Toyota Hybrid Production Maxed Out

ggood · 05-08-2006, 07:49 AM

Maxed Out?
Toyota's U.S, chief says still plenty of demand for its hybrid vehicles

Mark Rechtin | automotive news | |

Automotive News | 6:00 am, May 8, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- Is the hybrid boom over? Hardly.

Toyota Prius sales plunged 27.4 percent in April, to 8,234 units, compared to the same month last year. But the problem was limited manufacturing capacity, not lack of consumer demand, said Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. In fact, he said, soaring fuel prices have made Toyota's hybrids hotter than ever.

The production start of the Camry Hybrid at the Tsutsumi plant in Japan meant it has had to cut back on building Prius units.

"We ended the month with a three-day supply of Prius," Press said in an interview. "Demand has never been higher. We also had a phenomenal month for Highlander Hybrid and RX 400h."

The Camry Hybrid went on sale nationwide on May 1. Most regions had received their first shipment by Friday, May 5, said spokesman John Hanson. In the two days in April that the Camry Hybrid was on sale - in California and Oregon - 47 units were sold.

As much as Toyota would like to sell more hybrids, Tsutsumi is maxed out. Toyota already is scrambling to increase the capacity there until its Georgetown, Ky., plant starts building the Camry Hybrid in September, Hanson said.

At best, Press said Toyota Motor Sales can double its U.S. hybrid sales from last year, when it sold 146,560 units.

As for the future, Press said Toyota is short of the engineering resources to accelerate its plans to bring new hybrid models to market.

"Expanding hybrid volume requires increasing the number of vehicles that have the hybrid option available," he said. "That's driven by engineering resources, and it's difficult to accelerate that."

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**TonyPSchaefer** · 05-08-2006, 09:40 AM

I think just about everyone predicted a canibalization of Prius production for the HyCam so there's no real surprise there. However, that's not to say that tomorrow's headlines won't read "PRIUS SALES FALL: END OF HYBRID HYPE?"

ghostofjk · 05-08-2006, 03:25 PM

Meanwhile, there ARE signs "on the ground"---if PriusChat posts are any indicator---that demand may be easing off.

* Several members report having recently bought Priuses with a very short wait, or no wait.

* We're NOT hearing horror stories by prospective buyers who've been told they'll have to wait 6 months to a year to get one after they order.

* MOST people who've recently ordered seem to be saying they expect to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Again, these are signs WE get---and we may not be a representative sample of what's going on "out there". But PC DID seem to represent the frantic sales of, and long waits for, the '04s and '05s.

Sooner or later demand pressure WILL lessen. Toyota's ramped-up production of last year was bound to make some impact on wait times. And, of course, the Camry Hybrid is potentially a big "wild card". A lot of us are eager to see May CH sales figures. I would guess that at least 50% of CH sales are/were at least potential Prius sales, and they would have been "drawn from" not just April, but the last few months.

If this is reality, it may seem odd for diminished Prius demand to occur in the face of another rapid escalation to $3 gas. But we're just going to have to wait to look at the overall hybrid sales picture.

Salsawonder · 05-08-2006, 03:39 PM

I think there will be more interest in the Camry Hybrid and a moderate decrease in the Prius. The Camry does not meet my needs, the Prius does so it will be interesting to watch and see how sales progress.

**Tideland Prius** · 05-08-2006, 08:20 PM

Indeed. But then again, the Camry may have everything that someone was looking for in the Prius and more.

e.g.
- style --> some may prefer the Camry's style
- bodystyle --> some may prefer a traditional sedan instead
- quality --> even though the Prius is a Toyota, I feel the Camry has a more luxurious feel
- HSD --> The TCH will have the latest HSD technology even though its electric motors are still less powerful than the Prius
- power --> some may want 200hp like V6 engines had back in the late 90s.
- space --> Do note the Camry is much wider than the Prius so 3 will fit more comfortably in the back. I know I did when we had 3 people in the back on a trip down to the States

ken1784 · 05-08-2006, 10:43 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 9 2006, 09:20 AM) [snapback]251818[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

- HSD --> The TCH will have the latest HSD technology even though its electric motors are still less powerful than the Prius
[/b]

Camry Hybrid has 105kW motor and Prius has 50kW motor.
What is your point?

Ken@Japan

**Tideland Prius** · 05-08-2006, 11:14 PM

hmm.... I was looking at torque figures lol.

Prius has 295lb-ft no?

ken1784 · 05-08-2006, 11:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 9 2006, 12:14 PM) [snapback]251938[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

hmm.... I was looking at torque figures lol.

Prius has 295lb-ft no?
[/b]

The absolute torque value means nothing. You have to consider it"s rpm or gear ratio.

Ken@Japan

**Tideland Prius** · 05-09-2006, 12:34 AM

clett · 05-09-2006, 08:11 AM

Ken, do you know what maximum battery output is for Camry hybrid? More than the 21kW of the Prius?

05-08-2006, 03:25 PM	#3
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Meanwhile, there ARE signs "on the ground"---if PriusChat posts are any indicator---that demand may be easing off. * Several members report having recently bought Priuses with a very short wait, or no wait. * We're NOT hearing horror stories by prospective buyers who've been told they'll have to wait 6 months to a year to get one after they order. * MOST people who've recently ordered seem to be saying they expect to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery. Again, these are signs WE get---and we may not be a representative sample of what's going on "out there". But PC DID seem to represent the frantic sales of, and long waits for, the '04s and '05s. Sooner or later demand pressure WILL lessen. Toyota's ramped-up production of last year was bound to make some impact on wait times. And, of course, the Camry Hybrid is potentially a big "wild card". A lot of us are eager to see May CH sales figures. I would guess that at least 50% of CH sales are/were at least potential Prius sales, and they would have been "drawn from" not just April, but the last few months. If this is reality, it may seem odd for diminished Prius demand to occur in the face of another rapid escalation to $3 gas. But we're just going to have to wait to look at the overall hybrid sales picture. __________________ Imagine the "Desiderata" here. Pointy-headed ex-hippie elitist liberal '04 silver, '06 red

05-08-2006, 08:20 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Indeed. But then again, the Camry may have everything that someone was looking for in the Prius and more. e.g. - style --> some may prefer the Camry's style - bodystyle --> some may prefer a traditional sedan instead - quality --> even though the Prius is a Toyota, I feel the Camry has a more luxurious feel - HSD --> The TCH will have the latest HSD technology even though its electric motors are still less powerful than the Prius - power --> some may want 200hp like V6 engines had back in the late 90s. - space --> Do note the Camry is much wider than the Prius so 3 will fit more comfortably in the back. I know I did when we had 3 people in the back on a trip down to the States __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package as of 25th Oct 2004 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, OEM All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Interior Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Integration Kit, LED licence plate lights, Phillips Vision Plus 2008 smart fortwo passion coupé as of 28th Apr 2008 Foglights, dash pods, leather seats, OEM rubber mats, BRABUS alum. handbrake, LED licence plate lights & dome lamp

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05-08-2006, 07:49 AM	#1
ggood ggood Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 126 My Car: Other Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Maxed Out? Toyota's U.S, chief says still plenty of demand for its hybrid vehicles Mark Rechtin \| automotive news \| \| Automotive News \| 6:00 am, May 8, 2006 LOS ANGELES -- Is the hybrid boom over? Hardly. Toyota Prius sales plunged 27.4 percent in April, to 8,234 units, compared to the same month last year. But the problem was limited manufacturing capacity, not lack of consumer demand, said Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. In fact, he said, soaring fuel prices have made Toyota's hybrids hotter than ever. The production start of the Camry Hybrid at the Tsutsumi plant in Japan meant it has had to cut back on building Prius units. "We ended the month with a three-day supply of Prius," Press said in an interview. "Demand has never been higher. We also had a phenomenal month for Highlander Hybrid and RX 400h." The Camry Hybrid went on sale nationwide on May 1. Most regions had received their first shipment by Friday, May 5, said spokesman John Hanson. In the two days in April that the Camry Hybrid was on sale - in California and Oregon - 47 units were sold. As much as Toyota would like to sell more hybrids, Tsutsumi is maxed out. Toyota already is scrambling to increase the capacity there until its Georgetown, Ky., plant starts building the Camry Hybrid in September, Hanson said. At best, Press said Toyota Motor Sales can double its U.S. hybrid sales from last year, when it sold 146,560 units. As for the future, Press said Toyota is short of the engineering resources to accelerate its plans to bring new hybrid models to market. "Expanding hybrid volume requires increasing the number of vehicles that have the hybrid option available," he said. "That's driven by engineering resources, and it's difficult to accelerate that." PRINTED FROM: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...mplate=printart Entire contents ©2006 Crain Communications, Inc.

05-08-2006, 09:40 AM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,341 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	I think just about everyone predicted a canibalization of Prius production for the HyCam so there's no real surprise there. However, that's not to say that tomorrow's headlines won't read "PRIUS SALES FALL: END OF HYBRID HYPE?"

05-08-2006, 03:39 PM	#4
Salsawonder Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Mesa California Posts: 1,296 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think there will be more interest in the Camry Hybrid and a moderate decrease in the Prius. The Camry does not meet my needs, the Prius does so it will be interesting to watch and see how sales progress.

05-08-2006, 11:14 PM	#7
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	hmm.... I was looking at torque figures lol. Prius has 295lb-ft no?

05-09-2006, 12:34 AM	#9
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	oh

05-09-2006, 08:11 AM	#10
clett Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 453 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ken, do you know what maximum battery output is for Camry hybrid? More than the 21kW of the Prius?