Chrysler lags in plug-in prowess

"Chrysler really isn't in the (hybrid car) game at the moment, at least not near enough for us to expect something in showrooms in 12 to 18 months," Stephanie Brinley at auto research firm AutoPacific Group told the Detroit Free Press.

"In terms of basic technology, they're not really lagging that much, in terms of actually getting cars in showrooms, they are behind," said Mike Millikin, editor of the Web site Green Car Congress.

Some analysts assume Fiat's focus on diesel fuel rather than electric vehicles will hold Chrysler back from a push toward alternative cars for the U.S. customer.

In July, U.S. sales for hybrids grew 35 percent over June, hybridcar.com said. In the month, Ford hybrids outsold Honda's hybrid offerings, the Press reported Friday.

Chrysler has made some efforts to join the alternative engine race. The Department of Energy granted Chrysler and A123 Systems, a producer of batteries, $300 million to build 200 electric plug-in vehicles. In May, the two companies said they would produce 165 Town & Country minivans to the U.S. Postal Service, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.