After much speculation and reports by the WSJ, Prius production is NOT moving to N.A., or at least is "not anywhere in the cards", according to a Toyota spokeman. Looks like the Camry Hybrid will be available in late 2006, with a production of 48,000 Camry Hybrids per year. Full news here: http://hybridscoop.com/node/4
Good...I think Prius should stay in Japan. Prius is special, it needs to be where the engineers and designers and builders are. Bring all the off shoots here you want, fine, but I like Prius just the way it's being done now.
I 1000% agree. The closer it is to Japan, the sooner the newest high-end goodies are able to be put in it
Re: Prius Production NOT moving to N.A.; Camry Hybrid late I don't think 48,000 hybrid camrys is going to be enough. I think the Prius has really sparked demand for a hybrid and putting it in their best seller is just the ticket. I think they should make double that, and then double the next year. I really think the demand for the "Cambrid" is going to be bigger than they anticipate. Way more than for the Prius when it came out or the redesign in 2004.
I agree, Godiva -- 48,000 CamHybs (you heard it here first ) seems like a low estimate. But they're being conservative. And late 2006 (e.g., 2007 models) were just about what I expected.
And maybe giving their parts suppliers time to increase production as well? With Camry, Toyotoa will be making 4 models and plans to increase that for the furture (models & production). We dont' get much data about this or competition for raw parts materials from other hybrid vehicles, save from an occassional vague article about batteries.
I do not know, it seems like a pretty good starting point. Will the public accept a $3-4k cost increase. There are other options in close classes that'll be cheaper. And other hybrid options in other classes for those just wanting a hybrid. I'd imagine they'll be looking at Accord sales history to set their mark.
It will also be interesting to see if they go the Honda route the first year and only offer it in the high-end version Camry with lots of built-in goodies. Also, with the Avalon coming with SKS as an option, will it be integrated into the newly redesigned Camry??? Lots of questions, not enough answers...
They'll want to match the Accord Hybrid's price. Here in Canada, the Accord Hybrid is priced at $36,995. A fully loaded Camry XLE V6 (all options except nav) is $36,xxx. Given that, if it's with the 3.3 litre V6 currently in the Hihys and RXs, it's gonna be tough. Unless, the overall price range of the new Camry drops or they have more cool features such as those in the Prius to entice buyers to pay more than the price of the Accord Hybrid.
i KNOW it wont be enough. although there hasnt been much about it lately, i cant help but wonder if the battery supply might not be playing a role here. lets face it, the Lexus is all but already sold out and the Prius is not piling up at the dealerships either. as far as availability, its been over a year and half and the supply situation is only slightly better. i showed my Prius with some other PriusChatters at an alternative fuel fair a few weekends ago and i talked to several people who were are on waiting lists or wanted one but couldnt wait the estimated time. one lady had been waiting 5 months. i had thought that we had shortened that wait to only 2 months... but i guess that aint the case everywhere.
