BMW May Bring Hybrid-Electric To US Market

BMW is reportedly considering a hybrid-electric for the US market in response to recently tightened CAFE regulations. Under the terms of the new regulations, BMW will be reclassified as a "large vehicle manufacturer" in 2012, meaning that it will be required to offer at least one zero CO2-emission vehicle in its product line. To meet this requirement, BMW is considering an all-electric mini-car or a hybrid that meets the emission standard. The news is somewhat surprising, since BMW has been developing a hydrogen-powered vehicle that would meet the CAFE standard for carbon emissions.

Reportedly, BMW is considering a technology switch because the required infrastructure for supporting hydrogen-powered vehicles is still undeveloped, and is not expected to be available by the 2012 regulatory deadline. Additionally, BMW is considering a joint venture with another manufacturer to produce the vehicle. Such a collaboration would give each manufacturer a vehicle that meets the emission regulations, while still allowing them to concentrate on other technologies for future vehicle production. The company will make a decision about the joint venture later this year.

Rumors of a BMW mini-car and an all-electric vehicle have been swirling. Several other manufacturers have been working on mini-cars, including Nissan, Mitsubishi and Audi. Audi is working on a production version of the AI Metroproject concept it debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show