Nissan's hybrid vehicle plans

What's up with Nissan and hybrid cars? Why has Carlos Ghosn been so bearish regarding hybrids? While Nissan plans to offer the Nissan Altima hybrid next year, it will almost certainly be the only Nissan hybrid available until 2010 - when Nissan will begin offering its own hybrid technology. Until 2010, the Nissan Altima hybrid will be based largely on Toyota hybrid technology.

Still, has Nissan and Ghosn really been so bearish?

Sure Nissan missed the early hybrid hype, so what could Ghosn do? I guess about the same thing as GM, 'hybrids don't make business sense'. Yet both GM and Nissan are going to develop hybrids anyway. If hybrid vehicles don't make business sense, does it makes sense to follow the leader, Toyota, down an expensive, bad business path?

How does that make sense?

Obviously, the 'hybrids don't make business sense' automakers realize the potential of hybrid technology could make great business sense - maybe not today, but maybe in the next couple of years. Besides, if gas prices do push higher, consumers won't care if hybrids make business sense to automakers, they'll only care if they save money at the pump.