Suzuki plans worldwide hybrid push

Suzuki Motor Corp., the biggest maker of minicars in Japan, plans to introduce a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle in Japan, the United States and Europe to meet tighter rules on auto emissions in the world's major auto markets, Suzuki President Hiroshi Tsuda said in an interview Friday.

But Tsuda declined to reveal exactly when Suzuki will begin selling the more environment-friendly vehicles, saying only that it intends to release the cars as soon as possible.

Tsuda added the vehicles will use a hybrid engine developed jointly with General Motors Corp. of the United States.

GM reduced its stake in Suzuki from 20 percent to 3 percent last March to raise cash for its restructuring efforts, with Suzuki buying back 17 percent of its own shares for 230 billion yen.