The comprehensive USA blog on automotive news.
7th Month in a Row
The 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 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 . Perhaps that’s the case in Canada, but it certainly isn’t the case in Japan.
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:
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 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 for around the same price, or if Honda can sell an even cheaper ?
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?
GM’s hybrid story still developing
Sure, the 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 that could directly compete with the is a positive sign. Always good to have your eggs in a few different baskets.
