VW puts all hybrids on hold, except one

The only VW hybrid?

Now that Martin Winterkorn has replaced Bernd Pischetsrieder as VW AG's new chairman, he's making some changes. For example, Winterkorn is putting VW's plans to make several hybrid cars on hold. At this point, it seems only the Touareg will be offered as a hybrid version in late 2008 according to AutoWeek.

The timing of this story is a bit interesting because it seems to closely coincide with the EU's new plans to water down their proposed CO2 emission reductions for automakers. The original proposal probably would have forced VW and other European automakers to develop hybrids to meet the new standards. The new proposal, however, doesn't force automakers to be as green.