Detroit automakers urged to enter X Prize race

Organizers of event aimed toward 100-mpg mark say they're creating division for major automakers.

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The $10 million Progressive Automotive X Prize wants Detroit's Big Three automakers and other major companies to take part in its road race next year to see who can build a vehicle that gets 100 miles per gallon.

So far only Indian automaker Tata Motors, which bought Land Rover and Jaguar, has agreed to take part in the competition among large automakers. More than 120 companies and individuals -- including one rock star -- from 18 countries signed letters of intent to participate, but no major U.S., Japanese or European automaker has signed up.

"We hope automakers will take another look at our mission and see just how closely it aligns with their goals of bringing new affordable and fuel-efficient technology to drivers everywhere," said Peter Diamandis, president and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, a group that has sought to spur technological advances in other industries, also through awards.

The group plans to announce Sunday at the North American International Auto Show that it is creating a "Demonstration Division" for major automakers, hoping they will take part in the competition next year, though they wouldn't get a prize for winning in that division.

Diamandis said the new division was created "to address the fact that actual high volume production vehicles involve more and substantially harder engineering challenges and tradeoffs than development vehicles that are production capable."

The competition involves a series of timed stages across the country similar to the Tour de France. A qualifying race is set for later this year.

Competitors must show the vehicle they enter can be produced in quantities of at least 10,000 units annually. For vehicles that don't run on gasoline, they must get the energy equivalent of 100 miles per gallon.

Automakers could enter a vehicle that is in production or committed to production by 2012, which would allow General Motors Corp. to unveil its plug-in extended range electric Chevrolet Volt, which the automaker has said will be able to travel up to 40 miles on battery power. GM plans to start production late next year. Toyota Motor Corp., Chrysler LLC or Nissan Motor Co., among other automakers, could also enter plug-in or electric vehicles that they plan to mass-produce.

But some automakers still aren't ready to sign up.

"We're supportive of the competitive and creative spirit exhibited by the X Prize participants," GM spokesman Greg Martin said. "For now, GM has a singular focus on bringing the Chevy Volt to market as soon as we can and developing new technologies on a much greater, commercial scale."

About 35 teams have qualified to take part and the contest organizers plan to disclose the identities of some additional contestants during the show.

David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, said automakers are wary of competing. He praised the effort to "engage the auto industry" and said they could advise the participants even if they didn't take part.

"But the auto industry has got a lot on its plate. Job One is pretty clear," Cole said, adding that the struggling auto industry needs to turn itself around.

Auto sales fell 18 percent in 2008 to 13.2 million vehicles, down 2.9 million vehicles over 2007 to the lowest yearly total since 1992.

Sales collapsed late in the year on the weakening economy, down 36 percent in December, according to Autodata Corp.

Diamandis said the group would "love" to have major automakers take part. "We hope this announcement sparks new entries into the competition," he said, adding that automakers could get lots of free publicity by taking part.

Teams must sign up by the end of the month. The group plans to disclose later this year where the race stages will take place.

Diamandis said they want entries "that are not science projects" but vehicles that can be produced. "We're focused on cars that people want to drive and meet their existing needs," he said. In the long-run, the aim is to boost fuel efficiency and even if some "losing vehicles" only get 80 mpg to 90 mpg, that's still a major step forward, Diamandis said.

You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662 - 8735 or dshepardson@detnews.com.