German magazine Auto Motor und Sport is reporting that Mercedes-Benz expects one fifth of its vehicle sales to be hybrids by the middle of the next decade. The information came from Mercedes sales head Klaus Maier during an interview. Mercedes has already announced the first two hybrid models that will be coming to market in 2009. The S400 Hybrid will use Mercedes new mild hybrid system and a lithium ion battery some time in the spring. Later in the year, the ML450 using the Two-Mode hybrid system is scheduled to launch. Whether the ML hybrid launches on time is unknown at this time because of a lawsuit between Daimler and battery supplier Cobasys. Mercedes plans to launch at least one hybrid every year until 2015. The company has already shown several other hybrids as concepts in the past year including a BlueTec diesel hybrid version of the new GLK compact SUV. Thanks to Matt for the tip!
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