Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Tech, Toyota
Toyota delays launch of third-generation Prius
According to Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Toyota is going to postpone the launch of its next generation Prius. Originally planned for fall 2008, the release has been pushed back to spring 2009. This will be the third generation of the popular hybrid-only model, and it was expected that we'd see the first use of lithium-ion batteries in this new model. Toyota, however, has apparently decided to stick with the nickel-metal hydrides, and delayed the launch of the new car until further development could be done on that system. Toyota's battery partner, Matsushita, could be partly to blame here, but officially Toyota says there is no delay. They maintain that the launch date was never announced and that when they feel everything is in place, the new car will appear. With or without the li-ions. The Prius is by far the best selling and most widely known hybrid on the market. Toyota sold 186,000 of them last year, and 313,000 hybrids overall.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
The Other Bob 3:05PM (6/15/2007)
Either its the same battery issue that GM is hoping to resolve, or maybe they are looking at building a Volt-like hybrid so GM doesn't knock them off the hybrid podium.
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rrr 3:09PM (6/15/2007)
Let's see, Toyota making this car that has a cult following and making a TON of money on it, while GM and Ford spend a TON on money on lobbying congressmen to kill all subsidies for hybrids and to kill any increases in fuel economy.
But hey, America is a winner in all of this. We are keeping our dirty air, giving even more to terrorists...and with any luck soon another oil financed guy will attack USA...as if Ahmadinejad and Hugo are not enough.
Ahhhhh, God bless SUVs, Pick Ups and all those who are too fat for a family sedan.
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The Other Bob 3:19PM (6/15/2007)
"Toyota making this car that has a cult following and making a TON of money on it,"
Actually most auto industry experts agree that Toyota likely only breaks even or loses money on every Prius. It is great marketing though.
"..while GM and Ford spend a TON on money on lobbying congressmen to kill all subsidies for hybrids"
When would they do that? Please prove it. Ford and GM benefit from those hybrid subsidies on their own hybrids, so I am sure they are glad to have them.
"...and to kill any increases in fuel economy."
Toyota has lobbied against increasing CAFE too. They spend a ton of money in DC on lobbyists.
If you have problems with GM and Ford, just say it, but don't make stuff up. I keep hearing more and more anti-GM stuff that is just plain fiction, including everything you posted above.
Crawl back in your over-priced hybrid, sip a Latte and drive back to the Hamptons jerk.
Viv 3:18PM (6/15/2007)
Care to indulge us with how many prius's you are driving? Yeah i thought so. Always ready to give advice how about following it.
Mark 3:27PM (6/15/2007)
1. Toyota does not make a ton of money on the Prius. In fact I would be highly suprised if they broke even considering developmental costs. The batteries used in the Prius cost $5000 by themselves. I've seen the internal profit analysis on hybrids and they're huge money losers even on a variable basis.
2. Toyota is lobbying with GM, Ford and Chrysler on this. None of the companies at this point think setting a goal of 55 MPG average in the next 30 or 40 years is realistic. Technology may change to make that possible, but fuel economy should be driven by consumer demand. Do you really think anyone in congress has the slightest clue on what is technologically feasible?
3. Ford some of the best air pollution scores in the industry. If you check the EPA website Fords or meets Toyota and Honda in air pollution scores.
robz4 3:48PM (6/15/2007)
rrr
I just have one question.How much is Toyota paying you to say all of this? I hope is a lot because you are going to have to buy a big shovel to get rid of all the bullshit you are writing here.
rrr 3:14PM (6/15/2007)
#1 Do you actually believe in what you wrote? Honestly do you?
It seems to me you have somehow forgot that to date GM has yet to sell a single REAL hybrid vehicle.
But i guess if we are to use your logic...Indian company Mahindra, that is about to start selling pickups in USA is about to unseat GM in that segment.
BTW, wanna hear something funny? Prius was launched in 1993.......we are in 2007......wooooow oohhhh, those GM people really know how to do it.
I wonder, where are the best minds at GM, are they in egeneering department or lobbying department?
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Mark 3:35PM (6/15/2007)
GM doesn't sell a single hybrid because the profit margins are so razor thin on them. GM can't make money on hybrids. The Japanese auto makers don't have to deal with the huge legacy costs that GM has. Excuse GM for offering healthcare to more Americans than any other company period. You guys are nuts if you think that there's some plot at GM to not invest in a profit making business. Toyota sells Priuses for marketing and to help them get under the CAFE requirements so they can sell big trucks. If the Prius is so profitable why build a Tundra plant in Texas? Why not build a Prius plant. The fact is they have to control costs up the wazoo on the Prius just so they can break even.
mavkato 3:54PM (6/15/2007)
From Wikipedia...
The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, and worldwide in 2001.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius
Aprime1 3:54PM (6/15/2007)
... There's quite a difference between 1993 and 1997 (meaning that it was launched in 97, not 93).
porker 3:16PM (6/15/2007)
It's the suppliers' fault- really, really (wink,wink). This time, we won't sell it before we fix it. Of course, when it does break, we'll blame the customer for poor maintenance.
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John 3:17PM (6/15/2007)
Lithium Ion batteries are not reliable. Good for toyota to not use them.
They lose 20% of their charge every single year. in 5 years, they hold no charge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery
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dcwf 3:18PM (6/15/2007)
Frank, the current Prius is the 3rd generation (we never saw the 1st generation). The next iteration would be the 4th.
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Adam 3:25PM (6/15/2007)
The Other Bob,
you always make so much crap up.
Toyota makes tons of money on Prius. At first they thought they would sell 35,000 a year in USA. At that point they said they would be even or lose a bit.
Now that they sell 140,000 a year here, they make good money.
Most Priuses are loaded too with options that helps.
come again!
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The Other Bob 3:35PM (6/15/2007)
"Now that they sell 140,000 a year here, they make good money."
Prove it. Just because you sell many, doesn't mean you make profit. GM is expected to lose money on the Volt too, but it's a great marketing
exercise.
Jeez, Toyota lovers are sensitive.
The Other Bob 3:26PM (6/15/2007)
"#1 Do you actually believe in what you wrote? Honestly do you?
Actually it was just a simple comment, don't freak out weirdo. When Honda came out with the current Civic, Toyota went back to the drawing board on their Corolla. It would not surprise me to see them come out with an electric drive hybrid to compete.
"It seems to me you have somehow forgot that to date GM has yet to sell a single REAL hybrid vehicle."
I assume that you are considering "real" as a car that can drive on electric along for a short length of time. If that is the case, then Toyota did not come out with a "real hybrid" until 2004, when the current generation came out. Previous generations were over-complicated mild hybrids.
Under your standards, the only "real" hyrbids are the current Prius and the Escape.
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mike7 4:28PM (6/15/2007)
One of you Bob's is right.
Toyota is now offering two models of Prius Regular and Touring, plus 4 or 5 levels of options. My guess is if they were losing money on them they wouldn't be working so hard to find a way to build you one you would really like.
jimsum 5:56PM (6/15/2007)
The previous Prius had the same power-split device and the same gas engine + 2 electric motor design, and it could drive on electric power only ("stealth mode"). The latest Prius is just an evolutionary design over the previous model (electric A/C, brake-by-wire, more powerful components).
The Other Bob 3:39PM (6/15/2007)
I don't make stuff up and wish I could have all my sources at my fingertips to cite everything I write.
It doesn't prove anyone wrong when you make stuff up, so I don't
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ZK 3:48PM (6/15/2007)
Weren't domestic automakers the force behind limiting the tax breaks to 60,000 hybrids sold by a manufacturer, since they knew that Toyota/Lexus would hit that mark fairly quickly?
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