J.D. Power Sees Big Gain in Hybrid Sales

A new study from the consumer-research company J.D. Power and Associates projects
hybrid-vehicle sales to be above 500,000 units annually by 2008. Sales are expected to
climb to more than three-quarters of a million by 2013. According to the J.D. Power and
Associates 2003 Hybrid Vehicle Outlook, U.S. consumers purchased approximately 38,000
hybrid vehicles in 2002, and hybrid sales are expected to increase to 54,000 vehicles in
2003. Ford plans a hybrid Escape sport-utility vehicle next fall, and General Motors plans
a hybrid range of trucks and SUVs soon after. By 2005, trucks should account for about 39
percent of hybrid sales, the research company said.