One More Time: There's a Toyota Prius wait list?
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Auto sales are down – that's not exactly a surprise to anyone anymore. But Toyota has revived a little something from last summer called a wait list – for people who are interested in buying a new 2010 Prius. According to a story in The New York Times, Toyota is running its Prius production plants in Japan 24 hours a day and offering overtime to workers – even bringing in workers from other areas of the country – to meet demand for the hybrid car. Panasonic EV Energy, the Prius' battery supplier, is also working constantly to keep churning out packs for the model.
This is the effect of those higher-than-expected sales numbers. The NYT says that the waiting list is "several months" long in Japan. While impressive considering the marketplace, Toyota is still warning that 2009 will not be a profitable year for the company.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: The New York Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Sea Urchin 11:01AM (6/15/2009)
Well this will ruin the day for D3 fanboys. They were about to use weak Prius demand as a justification for D3 not making fuel efficient cars people people did not want them.
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The Other Bob 11:46AM (6/15/2009)
"weak Prius demand as a justification for D3 not making fuel efficient cars people people did not want them."
They do make fuel effecient cars, they just don't make a Prius competitor.
Redeemed 11:30AM (6/15/2009)
The Prius is unique in the fact it has a cult-like following.
If you look at hybrid sales, in their totality, they are down just like everything else. Your beloved import companies are doing just as rotten as the big 3.
k.w.a 11:55AM (6/15/2009)
@ Redeemed and like-minded people
Get a life!! A Toyota Prius cult? geez. really?
And AB should stop hating as well. Of course there's a Prius wait list. that's because 1.) Toyota (even if you don't personally like them) is a smart company and focuses on having as little inventory as possible and 2.) The Prius is a car that makes sense at this particular time.
I'm not a Toyota fan at all, but I can give credit where it's due. The Prius isn't a car-messiah here to save the world from itself, but it is more environmentally sensible than most cars, and if it starts a fad that makes everyone think greener and healthier (for whatever personal reason or ulterior motive), then so be it.
Redeemed 12:23PM (6/15/2009)
"The Prius isn't a car-messiah here to save the world from itself"
That is where you are wrong. Just as the Hummer is the symbol of hatred among environmentalists, the Prius is the champion of their cause. Because the Prius was the first completely uniquely styled hybrid vehicle, it was easy to identify "Prius" with "hybrid". Also, the timing was perfect for them with the sharp rise in gas prices and growing hatred of the domestic big three.
Case in point, look at the Hollywood wanna-be environmentalists driving around so they can be seen in a Prius. Same goes for many Prius owners with their holier-than-thou "I care more about the environment than you do" attitude.
I am not anti fuel economy but I don't like people with their nose stuck in the air looking down at me and telling me how environmental I need to be.
Sea Urchin 12:43PM (6/15/2009)
"owners with their holier-than-thou "----And yet your avatar (picture) ha s cross on it, and your name is redeemed.
MoonRover 12:51PM (6/15/2009)
If the Prius is selling so well and months behind, then pray tell why hasn't Toyota re-started work on the Prius plant in Tupelo Mississippi. Toyota hasn't been completely truthful in the past, they aren't completely truthful today and they won't be completely truthful tomorrow. Take what Toyota proclaims with a grain of salt, remember the wonderful quality with no recalls, well we know how that little escapade unfolded. Shell games, shell games, shell games, anything to make the Yota look better than the rest.
Redeemed 1:03PM (6/15/2009)
"And yet your avatar (picture) ha s cross on it, and your name is redeemed"
Last time I checked I wasn't preaching a turn or burn message on this forum so the fact I am a Christian reader is irrelevant. Yet, I've been told more than once on this forum that I am "irresponsible" for driving an SUV. So who is judging who?
Sea Urchin 1:11PM (6/15/2009)
Why did you change your avatar?
Also, it is irresponsible to drive an SUV. SUVs are meant to go off road, i believe SUVs make up about 50% of all vehicles sold. Now somehow i can bet that 99.999999% of people do not go off road.
Malibu and other sedans are superior in every way possible to SUVs. More room, more space, better MPG, more fun, lower price.
Dude i once watched on TV i think in was Israeli army that did mock tank fights. Do you know what they use to simulate a tank? Excursion and other American SUVs. Do you realize how big these vehicles are if they mimic actual battle tanks?
SUVs pollute, without bringing any positives with it, they provide less room, they roll over...and eat more gas.
Redeemed 1:20PM (6/15/2009)
SU: You are the one preaching here and prove my point exactly. You know nothing about where I live, where I take my vehicle, or what kind of trailers I pull at yet you feel like you should be telling me what to own. My friend, you are way out of line and should think a little more before hitting the "add comment" button.
Sea Urchin 1:23PM (6/15/2009)
Best and worst selling hybrids in USA
http://cnettv.cnet.com/worst-selling-hybrids-q1-2009/9742-1_53-50071461.html
http://cnettv.cnet.com/best-selling-hybrids-q1-2009/9742-1_53-50070887.html
Sea Urchin 1:38PM (6/15/2009)
"or what kind of trailers I pull " I am sure you do, and you need an SUV for that. What i am trying to say is that MOST people to not do these thing, most do not go off road, or tow boats. I see SUVs all the time, most of the time there's one person inside them, doing the same thing a guy in Malibu does....drive.
SUVs have their place in USA, but not to the extent people have them now.
homunculus 2:01PM (6/15/2009)
the irony is fantastic that you're mocking people who follow a 'holier than thou' 'cult' of an 'automotive messiah,' and you're some sort of super christian who has crosses and lightning in his profile pic and has 'redeemer' as his username.
you make me laugh. if matrix were here, he'd laugh too.
Redeemed 2:23PM (6/15/2009)
"and you're some sort of super christian who has crosses and lightning in his profile pic and has 'redeemer' as his username. "
Where did I mention anything about Christianity in this thread? So how does that make me "super Christian" as you put it? I live what I believe, and am not afraid of the bias and hatred against my faith hence I have no problem displaying a Christian avatar.
I would love to debate you on theological beliefs but this isn't the proper forum for doing so!
Sea Urchin 2:32PM (6/15/2009)
"hatred against my faith "---1% of Americans are Hebrews, about 1% are Muslims, the rest are Christians. What hate?
k.w.a 2:35PM (6/15/2009)
"just as the Hummer is the symbol of hatred among environmentalists, the Prius is the champion of their cause. Because the Prius was the first completely uniquely styled hybrid vehicle, it was easy to identify "Prius" with "hybrid". Also, the timing was perfect for them with the sharp rise in gas prices and growing hatred of the domestic big three."
Ok, so Toyota found a way to turn arrogance away from mammoth sized, hazardous, ill fitting, gas guzzling SUVs to eco-friendly, less hazardous, more practical for an average person, less blingy car at the "perfect timing" when oil became a crisis in the U.S and that's a BAD THING???? Moreover, that's a CULT??
What you're describing is not a cult, it's a FAD. No more of a fad than 8 seater SUVs, wood-paneled station wagons, or tail fins were at their respective times. Personally i think it's genius that a car company was able to turn car-snobbish arrogance to something that actually HELPS humanity instead of thwarts it. As for dealing with smugness, nothing has changed.....it's the same image conscious people who were flashing their stretch Escalades at you that at flashing their Priuses at you now! They might still be annoying as hell, but at least their not as dangerous
Redeemed 3:20PM (6/15/2009)
"What hate?"
I have not mentioned one thing about Christianity or beliefs here and the mere fact I have a Christian avatar has already brought out 3 insulting comments.
Bob-omb 11:02AM (6/15/2009)
This isn't too surprising. The last Prius sold far better than anyone expected. And gas prices are expensive again, so, ya know.
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DesiAuto 11:05AM (6/15/2009)
Why the surprise? There is a market and Toyota is milking it.
Now if you ask is hybrid the ultimate solution? The answer is no it is not.
Should Ford build it and milk the market just like Toyota? Strong yes.
Should Ford, Tesla and Fisker work on true alternate fuel technology? YES.
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jjcentral 11:06AM (6/15/2009)
Now everyone can start complaining about how ugly the Prius looks :)
Good to see greener cars going up in sales, that's what matters.
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