Ford to Boost Production of Hybrids

Ford Motor Co. will boost global production of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles tenfold by 2010. By then, more than half of the company’s Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and light trucks will have hybrid capability, Chief Executive Bill Ford said during a meeting with company scientists and engineers.

Ford is trailing Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. with the fuel-efficient hybrid technology. Toyota plans to sell up to 250,000 worldwide this year, mainly in North America.

Ford said that by 2010, the automaker will have the capability to build about 250,000 hybrid vehicles, with the ability to boost capacity based on demand. The company, which is considering expanding the hybrid lineup across its European luxury brands, currently makes about 24,000 hybrid vehicles annually.

“We know that our customers are concerned about energy,” Ford said. “Our job is to alleviate some of their concerns with viable options in transportation.”