Nissan has 44% of Renault SA (France) and wants a power train with twins- an electric motor with a gasoline engine, to save fuel. The Chief Executive of Nissan prefer to make hybrids, although it makes small money and have a high retail price.
The Altima hybrid was necessarily to clear average fuel economy regulations in California. But, Nissan has been working to create their own hybrid technology and to make it as good as the one available on the market.
Toyota, starting with Prius sedan was inventing hybrid cars and now are very popular around the world, but remain a niche product, even on the US market. They are making up to less than 2% of new US vehicle sales, although this is their biggest market.
