Kansas City Becomes Hybrid Vehicle Capital of America

Hybrids Find a Home in the Heartland as America Responds to Gasoline Prices

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 5 -- As gas prices continue to hold steady at a record high between $2 and $3 per gallon across the United States, Kansas City is poised to lead the next generation of automobiles as the nation's only city currently slated to assemble two hybrid models.

Ford Motor Company selected its Kansas City plant for the production of its Ford Escape Hybrid SUV in 2004, making it the first U.S.-made hybrid and the first hybrid SUV. General Motors also recently awarded its Kansas City assembly plant with the production of its hybrid Malibu, scheduled for release in 2007.

"Kansas City is the right place to build this innovative new product," said Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation for Ford Motor Company. "The employees have demonstrated their commitment to quality and we have made investments in flexible manufacturing."

Beginning in 2007, GM will offer its Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) hybrid system, which will achieve fuel savings of 10 percent in its Chevrolet Malibu sedan. If successful, the system could be readily available on other mid-size models as demand warrants.

"The fact that both Ford and GM have selected Kansas City sites for the production of hybrid vehicles is a testament to the level of technology and the capacity of the Kansas City workforce," said Bob Marcusse, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC).

Brett Smith, director of product and technology forecasting at the Center for Automotive Studies in Ann Arbor, Mich., recently told The Kansas City Star, " ... having two hybrids in a region, one in production and one announced, is a pretty unique situation."

Additionally, in a recent statement, President Bush said that Americans must change "the type of automobiles we drive." Kansas City is leading that charge.

According to the American Automobile Association's web site, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas increased nearly 13 percent since last year.

About KCADC:

As one of the first regional business recruitment organizations in the nation and with nearly 30 years of experience, KCADC has helped more than 500 companies establish operations in the Greater Kansas City area. KCADC offers one of the only bi-state site location resources in the country representing an 18-county area of 2 million people spanning the states of Missouri and Kansas. For more information, visit http://www.thinkkc.com/ .