Chrysler to begin U.S. sales of natural gas-powered pickups in 2012
By Julybien, 13 Jan, 2012. 0 Comments
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Chrysler Group LLC will commence selling natural gas-powered pickups in the U.S. this year, CEO Sergio Marchionne said during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Marchionne said they will limit the number of units available at first, depending on the distribution networks. The natural gas engines of the pickup were developed by Chrysler’s parent, Fiat S.p.A., in Europe.
Chrysler plans to deliver vehicles with the technology to the U.S. by 2017. David Elshoff, a Chrysler spokesman, said the company will first offer the natural gas pickups to fleet customers, but declined to comment if they will also sell the vehicle to particular buyers like government or commercial customers. Marchionne remarked that natural-gas engines are the “best option,” noting that they are cheaper than other engine technologies.
He also criticized electric cars, which are being offered by rivals Toyota, General Motors and Nissan, saying that they present “too many obstacles” like the long recharge time for batteries. Customers will also find the natural gas option cheaper at just $3,000, compared with $3,300 for diesel and $8,000 for an electric hybrid, according to Alfredo Altavilla, chief of Fiat’s Iveco truck unit. However, stations for refueling natural gas units are still limited, with 1,000 of them catering to 112,000 vehicles in the U.S. as of December 2010.
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