Yo-Auto To Manufacture Russia's First Hybrid In 2012 [Video]
Russian automaker Yo-Auto is promising to deliver the country’s first hybrid car in 2012. The company, founded by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, hopes to sell “peoples’ cars” for under $10,000 each for their first models.
Now those vehicles for under $10,000 won’t be hybrids naturally given the price tag, but the pre-orders are allowing customers to choose either standard petrol or CNG and either in two- or four-wheel-drive options. Standard equipment on Yo-Auto’s cars will include touchscreen control panel, GPS navigation system, automatic ICE start/stop while a rearview camera will be optional.
More recently however, Yo-Auto has been racing a hybrid car utilizing a rotary vane engine that works on both petrol and natural gas that’s linked to a pair of electric motors. This hybrid also uses a super capacitor rather than a lithium-ion battery pack.
Not many details surround the potential hybrid Yo-Auto is looking to produce, nor is there many details on their production model. But Yo-Auto’s website shows that a light commercial truck and a passenger CUV are also in the works.
Prokhorov is more well known in America as the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team and recently announced that he intends to run for the Russian presidency in 2012. Currently Yo-Auto has an annual production capacity of 45,000 vehicles. They intend to double that amount after a second stage of the plant is built.
Check out a video after the break of Yo-Auto’s vehicle that was on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show this year.
[Source: Hybridcars]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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