The head of DaimlerChrysler has called on the US government to provide more support to the automotive industry in the development of fuel cell vehicles.

Thomas LaSorda, President and Chief Executive of the car giant, has claimed that US politicians are lagging behind Europe in terms of their support for green technologies and has called for initiatives to encourage greater take-up of clean energy and fuel cell vehicles.

Speaking to the subcommittee on energy and air quality at the House of Representatives, Mr LaSorda said his company is "putting significant resources into developing these new types of propulsion with the objective of significantly reducing greenhouse gases".

However, he argued that the US should follow the European example and use market forces to help drive demand.

"The European model, while far from perfect, is based on policies that leverage demand and market forces, not on policies that fight them," he explained.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd