American hybrid cars

The Ford Escape hybrid is the main American hybrid. While some parts and technology have to be imported to America to make all American cars, the Ford Escape hybrid had to lease its most important technology, its hybrid technology, from Toyota.

Of course the Escape hybrid really isn't a car either. In fact, technically, there are no American hybrid cars. Thus far American auto makers have focused on trucks and SUVs, such as the Escape hybrid and the Chevy Silverado Hybrid.

Additionally, the Silverado hybrid isn't nearly as sophisticated as an Escape hybrid.

In reality, the hybrid car scene is dominated by Japan.

While the Honda Accord hybrid has received considerable buzz, it hasn't achieved Prius-type status yet. This might be because the Prius, like the Insight before it, are completely new cars. While the Insight was never really meant as a mass-produced car in the near term, it does have potential in the future.

The Prius; however, is functional today, and that is really the key difference.

In order for American car-makers to compete with Japan, American automakers cannot just focus on converting SUVs and trucks into hybrids. Additionally, America must stop reinventing has-beens, such as the Ford Mustang.

Those days are over. Constant, shrinking U.S. marketshare proves it.

America needs to show leadership by developing new cars, and a new hybrid car could turn American auto-makers from pretenders back into leaders they once were.