Toyota Prius sales backlogged until May 2010 in Japan
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Toyota's successful launch of the 2010 Prius hybrid doesn't appear to be losing any momentum in Japan. According to the Japanese Automobile Dealers Association, the automaker moved a total of 31,758 Prius hybrids last month, making September the fifth straight month that the fuel-sipper was the best-selling car in its home market of Japan.
What's more, Toyota reports that there is a backlog of Prius orders that numbers well into the thousands. In fact, order a brand new Prius in Japan today and you're not likely to get your new car until May of 2010. One of the reasons cited for the car's continued performance are a series of incentives in Japan to boost the sales of fuel efficient vehicles, but those programs are currently scheduled to end next March.
Moving on down the line, the Honda Fit took second place in overall sales in Japan with 17,241 units sold. Honda's reborn Insight, which held the top position in April, its first month on the market, came in fifth position.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Canadian Press via Google]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Laurens 11:27AM (10/07/2009)
It tops the charts in the Netherlands as well. No wonder, subsidies for corporate lease total 17.000 Euro's over 4 years/150.000 kms. That saves 12 gram/kms, or in total 2 tons of CO2, compared to a similar size diesel, equal to 50 Euro's in emission rights.
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downtoearth 4:13PM (10/07/2009)
Laurens:
> That saves 12 gram/kms, or in total 2 tons of CO2, compared
> to a similar size diesel
Prius saves much more.
It's fuel/energy efficiency rating is 89 g CO2/km. The closest diesel is the VW Golf Bluemotion, with 99 g CO2/km. But the Golf is much smaller and noticeably slower than the Prius and it also has an old 5-speed manual gearbox.
To match Prius performance and interior dimensions, you need a VW Jetta or Passat, with a double clutch gearbox and a 140HP diesel engine.
140HP VW Jetta TDI DSG: 154 g CO2/km
140HP VW Passat TDI DSG: 158 g CO2/km
Compare it to Prius efficiency of 89-92 g CO2/km.
Laurens 4:47PM (10/07/2009)
Even if it would save ten times more (it doesn't) that still makes it a poor investment from an environment point of view.
The car I use to compare is a Volvo V50, bigger, roomier, definitely a top choice for corporate lease drivers if incentives were the same. No auto gearbox, nobody over here really cares about that, it is a Prius design "feature", maybe important in the US market.
Chris M 11:03PM (10/07/2009)
Well, Laurens, we're still waiting to see just how it is "a poor investment from an environmental point of view", nothing you've stated gives any indication. Now there was a bogus report that used false and misleading figures to pretend that a Prius was worse than a Hummer for the environment, but that was totally discredited long ago.
Being "bigger and roomier" may be nice, but it isn't really an environmental advantage. As for the electric CVT transmission in the Prius, it is part of the hybrid system, and it achieves higher fuel economy than any manual transmission while offering the ease of use of an automatic, and has fewer moving parts and is more reliable than either manual or automatic transmission. Also, the Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive transmission doesn't have the hesitation and stalling problems common with automatics, or the gear grinding and jerky clutch release of a manual - just smooth, reliable and prompt response to the accelerator.
Laurens 4:29AM (10/08/2009)
All the answers are in my first post. You just have to read...
However if CO2 is traded at 25 Euro's/ton, that is it's market value. Any environmental investment has to be justified based on this number. Prius doesn't make the hurdle rate.
Non of the other Prius advantages you mention, have an environmental benefit either. Unless you mean acceptance, that's where the Volvo scores maximum points as well, giving more bang for the buck to the consumer (in many cases families), who in my country likes to have fi a tow hook as well. And has no problem shifting, to reality :-)
Andy 10:14PM (10/08/2009)
Hmmm, at the approriate price point hybrid cars outsell all other vehicles. It's obvious the intrinsic demand is there for electric propulsion.
You will see an interesting trend with BEV's. In about 5 years, some companies will have invested and built sufficient capacity. One player will take a bold market move and push BEV's into a very attractive price point. They will take a long term view (Korean style)
Then BEV's will sell like hot cakes. Whoever plans best and executes to meet availabity will take the market share lead. That company will be best positioned for market dominance over the bext 50 years.
BEV's will dominate in the 20's. Ignore the barrage of press releases on range anxiety, hydrogen baloney and other battery negatives. Players are skirmishing before a war. The big guns are quietly moving into position.
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