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Subscribe to this threadToyota announces Camry Hybrid 50th Anniversary Edition
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Lithous @ Feb 20th 2007 3:49PM
rrr and sp must cost Toyota at least $100K in salary each plus bonuses...
Of course, as much as Toyota loves us Americans we weren't their first choice for getting to use their "great" technology. It came out in Japan in 1997 but not in America then. Years after. Their home land (which isn't U.S.A. believe it or not from all the commercials on U.S. TV) of course was graced first even though we are the biggest auto market in the world. I guess they really are Japanese.
Oh wait, all Japanese hybrid system are from Japan as a whole and shipped to the U.S. Baltimore MD is where GM does manufacturing for their hybrid system. But who cares if it is from Japan... Well, import fanboys do of course. You know, when 1 Chinese motor is used or joint development with European companies GM has owned for 80+ years participate in designing a GM vehicle. Then of course we care where the techonology originates.
Toyota has carved out production numbers the size of a decent selling model in the U.S. btween all hybrids sold in the U.S. by Toyota in each year. This isn't something so stellar that it even gives the Camry a run for the money. IIRC, they don't sell as many hybrids in the world per year as they do Camrys in the U.S.
Add to the fact that all the gov't incentives (state and federal) helped them even sell that many. All I'm saying is that they gambled and it looks like it will work out but they had a lot of help. We are not talking about a product (the hybrid system itself) that was so incredible that everyone has to have one, even when gas was above $3 that wasn't true. We are talking about a product that is OK.
But let you and your company keep thinking that even a 10 year head start is "game over", please, keep thinking that.
Back to the thread... Of course Toyota wants your psyche to process it as if they have been making hybrids for 50 years. That is how they ride. Perception is 99% of the current car game in America. Toyota knows this. That is why they publicly throw out statements like they want to share their technology. So people will assume Toyota helped them with their hybrid system.