Surprise, Prius so popular Toyota will increase production rate to 500,000 a year
2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery
Either Toyota intentionally downplayed initial numbers or the sluggish economy is not affecting Prius sales as much as the company feared. Whatever the reason, Toyota apparently realized it wasn't building enough Priuses and will increase production to meet demand. When Toyota introduced the car to the U.S. media in March, company officials said that they were predicting sales of 100,000 units in 2009. Well, even before going on sale in Japan in the middle of May, 80,000 people had pre-ordered the world's most popular hybrid - and the car goes on sale in the U.S. very soon. Let's see, 100,000 minus 80,000 leaves 20,000 with seven months to go in 2009. Yeah, I think Toyota will beat its original public estimate. According to Green Car Advisor, Toyota will now make half a million Priuses a year (instead of 400,000) once the car is available in all the markets around the world.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anton Wahlman 6:07PM (6/01/2009)
The 2010 Prius deliveries from dealerships to customers started mostly on Wednesday, May 27, and I was quoted a 2-4 month wait if I placed an order now. The plural of anecdote is statistics, and my inputs on that front tell me that there is a long list of pre-2010 Prius owners who are in line to trade up to the 2010 model. The 2004-09 model sold almost 1 million units in the US, so the demand for trade-ups to the 2010 could be well over 500,000. The market will be flooded by 2004-09 Priuses!
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Snowdog 6:22PM (6/01/2009)
This is textbook success formula.
Take a decent product, make it better in every way so that you bring in new customers and your old customers want to upgrade.
The 2004 was better in every way than its predecessor and now the 2010 does it again.
Nice one Toyota.
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Brent 12:42AM (6/02/2009)
I just want to OEM(and local dealers) to provide a battery upgrade option or procedure. I got my 2010 IV, and I see the hymotion packs and such(adds 20-30mpg for 6k), but I want OEM reliabilty for that kind of cost.
If they build it....
I will buy.
Ps: If anyone knows of a good deal or well working battery upgrade(that doesn't void warranty) put me in the know.
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oollyoumn 7:44AM (6/02/2009)
Mine was delivered late last week. With only about 50 miles on the odo, it's too early to draw many conclusions, but there is too much hard plastic in this car compared to an 08 Sonata that was $10k less.
The Hybrid/engine technology is great so far. No regrets.
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Willbert 2:59PM (6/12/2009)
We have a 2008 Prius and have about 18,000 miles on it. According to the on-board MPG computer system monitor we are getting about 48 MPG. Lately, I've been figuring the MPG the old fashioned way (Fill up the car, take the gallons used, and divide the miles driven since last fill-up) My real MPG varies between 54 to 64 MPG!!
I went back to the dealership to see if anyone else has this experience. The salesman said one of his customers swears that she gets 58 MPG, which is about my experience.
Any other Smuggy Prii owners have comment?
(Note: my librarian wife has determined that the plural of Pruis is Prii, pronounced "Pre-eye")
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