New Russian hybrid car in hot demand – Yo

Russia’s Yo-Auto said on Tuesday it received 47,000 orders on the first day of pre-sales of its Yo-mobile hybrid cars, which is higher than the initial production capacity.

Yo-Auto, a joint venture between truck maker Yarovit and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov’s Onexim group, will start production of Yo-mobile cars in the second half of 2012.

The annual production capacity of the first Yo-mobile plant near St. Petersburg is estimated at 45,000 cars. The capacity will be doubled after a second stage of the plant is built.

In December, Prokhorov presented three prototypes of the hybrid car, including a hatchback, a van and a cross-coupe vehicle models. New cars will cost 350,000-450,000 rubles ($12,000-$15,000).

A Yo-mobile features a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour (120 km/h), a cruising range of 249 miles (400 km) and an estimated fuel economy rating of 67 miles per gallon (or almost 30 km per liter).

Yo-Auto promotes the vehicles as “environmentally friendly, energy-saving autos for daily operation in the city, powered by both gasoline and liquefied gas.”

MOSCOW, May 17 (RIA Novosti)

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