The same day as "Slick" Rick Wagoner was up on stage in LA announcing a plug-in hybrid for the General, ToMoCo's senior samurai in North America, Jim Press, was asked about his company's strategy for plug-in hybrids at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington. Press didn't commit Toyota to building a plug-in-play hybrid vehicle, saying only:
"We still have a lot of basic research to do."
But Toyota's head man in NorAm did make it clear he wouldn't mind the ducats from Washington to continue to flow to help him get it done:
"By encouraging consumer support for a promising new technology, our government is supporting innovation and investing in our nation's future...we'd like to see those tax incentives continue."
Wow, who would have thunk the General could really leap Toyota in PR buzz? Way to go, Rick!
Toyota seeks support for hybrid tax incentives [Detroit News]
Related:
BREAKING: GM to Produce Plug-in Hybrid Vue; LA Auto Show: Wagoner Drops Bomb; GM To Abandom Steam Power!! [internal]