Will hybrid become the dominant power source in the next few years?
Hybrid technology is a very expensive way to save a small amount of fuel. The cost/benefit analysis is quite on the expensive side, but we're politically pressed to develop hybrids by the U.S. market.

If someone said that every car must be a hybrid, the car industry would be bankrupt quicker than anything else. Even Toyota would have problems if they had to produce hybrids in high volumes. But politically we have to do a certain amount of hybrids.

Does diesel power have a successful future in the U.S.?
Next year, Audi will introduce a diesel A4 in the U.S. that will be available in all 50 states. We hope to be the first to comply with the Californian emissions regulations.

The diesel market will start small but grow fast. The experience in Europe suggests that people who drive a diesel never go back to gas. If you stand by a modern A4, it's hard to tell that it's a diesel. I'm quite sure that we'll achieve a higher market share with diesel than hybrid.

What about diesel hybrids?
For fuel economy, this is the best option, but it's a very expensive solution.

Saying that we should only drive small cars is like saying that we should all live in tiny apartments.

If someone said that every car must be a hybrid, the car industry would be bankrupt quicker than anything else. Even Toyota would have problems if they had to produce hybrids in high volumes. But politically we have to do a certain amount of hybrids. (Herr Hatz, Audi)

At the Frankfurt IAA, Toyota Executive Vice President Kazuo Okamoto said all of the company’s vehicles will eventually be based on hybrid powertrains.
Toyota also indicated that it aims to increase hybrid production by 60% in 2006 and will cut costs and prices to make them more affordable.Okamoto declined to provide a timeline. Toyota has stated that it plans to sell 1 million hybrids a year by 2010.