Prius sales fall 25% in April
Sales of Toyota’s popular Prius took a big dip
last month, falling nearly 25 percent compared with the same month last year. Year to date sales for the Prius hybrid
are also about 10.4 percent behind last year’s pace. Regardless of the slip, the Prius still sold more than any
other hybrid in the month of April by a large margin. For example, while Toyota is being quiet about the Prius only
selling 8,234 units last month, Ford’s been shouting from the rafters that sales of its Escape and Mariner Hybrid
SUVs increased by 115 percent to 3,420 units in April. Thanks Igor for the asute eye!
[Source: Toyota and Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Peter W. 7:43AM (5/03/2006)
Maybe there won't be an 8-month waiting list now... and people will actually be able to drive them off the lot after haggling a little.
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Matt Keegan 7:53AM (5/03/2006)
I think people are wising up to the fact that hybrids are an oversold commodity. This means that the overall fuel savings are minimal for the price premium, the batteries will wear out, and that a ton of energy is expended in the production of each battery [something conveniently left out of the entire debate].
Bye, bye hybrids; hello diesels!
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Josiah Cole 7:56AM (5/03/2006)
I would imagine that the slight decrease in sales is somewhat related to the period *right before* gas prices started to sky rocket. High gas prices started to hit the big media airwaves mid to late April, which means people we're sill content with their "cheap" gas for most of April causing sales to slip. I would imagine May sales will be huge again.
Just my theory, I welcome others...
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Michael Karesh 8:08AM (5/03/2006)
Need to look at days supply. If the cars aren't available, people can't buy them. If, on the other hand, inventories are up, then there's an actual story here.
Can't just look at the sales figures.
How does the price actually compare?
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Prius.php
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Antrow 8:24AM (5/03/2006)
Last year I purchased a Prius in November and the dealers were discounting them $1500.00 to get the 2005's off the lots. Since then the same dealers in our Northern Virginia area have had few Prius in inventory and they are asking MSRP again. I wounder if Toyota may have had a supply issue in April.
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Bama Bound 8:56AM (5/03/2006)
Rumors abound about problems, the price is high, mileage has varied from car to car. Mechanics at Toyota dealers will tell you they don't like them. It is a new technology, if you buy today, tomorrow's car may be much better and you are stuck. So many things but mainly for the price the value is just not there.
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Ben 9:00AM (5/03/2006)
geez, not this again.
It is a little known fact that in the early 1900s, there existed paper based message boards. Yards of paper were nailed to town hall doors for folks to scribble their thoughts for others to consider. Some sheets were recently found in a Detroit library, documenting an era when horse & buggy interests were threatened by the exponential growth of the upstart automobile industry. Here are some of those amazing remarks from a message board strangely entitled "Horse&BuggyBlog":
1. Huzzah, first posting! These rapscallions in their auto preambulators lay with other men.
2. 'Tis hype is all. They claim enviromental friendliness though these automobiles emit an ether of noxious fumes that would choke beelzibub himself. At least our tons of horse manure are a natural thing and a good shoe scrubbing is far less painful on the purse strings AND on the person, than a good lung scrubbing!
3. With the price of feed grain approaching $3 per ton, Henry Ford's contraption only SEEMS attractive, BUT TIS NOT. DARE I say one must consider the OVERALL energy AND environmental impact of the auto. WHERE will we bury these autos when they DIE? Not on MY back acreage you don't.
4. If you wish to haul more people and goods, get bigger horses and larger wagons. I hear the new Clydesdale horses are strong beasts indeed. And this new technology of "greasing the wheel hubs" extracts even more efficiency from our buggies.
5. A federal government agency, the Equine Power Administration, claims this contraption has the "power of 10 horses" and that it traverses five miles for every gallon of feed, or "fuel" as they say. Hogwashings, I have friends that claim their autos fail EPA estimates by over 50%, how exactly do you make your money back?
6. Auto drivers are baffoons. GET A HORSE!
7. #5 is a dolt, I have an automobile and I get 9 miles per gallon of gasfeedstuff. At least I'm doing MY part in reducing scat pollution. Also you buggy people should allow me to pass on your left because you are ponderously slow moving.
8. I WORK IN THE HORSE & BUGGY TRADE AND I BEG YOU RECONSIDER PURCHASING AN AUTO. YOU ARE, IN ESSENCE, STEALING MY LIVELIHOOD AND STARVING MY FAMILY. NEW TECHNOLOGY IS BAD. IT COULD EASILY BE YOUR JOB NEXT!!!!!1111!
9. #1 and #6, I am highly aggreived by your vile and slanderous comments; I challenge you both to a duel, sirs.
and so on...
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Alex 9:07AM (5/03/2006)
Why is Michael Karesh always plugging his site on autoblog?
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Razib Ahmed 9:18AM (5/03/2006)
I think that rising fuel price in the international market has some role to play here because for the last 2/3 months, price of fuel is a major issue in the media. No wonder, Toyota is suffering its impact.
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Bama Bound 9:23AM (5/03/2006)
# 7, How about taking a big ole, UP YOURS! and while your at it, kiss my butt! Got it oh brilliant one.
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Michael Karesh 9:44AM (5/03/2006)
I refer to my site where it provides information relevant to the discussion, in this case how much more expensive the Prius really is. I created the site because I was tired of people just pulling numbers out of their arses. Of course, they still do this, but not for lack of trying on my part.
When my site isn't relevant, I comment without mentioning it.
Ben(#6): Hilarious. Is this original? If so, you should submit it to Car and Driver or one of the other magazines that engages in humor from time to time.
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CANADIAN MADE 9:44AM (5/03/2006)
#7. A most excellent observation! If you were any better you'd be me!!!
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Josiah Cole 9:51AM (5/03/2006)
#8 Michael Karesh is plugging his site here because it's good business. Not only does he get traffic from people reading and posting here and hopefully from referring their friends/family), he also gains link popularity ranking in the major search engines because a *major* site like AutoBlog.com is linking TO his site. This counts a lot in Google and other big search engines.
AutoBlog's ALexa Ranking: 3,721
TruDelta's Alexa Rank: 476,339
The higher rank for AutoBlog means that the incoming link to TrueDelta is worth more. (Autoblog wouldn't benefit too much from a link FROM TrueDelta)
Michael is just one of the many small business owners online today using blogs/bulletin boards and social news sites to increase their ranking and get out some good PR.
As long as he's contributing to the conversation, it's cool with me ;)
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Autoblog versus AutoblogGreen 10:07AM (5/03/2006)
AutoblogGreen says that the sales dip is attributable to a supply shortfall, not weak demand.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/05/02/toyota-prius-supply-will-continue-to-be-short/
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Gardiner Westbound 10:32AM (5/03/2006)
I'm weary of Karesh's constant overblown self-promotion. I defensively glance at the bottom of each blog first to avoid his stuff. Clearly he has a relationship with Autoblog or the editors would require him to pay for his advertising.
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Size does matter 10:40AM (5/03/2006)
A little more happiness for the Camry fans.....
GUESS WHAT!!!! Ford wins the battle!!!!
This Week in Drive
Fusion marches past Camry
Ford's power, fit and finish trump Toyota's warhorse
Anita and Paul Lienert / Special to The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co.
The Fusion's interior was luxe and refined . . . See full image
Multimedia
2007 Toyota Camry photo gallery
2006 Ford Fusion photo gallery
Video: 2007 Camry unveiled at Detroit auto show
Video: Ford Fusion
Toyota Camry specifications
Ford Fusion specifications
Toyota Motor Corp.
while the Camry's assembly was surprisingly slipshod. See full image
Ford Motor Co.
The Fusion's cabin is upholstered in rich perforated leather. See full image
Toyota Motor Corp.
The midlevel 2007 Camry SE's interior features cloth seats and few amenities. See full image
Ford Motor Co.
The brash and sporty Fusion makes a statement with its bold styling. See full image
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ANN ARBOR -- When we decided to stage the definitive showdown between two of the top family sedans in North America, our choices quickly narrowed to the newest and most popular designs on the market: The 2006 Ford Fusion and the 2007 Toyota Camry.
The historic battle in this segment between Ford and Toyota, which dates back nearly two decades, has been so fierce that when the Taurus edged the Camry for the U.S. sales crown one year, Ford's public-relations department hired a marching band to trumpet that fact up and down Jefferson Avenue.
Our premise for this historic rematch was simple: If you're a family of modest means, with about $25,000 to spend on some new everyday wheels, which car offers the best value?
With the all-new Fusion supplanting the Taurus for model year 2006 and the long-lived Camry (the reigning sales champ) getting a major redesign for 2007, one of the two rivals is about ready to strike up the band once again.
The '06 Fusion starts at $17,795, including shipping. We tested a top-of-the-line Fusion SEL with lots of equipment and a sticker price of $25,650. The '07 Camry is priced from $18,850. We drove a midrange Camry LE with a modest number of extras and a bottom line of $24,266.
Exterior
Bold. In your face. And very, very American. The Fusion boasts a distinctive exterior that Ford designers like to refer to as "go-Daddy" -- shorthand for hip and edgy. With its big chrome grille, flanked by wrapover headlamps, and other Ford family styling cues, Fusion has a brash and sporty personality that has struck a responsive chord with buyers since its debut last fall.
The redesigned Camry adopts precisely the opposite tack. In a dramatic stylistic departure from its bland predecessor, the '07 model takes a huge step upmarket. Now, the Camry looks an awful lot like a little Lexus, not a garden-variety family schlepper, with a new elegance and sophistication that the Fusion lacks.
Depending on your personal taste, this one's a toss-up.
Winner: Tie
Interior
Oddly enough, where the Toyota had the more luxurious exterior, Ford came up with a ritzier cabin.
The Camry LE was outfitted in a very subtle two-tone interior scheme, with cloth seats and not a lot of amenities. Considering that the base Camry starts at under $19,000, we were surprised that the midlevel LE model didn't seem that much fancier, especially considering the $24,000-plus sticker on our test vehicle.
Moreover, we were startled, and disappointed, by the less-than-sterling assembly quality on our test Camry, which was actually built in Japan, and not in Toyota's huge assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. Regardless of location, there is no excuse for the poor trim fits we encountered inside our test vehicle -- especially not in a segment that's as competitive as this, and certainly not with the golden reputation for quality that Toyota has enjoyed for so many years.
The Fusion, on the other hand, proved to be a pleasant surprise, with an upscale cabin upholstered in rich perforated leather, with handsome piano-black trim. The pieces fit together neatly (the Fusion is assembled in Mexico), and there were enough standard and optional features to give you the impression of driving a near-luxury vehicle.
Winner: Fusion
Ride & handling
Handling tends to be a fairly subjective issue, and it often takes a back seat to ride quality among family buyers. Both our test sedans displayed a very comfortable ride that should be quite acceptable to most shoppers in this segment.
When it comes to agility and maneuverability, however, the Fusion has a clear edge over the Camry. While most midsize family sedans feel neutral, if not a little soggy, in terms of handling, the Fusion is crisp and lively, sharing a delightful nimbleness with its cousin, the Mazda6 (both cars employ a common underbody). It's certainly no BMW, but enthusiasts will appreciate the more sporting flavor of the Ford over Toyota's middle-of-the-road approach.
Winner: Fusion
Powertrain
Between our two test vehicles, the Fusion was the clear winner in this department, by virtue of the fact that it offered two more cylinders, one more transmission gear and 63 more horsepower, for not much more money.
While a DOHC 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is standard in the base model, our range-topping Fusion SEL was equipped with a responsive twin-cam 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers an ample 221 horsepower and comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
In comparison, our Camry LE was fitted with a very sturdy DOHC 2.4-liter I-4 and smooth-shifting five-speed automatic. The Toyota four-cylinder engine makes 158 horsepower -- perfectly adequate for everyday driving, but nowhere near as quick and powerful as the Ford V-6.
Moreover, the Camry's fuel economy isn't much better than the Fusion's. The EPA ratings on our test Camry LE were 24 mpg in city driving and 33 on the highway; the Fusion SEL was rated at 21 and 29 -- very respectable figures for a V-6 with automatic.
Winner: Fusion
Safety
You have to pay extra for most of the safety equipment on the Fusion, even the high-line SEL. Side air bags and side curtains are part of a $595 package; antilock brakes cost $595 and traction control adds $95.
Virtually all that gear comes standard on the Camry LE, including ABS, side air bags and curtains, plus a driver's knee air bag, which is something you'd expect to see on the more expensive Lexus models. Traction control comes bundled with stability control for an extra $650.
Winner: Camry
Summary
Considering the $1,384 price difference between our two test vehicles, the Fusion SLE seemed to offer so much more than the Camry LE, in terms of engine size and performance, as well as creature comforts and -- most surprising of all -- assembly quality.
Overall Winner: Ford Fusion
More Drive Headlines
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Rob 10:44AM (5/03/2006)
If you look at the Wash Post article below, you'll see it says "At Toyota, Prius sales dropped 27 percent, to 11,345. But Toyota said sales slowed because the automaker had to slow production of the car to make room for the hybrid Camry, which arrived at dealerships last week."
I hate autoblog entries that don't give the whole story. As much as I love the site overall, I'd suggest the writers do a little more research before you post this stuff, please.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/02/AR2006050200862.html?nav=hcmodule
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Julio 10:45AM (5/03/2006)
In regards to the original topic, I also beleive that the issue ahs more to do with supply problems than with weaker demand.
In regards to Michael Karesh plugging his site -- I think it's a little disingenuous. Slipping a link to your own site without a disclaimer is a bit like spamming. You're pretending be part of the conversation for its own sake when in reality you're really just marketing. I went on the ste out of curiousity, and must stay that while it's pretty, I'm not impressed with the data. You're going to get much better, accurate information from edmunds.com.
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Rob 10:52AM (5/03/2006)
To Size does matter:
The DETROIT news article you cite pitted an almost base-level LE 4-cyl. camry to the top-of-the-line fusion SEL V6. Hardly fair. They complain about the plain interior of the Camry...DUH-- its not the top of the line XLE so you wouldn't expect it to be upholstered in leather like the Fusion was. Powertrain --same, they compared a V6 fusion against the 4-cyl. camry. Again, ridiculous comparison. Now try the Camry SE V6, or the XLE V6...that would be a true comparo.
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Josiah Cole 10:58AM (5/03/2006)
Michael writes for TheTruthAboutCars, and runs his own blog here: http://carpundit.typepad.com He's also been mentioned in an AutoBlog post or two, so he clearly has a "relationship" with the staff here (I'm not judging just making an observation)
I really don't mind the links in his posts because I know what it's like competing on the web for advertising dollars. However, one should always be weary of abuse, and if his comments become off topic or lacking on real content, then the issue possible "spamming" should be addressed.
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