Europe ready to lead the hybrid revolution?

The EU today rejected criticism from the German auto industry that a proposed plan to significantly decrease carbon emissions from automobiles was both unrealistic and a job-killer.

"Normally jobs are not lost when you pro-actively embrace change but when you reactively resist it," replied Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger (more).

Earlier this month Andrew Fulbrook, powertrain analyst at CSM Worldwide's office in London, claimed that if the EU legislation passed either hybrid cars or tiny vehicles would be required. "If we go from voluntary to compulsory limits and, say, the 120g/km average for 2011-2012 is enforced, then short of going to very small three-cylinder gasoline engines, the diesel hybrid will be required" (more).

Will the U.S. be pro-active or reactive? Will American automakers be pro-active or reactive?