Chrysler switches electric front-runner

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Chrysler Group said its Dodge Circuit sports car would no longer be the U.S. automaker's first all-electricity-powered vehicle.

In unveiling Chrysler's five-year plan, Paolo Ferrero, who directs the company's powertrain development efforts, said a commercial van would be the first purely electric vehicle, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

During a question-and-answer period, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said the Fiat Doblo was the first choice for the company's all-electric breakthrough vehicle.

Chrysler still plans to introduce a hybrid Dodge Ram pickup truck in 2010. In 2011, Chrysler intends to turn out at least 220 plug-in Ram hybrids and plug-in minivan hybrids to fulfill its obligations in a $70 million U.S. Energy Department grants, the newspaper said.