The other day on Dispatch Online, I read an article on how Ford wants to wait until hybrids have picked up mass appeal before it brings it’s own models to market.

“We don’t believe in making cars for hundreds of people or thousands of people,” said Finnegan, marketing manager of hybrid vehicles for Ford. “They have to be affordable to our customers and capable of sustaining millions (of vehicles) in sales volume.”

It’s an interesting strategy coming from a company that has made most of it’s money in the flailing truck market, and has steadily dropped in sales the last few years to companies with more eco-friendly product lines. Still, many cars in their lineup have sold reasonably well, including the Ford Focus, which has been a mainstay in their books since inception. While they’re sales aren’t spectacular, no one is talking bankruptcy either. They’ve also done well with updating their current lineup of vehicles…trucks still dragging behind…with existing eco-friendly technology, which means they are still on par or ahead of competitors such as GM.

Playing a waiting game and conserving money until demand picks up may be a smart move for the company. It’s a little bit of a gamble with new cars such as the Volt and Toyota Hybrid plug-ins coming out. It might not win them the first place medal, but it might just pay off in the end.

Ford wants mass appeal before releasing hybrids