Chrysler to Ship First Diesel-Electric Pickup

DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler said it would ship its first diesel-electric Dodge Ram pickup by the end of this year, lagging behind competing fuel-saving trucks from General Motors Corp.

Fewer than 100 of the hybrid Dodge trucks will go to an undisclosed customer for testing, the company said. Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Chrysler hasn’t decided whether to sell the pickups to the public.

GM delivered its first 50 gasoline-electric hybrid pickups to Miami/Dade County in May and has sold 150 more since then.