REPORT: Suzuki hoping to continue GM collaboration for green tech
Suzuki Alto Lapin - Click above for high-res gallery
It may come as a surprise to many that Suzuki, just a small niche player in the U.S. automotive market, sells more vehicles in Japan than every automaker besides Toyota. Most of Suzuki's sales, though, are of the tiny Kei car variety and therefore feature engines displacing just 660cc. As much as we'd love to see a few little Kei cars here in the States, federal crash test regulations seem unlikely to allow that any time soon.
For this reason, Suzuki is reportedly counting on its ongoing collaboration with General Motors for the development of hybrid and electric automobile technology. In addition to its hopeful partnership with The General, Suzuki is said to be investing much of its $1.1 billion budget for research and development of electric vehicles and hybrid drivetrains of its own design.
Gallery: Suzuki Alto Lapin
[Source: Nikkei (sub. req'd) via Green Car Advisor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NeilBlanchard 2:12PM (7/12/2009)
Hi,
It's a four door (original) Mini Cooper! The more things change, the more they stay the same...
Neil
Reply
jeffzekas 4:04PM (7/12/2009)
Attention US government: give a safety exemption to Kei cars!
Only then can we achieve energy independence.
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid!)- Kei cars are WAY less complex than hybrids, but give similar gas mileage.
So, how about it, NHTSA?
Bring in the Kei cars!!!
Reply
Dave 6:29PM (7/12/2009)
kei cars only make sense in the city
public transit makes more sense in the city
therefore, kei cars make no sense