I remember that movie. Preston Tucker was portrayed by Jeff Bridges. Tucker sold accessories for his concept car before it went into production. His opponents accused him of fraud, alleging that he never intended to produce the car. Tucker was acquitted, but he lost his factory in the aftermath.

The major automobile manufacturers have been researching and developing alternative fuel-powered vehicles for decades, but have refused any commitment to mass producing such vehicles. They have been afraid that the public-at-large wouldn't buy them, so they introduce a handful in California to test the market. That bugs me.

California is culturally different than the rest of the United States, just as all other states are. Instead of concentrating on one state for market testing, why not spread it around a little and give the rest of us an opportunity to make a choice? Instead of selling 200 in California, why not sell three or four to each state. If they sell, then make some more and let it spread. But hey, that's just me.