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1,912 views Mar 10, 2009

The Ford Escape Hybrid is manufactured alongside its Mercury Mariner Hybrid sibling at Ford’s Kansas City plant

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When it comes to hybrids, it’s usually Toyota and Honda that get all the good press but American carmakers are just as active in the segment though their efforts mostly go unnoticed. Not this time, however, as Ford wants everyone to know that it has produced its 100,000th hybrid SUV.

The particular vehicle was a silver 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid, which rolled off the production line today at the company’s Kansas City assembly plant. The first-generation model rolled off the line back in 2004 and was later joined by its Mercury Mariner Hybrid sibling, which is built at the same plant. Incidentally, the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are the world’s most fuel-efficient hybrid SUVs with a fuel economy rating of 34mpg (6.9L/100km) in the city.

While some may scoff at Ford’s latest announcement, this is only the beginning of the Blue Oval’s electric revolution. Ford will be doubling production of hybrid vehicles this year with the introduction of the new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, and the company has reaffirmed plans to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market by 2012.

Ford confirmed it will introduce in North America an all-electric Transit Connect commercial van in 2010, an all-electric passenger car in 2011, and next-generation hybrids as well as anew plug-in hybrid by 2012.