Auto's & Moto's » Toyota

The Toyota Auris hybrid and Prius sales

kvadra — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:09:16 +0000

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A better hybrid design?

More or different Toyota hybrid sales?

The Auris is Toyota’s European Corolla, however, the Auris has not been nearly as popular as the Corolla. Toyota is hoping a few upgrades and refinements and, more importantly, a new hybrid drive could help change those sale’s dynamics.

Likewise, the Auris hybrid might soon also hit American shores, but what does that mean for Prius, and overall hybrid, sales?

Can the Auris hybrid provide a nice jump in overall Toyota hybrid sales, or will it simply conquest some Prius buyers?

Without question, the new Auris hybrid offers a much different body style than the Toyota Prius, and since many hybrid buyers have complained about the looks and styling of the Prius, the new Auris hybrid might provide a nice alternative. Nevertheless, can this option provide a significant increase in overall Toyota hybrid sales, especially if it costs just $400 less than the Prius?

Inevitably, if Toyota seeks a big increase in the sales of hybrid cars, are not cheaper hybrids the only real path forward?

Certainly, adding another model to their hybrid portfolio should help Toyota scale their hybrid investment, especially in Europe, and that will help reduce hybrid costs. Moreover, any big increase in hybrid sales in Europe would be a nice improvement for Toyota.

But what does the Auris mean for America? For instance, is it possible that the Auris hybrid could be as popular as the Prius – without stealing too many Prius consumers? Or, will the Auris be more proof that their can be only one Prius, at least until hybrid costs decline rather significantly?

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Fusion hybrid, Prius: Consumer Reports Buy Again Vehicles

kvadra — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:09:01 +0000

Would you buy your car again?

Every year Consumer Reports asks its subscribers if they would buy their car again.

Pretty much every year, the Toyota Prius is one of the top ‘buy again’ vehicles, as it was again this year, coming in at number 5. But the Prius wasn’t the top hybrid on this year’s list.

Coming in at number 2 was the Ford Fusion hybrid.

Perhaps that helps explain why the Prius and the Fusion hybrid are the top two selling hybrid cars in the US?

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US hybrid sales can’t top 3 percent market share

kvadra — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:08:16 +0000

Fusion hybrid sales up 73 percent

Compared to last year, this year’s November hybrid vehicle auto sales were up 21 percent. Still, total new car market share was only 2.7 percent for hybrid cars.

Almost half of all hybrids sold were Toyota Prius hybrids, and almost three-quarters of all hybrids sold were made by Toyota.

The only real bright spot outside of Toyota was the Ford Fusion hybrid with 2,361 total units sold. For comparison the similarly-sized Toyota Camry hybrid sold 1,465 units. However, the Prius sold 9,617 units.

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Toyota Prius still tops Japanese auto sales

kvadra — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:25:01 +0000

7th Month in a Row

The Toyota Prius is again the best selling vehicle in Japan, as it has been for the last 7 months. In fact, one of every ten vehicles sold in Japan is a Prius. Overall, Toyota sold 26,815 Prius hybrids in November.

The Honda Insight came in at 5th at 9,413 units.

In the last year or so there have been some studies regarding the inability of tax credits to help move hybrid cars. Perhaps that’s the case in Canada, but it certainly isn’t the case in Japan.

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Is Toyota hybrid complacent?

kvadra — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:50:00 +0000

All about the Sienna today

Well, the new Sienna minivan will offer a fuel efficient 4-cylinder version next year. That’s good news, but how about some new hybrid hype?

Rumors of new Prius-based hybrids, for instance, have been floating around for years. Why not step it up? This the LA Auto Show, the green showcase, for crying out loud.

Early next year Toyota will put 500 plug in Prius hybrids on the road, months before GM begins production. That’s not news?

Is Toyota afraid? Embarrassed? Why so hybrid complacent?

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Toyota still tops Japanese auto sales

kvadra — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:31:00 +0000

7th Month in a Row

The Honda Insight came in at 5th at 9,413 units.

In the last year or so there have been some studies regarding the inability of tax credits to help move hybrid cars. Perhaps that’s the case in Canada, but it certainly isn’t the case in Japan.

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When did Toyota pull the plug on plug-in hybrids?

kvadra — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:38:01 +0000

Toyota the plug-in naysayer?

During a period of more than 3 years Toyota tested about 150 lithium-powered plug-in Prius hybrids – a fleet still larger than GM’s current Chevy Volt fleet – logging more than 1 million real world miles in almost every type of driving condition imaginable. The lithium batteries used proved safe and reliable, but still cost-ineffective.

Next month, Toyota will produce another 350 plug-in hybrids, followed by another 150 early next year, for further testing. This time however, the goal isn’t based on safety and reliability. Instead, Toyota’s new goal is to provide the most cost-effective plug-in hybrid package based on real world driving needs and conditions.

Over the last few years Toyota has claimed that they would produce plug-in hybrids as soon as the technology was ready, and for Toyota ‘ready’ means cost-effective in addition to safe and reliable. Coincidentally, Toyota knows a little something about the cost-effectiveness of new technologies.

Today, about 70 – 80 percent of new car customers are interested in purchasing hybrid cars, a segment dominated by Toyota. With such high interest, why is market share still only about 3 percent? According to consumer surveys it all boils down to costs, and consumer surveys on plug-in hybrids tell a similar story.

So, why is Toyota bashed for stating the obvious?

Finish: When did Toyota pull the plug on plug-in hybrids?

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Small car blitz at LA Show: Too little too late?

kvadra — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:22:01 +0000

The Chevy Cruze

Tomorrow I’ll be attending press days at the LA Auto Show, and the big theme at this year’s show is once again ‘green’. This year, however, things are a bit different than past years. Instead of hybrid cars or clean diesel vehicles, the path to green is small cars, particularly a number of new offerings from the Big 3.

While this is great news, I cannot help but wonder, is this too little, too late?

Toyota and Honda have always done a pretty good job selling small cars in the US, and they will probably continue to do well. However, both automakers have hinted that smaller, cheaper hybrids will be critical to their future small car plans.

For now certainly the Chevy Cruze, for instance, will sell. Still, a semi-loaded automatic version of the Cruze will probably list for $18,000 – $20,000. But, what happens if Toyota can sell a slightly smaller Prius for around the same price, or if Honda can sell an even cheaper Honda Fit hybrid?

Without question, the Big 3 should proceed with their small car plans. Nonetheless, are the Big 3 avoiding small hybrids today much the same way they avoided small cars in general for the last few decades? Ultimately, aren’t the Big 3 simply chasing the small car US segment when they instead should be showing some real leadership and vision in this segment?

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Small, Toyota Prius-fighting GM hybrids still a possibility

kvadra — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:57:02 +0000

GM’s hybrid story still developing

Sure, the Chevy Volt is the poster child for GM’s clean and green efforts. And, even though GM doesn’t like to call the Volt a hybrid, the Volt is also GM’s marquee hybrid. But that doesn’t mean GM’s hybrid story is anywhere near the end.

Yesterday, I learned that GM isn’t just redeveloping its upcoming lithium-powered BAS hybrid drive, nor just downsizing its dual mode hybrid powertrain for small SUVs, such as the phased out Saturn Vue. In fact, according to sources inside the General, GM is also working on a new hybrid drive derived from the dual mode drive, but redeveloped for small vehicles, including 4 cylinder cars.

Of course, it’s possible that such a hybrid drive will never hit the market. Still, the possibility of small GM hybrid cars that could directly compete with the Toyota Prius is a positive sign. Always good to have your eggs in a few different baskets.

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