Renault Takes a Detour

[mehrenst]

While this isn't about hybrids or Prius it is interesting because of the way in which Europeans are fleeing big cars and looking for reliable low cost transportation.

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BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT, France -- In the automotive world, where faster and fancier are the buzzwords, Gerard Detourbet is a maverick for the 21st century: "I don't want to be the best," the Renault executive says. "I want to be the cheapest."

With the French car manufacturer facing plunging sales in saturated high-end, high-priced markets around the world, Detourbet set out to create a low-cost car for the masses in the hottest new international marketplace for cars -- developing countries with rapidly growing middle classes.

Story is here - Washington Post