Normally, Toyota wouldn't be thrilled taking nine years to move 500,000 of one of its models globally, but it seems to be making an exception for the Prius -- the company is ecstatic about that timeline concerning its halo hybrid. According to the automaker, 504,700 Priuses were sold cumulatively by the end of April, making up the lion's share of the over 600,000 hybrid vehicles Toyota has sold so far. Honda Motor Company hasn't even come close, having sold just over 150,000 units cumulatively. Toyota attributes its success to the redesign of the Prius in 2003 to include that gave the car better mileage and a more "normal" look. Surging gas prices over the past few years didn't hurt, either.
[Source: Reuters via Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Prius driver @ Jun 8th 2006 10:12AM
I drive a Prius because I care about the planet, I'm spitting it to the oil industry and evil republiscumheads, unlike everyone who dosen't drive a hybrid.
If you don't drive a hybrid you're helping islamic terrorists, a bush lover and supporting a war for oil.
emor8t @ Jun 8th 2006 10:23AM
That might be the most retarded thing I've heard all week Prius Driver.
Glenn A. @ Jun 8th 2006 10:24AM
OK Prius driver, I'm thinking you're being an ass, with your sarcasm - or an even bigger ass, and what you wrote, you truly mean. Wheras I actually agree with some of your sentiment (sending oil money to those-who-would-kill-us-all is the ultimate in stupidity, after all) I can't sanction your oversweeping generalization statement that "anyone not driving a hybrid is..." It is not valid nor correct in all cases.
In fact, some people cannot manage with 4-5 seats, but actually do require trucks for business (you know, work) and a very few people actually DO need more than 5 seats in a vehicle. Hopefully, Toyota will be bringing out a hybrid minivan soon, but that's another story.
Plus, there is simply no way for Toyota, Honda and Ford to produce many more hybrids than they are now building - even if the entire US population woke up and smelled the coffee, it would be years before there would be sufficient production available to satisfy the requirements.
Only 60% of Prius drivers are DUMIcrats and some 39% are RepublicRATS, whereas a few of us actually can think for ourselves, thank you very much, and don't vote for idiot "lordsoverusall" elitists.
Contrast that to Volvo and Saab drivers, which seem to be about 99% DUMIcrat socialists. You people like that lifestyle so well, go live in Sweden (and pay 60% taxes on your income, your cars, your everything).
Ryan @ Jun 8th 2006 10:30AM
"Contrast that to Volvo and Saab drivers, which seem to be about 99% DUMIcrat socialists. You people like that lifestyle so well, go live in Sweden (and pay 60% taxes on your income, your cars, your everything)."
-Relax Glenn.
YOUR MOM @ Jun 8th 2006 10:30AM
I'M SUDDENLY REMINDED OF A RECENT SOUTH PARK EPISODE
Milos @ Jun 8th 2006 10:38AM
i'm not sure, but i suspect he was just sarcastic...
hj @ Jun 8th 2006 10:39AM
"Contrast that to Volvo and Saab drivers, which seem to be about 99% DUMIcrat socialists. You people like that lifestyle so well, go live in Sweden (and pay 60% taxes on your income, your cars, your everything)."
So true but you forgot VW drivers.
Gale @ Jun 8th 2006 11:01AM
Hey, half a million!
1) And only half of them have been recalled
2) They've equalled a single year of Camry sales
Richard Warren @ Jun 8th 2006 11:44AM
"Contrast that to Volvo and Saab drivers, which seem to be about 99% DUMIcrat socialists. You people like that lifestyle so well, go live in Sweden (and pay 60% taxes on your income, your cars, your everything)."
Actually it's not 60% and then you need to think about what they really get for what they pay in taxes. You know unimportant things like oh, healthcare say that your employer or yourself pay for. Keep in mind that cost add it in as deduction to your after tax pay and then re figure your % paid out.
What do we get for our tax dollar other than a lot of fat politicians? Hell, driven on a well maintained road as of late?
Most people drive these cars because of this, it saves them money in fuel NOW and not a whole lot of thought to the long term. Hey, if that makes you happy and you want to save the planet, rock on.
Hal @ Jun 8th 2006 11:49AM
Does Toyota actually make a profit on each Prius sale?
Hal @ Jun 8th 2006 12:02PM
Does anyone know if Toyota actually makes a profit on the sales of Prius'?
GhostDoggy @ Jun 8th 2006 12:09PM
In ten years when the landfills start filling up with heavy-metals due to the batteries in these things then we'll see who is being environmentally retardfriendly. :)
John @ Jun 8th 2006 12:34PM
Is this Prius Driver for real? What planet are you from or are you just retarted?
Michael Karesh @ Jun 8th 2006 12:56PM
Hybrids use NiMH batteries, which can be recycled and are non-toxic even when disposed. They do not contain heavy metals.
Reliability is strong based on the data currently out there. I'm going to start collecting data on the 2006 Prius this month.
My reliability research: http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
hj @ Jun 8th 2006 1:24PM
First of all you have to factor in the additional industrial polution from the manufacturing of the batteries, motors, and other hybrid specific components.
Then you have to factor in the pollution generated from the recycling process.
Then you have to face the fact that they can't be recycled forever and eventually will end up as disposed waste.
All this outweighs the pollution saved from the cars emissions.
So the net result is more pollution generated from a hybrid car than a gas powered car equivalent in size. Thanks a bunch you stupid socialist greenies.
Ryan @ Jun 8th 2006 1:28PM
"14. First of all you have to factor in the additional industrial polution from the manufacturing of the batteries, motors, and other hybrid specific components.
Then you have to factor in the pollution generated from the recycling process.
Then you have to face the fact that they can't be recycled forever and eventually will end up as disposed waste.
All this outweighs the pollution saved from the cars emissions."
Actually, it does not.
Ryan @ Jun 8th 2006 1:30PM
"Thanks a bunch you stupid socialist greenies."
If your going to say that, then also say that about our 100% republican controlled government that gives tax-breaks, etc for them.
CrunchyCookie @ Jun 8th 2006 1:30PM
Toyota does make a profit on each Prius sale; Patrick Bedard said so in his initial 2003 article.
Also, you can bet they would have sold 200,000+ Prii in 2004 if they'd had enough capacity. Heck, they didn't even have the capacity last year and they sold 108,000. (Meanwhile, Honda sold 666 Insights, proving it's the work of Satan.)
Liberal @ Jun 8th 2006 1:42PM
HI! I'm a liberal! I drive a hybrid! Everyone should drive a hybrid! It makes me feel so warm inside! Forget that by doing so we're driving up demand for the manufacturing of new cars and thus generating 10x as much in industrial polution. I could buy a used SLEV rated vehicle and drive down the demand for new cars to be manufactured but wheres the fun in that!? So don't worry about secondary effects of our actions. We liberals will just blame that on GW Bush like everything else thats wrong. Forget personal responsablity, BLAME SOCIETY AND BUSH!
Ryan @ Jun 8th 2006 2:26PM
"We liberals will just blame that on GW Bush like everything else thats wrong"
HUH, democats have not been in charge of anything on the federal level for YEARS at this point, literally YEARS and YEARS and YEARS. At least the rebate for ***hybrid*** cars was invented under a fully republican controlled federal g'ment.
"We liberals will just blame that on GW Bush like everything else thats wrong"
-God you would think he was the president of something.