Is it possible that hybrid vehicles are the auto industry’s secret grassroots public relations effort? A calculated, grass-roots, astroturfing event aimed at making motorists feel so cool that they actually buy hybrid vehicles and support the big automakers who produce them? Perhaps, if you listen to General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz who as much as admitted that hybrids are a clever public relations campaign in a recent interview reported on LeftLanenews.com.

“Hybrids are technologically of doubtful benefit, and expensive, but necessary from a political and public relations point of view,” Lutz told Just-Auto. “Toyota has said, economically, hybrids make no sense. The reduction in fuel [consumption] does not pay for the technological content and cost of the vehicle so therefore economically it remains fairly nonsensical, so that’s the left-brain analytical argument. The right brain is it’s the popular thing to do, many people believe that if we all drove hybrids the world would suddenly get cooler again and then it’s the patriotic thing to do because if you drive a hybrid you will no longer be funding the Arab terrorists, and so forth. So, with all those beliefs out there, you have to do a hybrid for public policy reasons.”

It’s enough to almost make one wonder if Ed Begley, Jr has been working for the automakers this entire time! But on a serious note: Is Lutz offering truth-in-advertising or the ultimate transparency? BTW, General Motors revealed a hydrogen-powered car a few years ago that impressed me enough to think it was more than just a public relations campaign aimed at improving the bottom line, but I was mostly consumed by the gadget factor. GM could certainly use some press to distract investors from the numbers, but I’m not sure admitting hybrids are just a ‘public policy scheme’ was the best way to go.