I have just read in an Israeli news site that due to the Japan desaster, Toyota has decided to postpone launch of new Prius models to an unspecified date. No source was given. Giora.
Hmm. Going to have to try and track down a source for this. CONTEST: first person to find a credible news source wins! (no, I don't know what you win)
Toyota to delay Prius minivan launch after quake - BusinessWeek Factbox: Japan quake impact on auto, electronics makers | Reuters * Toyota Motor Co (7203.T) has halted operations at its 12 main assembly plants in Japan until at least Saturday, which will result in lost production of 140,000 vehicles. It will also delay the launch of the Prius wagon and minivan models in Japan from the original plan for the end of April. On Monday the firm began making car parts at plants near its base in Toyota City, central Japan, for overseas assembly facilities. It resumed making parts for service centers to repair vehicles already on the road last week.
"Parts shortages resulting from the earthquake in Japan have caused Toyota Motor Corp. to postpone the launch of a wagon-like derivative of its Prius hybrid for the Japanese market. The new car is part of a much-publicized strategy to expand the Prius into a line or family of vehicles. The new Prius model was supposed to go on sale in Japan next month. A company spokesman says it is unclear how the delays may affect the North American launch of the wagon, called the Prius V, scheduled for later this year." More from the Wall Street Journal: Shortages Halt Prius Wagon Launch In Japan - Driver's Seat - WSJ
Unfortunate, but even without a source, shouldn't be suprising. Given the tragedy in Japan I'd be highly suprised if "everything" wasn't significantly slowed down.
According to JP response, Toyota/Panasonic Primearth EV Energy factory in Miyagi prefecture was hit hard by the 3/11 earthquake. Another source confirm other Japanese clean vehicle plants are also affected in the same region. Earthquake, Tsunami Cripple Japan's Clean Vehicle Production Prius+ 3rd row seatings
I saw the first story posted by ggood late last night. However, Report: Toyota Prius V launch delayed in Japan due to earthquake — Autoblog says: "Toyota says that, as of now, the U.S. and European launches of the Prius V are not expected to be delayed." http://www.autonet.ca/autos/news/2011/03/23/17729411-autonet.html says: "Toyota has not made a decision on whether the summer launch window for the Prius v in Canada and the U.S. will be changed."
From Toyota's site: Toyota Vehicles : Toyota statement regarding the delay of the Prius derivative in Japan; Prius v in the U.S. / Toyota
The reason for the difference in the Japan launch and the U.S. launch is that the Japan launch is scheduled much sooner (April) versus the summer launch of the U.S. version. As a result of the quake, production is stopped right now; therefore, the imminent April launch in Japan will need to be delayed until production is restored. The U.S. summer launch is much farther in the future, and Toyota has plenty of time to restore production assembly lines prior to then.
