Ford to devote its largest research labs to hybrids, electric-vehicles and plug-in hybrids
FoMoCo is about to get very bullish on the development of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric-cars. The Dearborn based automaker is going to devote one of its largest research labs to the development of these vehicles as a part of focusing more on fuel-efficiency.
The 285,000 square-foot advanced engineering center in Dearborn, Michigan will be the center of Ford’s research efforts to develop advanced fuel-efficient technologies.
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This year alone, Ford will offer nine vehicles that can get more than 40 mpg. The lineup will include all-electric vehicles like the Ford Focus Electric and a plug-in hybrid sedan like the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi.
About a decade ago, Ford’s research showed that customers were rejecting the brand due to its poor fuel-economy, said Raj Nair, Ford’s head of global product development.
“Now people are coming to us because we do have superior fuel economy to the majority of our competitors, and that’s going to be the heart of our strategy going forward,” said Nair.
– By: Omar Rana
Source: AutoNews
