Another spin from the folks back East. Seems GM is making a "New" hybrid system. Reading between the lines, that means GM will make a "better" system. That implies the "not New" stuff is worse. But thay aint gona come out and say that. The Detroit News Online Of course, the good folks of Detroit news just cant stomach calling GM the SECOND largest auto manufacturer ... or the largest, but only if you are talking about the (corporate) U.S.A. ... so they use last years sales, and still call 'em the largest, when they're not ... when in fact Toyota's likely pullng away from 2nd place GM. This pic is suposed to be of the Saturn "Flextream" ... one of the possible recipients of the batteries. I wonder if the "Flextream", like its non-existent cousin, the Volt, have even been wind tested ... or if its result mirror that of the Volt's (akin to a parachute) In any event, the Detroit article fails to mention that Toyota already has Prius test mules running around with Lithium-ion batteries. They DO state that the batteiris WILL be better than those of the Prius, which use nickel metal hydride. Kind of a funny slant, eh? They don't mention how powerful the nickel metal hydride's were though, that GM's EV1 had, though, in comparison ... you know, the batteries that propelled the car appx 120 miles (wink) says "This" will build on GM's existing hybrids. That shouldn't take much effort. Ok, I'll stop.
Hello hill, February was probably the worst month ever for Toyota in the US. GM was #1 and sold/reported? 267,003 units Ford was #2 184,673 units Toyota lost over 11% vs 07 at 182,169 units The Prius was down 10.9% as well but World wide sales increased to over 11 % Toyota is launching the new THS III soon I hope.
That concept is not new, it was shown last year in Europe. It is built on the same chassis and platform as the Volt.
beginning 2010 i hope the prius III Will be there! not sooner only then end of 2009 and beginning 2010 the real competition ( maybe ) begins on hybrids where more car makers Will have there first hybrid on the road ( i not really hope .. like the prius to be the one and only )
I wouldn't worry about one or two months of sales Hirose-san, Toyota is in it for the long haul. Best to look at year to year numbers. Prius down 10.9% isn't so bad considering how little Toyota advertises it. Can you imagine Prius sales if there were as many Prius commercials, as there are Volt commercials? Wow! Toyota is using it's capitol for more important things, like designing the PHEV's of tomorrow.
not sure what you mean by "worst month ever for Toyota" Why do you make your statement? GM has always been #1 in sales in the US (for whatever reason). It used to be the big 3 in the top 3: GM, then Ford, then Chrysler. Eventually, Toyota passed Chrysler and then some of the time passed Ford. Last month, Toyota sold 171,849 vehicles per Toyota Reports January 2008 Sales. In Feb 06, Toyota sold 166,940 vehicles and 163,059 in Feb 05 per Toyota Reports February 2006 Sales. I don't see how 182K is worse than the above. You can find other sales results at Toyota/Lexus/Scion Pressroom: Search for +sales_result.
Me thinkest me smellest a little Troll in here.....Hmmmmmm remember, don't feed the trolls, shoot 'em.
Nah, Hirose is good peeps, a straight shooter, and works for Toyota, which you'll see if you follow his links
Re: not sure what you mean by "worst month ever for Toyota" Just a factual statement, that's all. Although Toyotas number is up this year versus last year however, GM and Ford larger.... This year has started lower than the GM and Ford competition. But Hill - San says, not to worry... Toyota does not want to beat the mighty GM in its own home turf just yet. Will be too many political repercussion if Toyota beats GM in USA sales...Let just continue to do the world-wide sales supremacy...for the time beeing..
Re: not sure what you mean by "worst month ever for Toyota" Your statement "February was probably the worst month ever for Toyota in the US." still makes no sense. It's not a true statement nor is it factual. I already pointed out months where Toyota had fewer sales. I'm sure I can find MANY more. As I said, the fact that Toyota has overtaken the Big 3 American makers at all is more a recent development. You can see that in 06, Ford was still ahead of Toyota in the US per By the Numbers: 2006 - Autoblog. In 05, Toyota was behind all of the Big 3 in sales.
Re: not sure what you mean by "worst month ever for Toyota" cwerdna, OK, OK. I know Toyota overtook Chrysler, then Ford.. a long time a go... I have been with Toyota all my life..So I know. Your statement is the "True" one, sorry, no need to keep reminding me.. You win !
