GM announces hybrid powertrain plan to save fuel

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- General Motors Corp. will build full-size trucks and buses powered by a hybrid of gasoline and electricity that will improve fuel economy over current models, the company said Wednesday.

The announcement came in response to Ford Motor Co.'s promise last week to improve the fuel economy of its sport utility vehicles by 25 percent in 5 years.

GM vice chairman Harry Pearce said GM's light trucks had better fuel economy than Ford's and will still have better fuel economy 20 years from now.

GM said that in 2004 it will begin building a version of its Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra full-size pickups that are powered by a gas-electric hybrid system. The company gave no details on how much the hybrid pickup might cost or how many GM would produce.