If you think Japan is ahead on hybrid vehicles, just wait until robotics comes of age. Japan is at least ten years ahead of the U.S. on robotics development, and the future robotics industry -- which will dwarf the auto industry -- will be dominated by Japanese companies who will someday earn a generous reward for their vision. In the U.S., we seem to have no vision left, at least in Washington, where our strategy is to sue our most successful companies (like Microsoft) rather than supporting their global R&D efforts.
January 5, 2004 Toyota Stays on Hybrid Track The automaker will roll
out a gasoline-electric SUV next year and hints that a Tundra pickup
version will follow.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Sunday that it would launch its third
hybrid-powered vehicle in the U.S. by early next year and hinted
strongly that a hybrid version of its full-size Tundra pickup is in the
works.
The company's newest hybrid will be a Highlander sport utility
vehicle, Toyota said at the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit.
By coupling the new electronics to the luxury SUV's standard 3.3-liter
V-6, Toyota engineers were able to bump output to approximately 270
horsepower from 230.