At Tokyo Auto Show, Hybrids and Electrics Dominate

[cwerdna]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/bu...r=yahoofinance

But the rest of the world is not going to be there. The show will be notable for a stark absence of non-Japanese car manufacturers, which are banking on China, not Japan, as Asia’s next big auto market.
...
In Tokyo, only Group Lotus and Caterham Cars of Britain, and Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen of Germany will be present from outside Japan — a far cry from the 1,500 exhibitors from 25 countries present at a similar show in Shanghai this year.

That's really too bad about the above. I'm going to TMS and didn't realize foreign (to Japan) automakers would be so sparse. When I went in earlier years, there was a sizable presence from US and European automakers, including many that don't sell in the US.

[Rybold]

I think it's apparent from this article that Toyota needs to evolve the niche that it has carved out for itself from hybrids to plug-in hybrids. Toyota dominates the hybrid market right now. They need to evolve that to the plug-in HSD market and flex their advertising strength to point of the weaknesses of not having a gasoline back up. I know it's not the most environmentally-friendly solution, but Toyota needs to stay on top, and this is what they are going to need to do over the next decade.

[cwerdna]

Back to TMS, from looking at the show map, it looks like the show is only going to be 1/2 the size or less compared to previous TMSes I've been to.

[warrior]

Please hurry with EVII. Will be interesting to see if Nisson Leaf measures up to toyota