The timing of this announcement stunk from the beginning and I vowed never to buy a Ford. However, when Ford recently announced its intentions to begin rolling out more hybrids I was encouraged that this automaker was finally taking some smart steps. But again, I am dissapointed.
Ford announced today that they will not be able to meet their previously announced plans to offer more environmentally friendly hybrids.
You can read the article here.
What they will offer though is more flex fuel vehicles. While a good step, Ford continues to disappoint and likely continues its cozy relationship with Big Oil.
So I guess the question is this. Is this evidence of more oil industry and auto industry collusion? I think so. What about you?