Hi,

The news is better considering the trend:

• April - ~8,000 Prius (same rate as since January)
• May - ~10,000 Prius (first 2010s show up)
• June - ~13,000 Prius (still cleaning out 2009 inventory)

Talk about 'just in time,' the 2010 has been very timely.

Bob Wilson

Does that mean discounts will not be coming anytime in the near future?

The latest stats shows that the Prius is a solid 3rd in sales for Toyotas lineup and perhaps could overtake the Corolla with a slight push.

Worldwide sales of the Prius could see a dominant position with Japan's increased demands.

Hats off to Toyota with a successful release of the 3rd Gen Prius.

I can hear the nay-sayers now:

(covering their ears)

" niche niche niche ... that's all it is ! ! "

EDIT:
Lest we forget ... the corporate knuckleheads that GM finally got rid of? Anyone remember their take on the Prius?
"It's just a marketing ploy ... Toyota's selling 'em at a loss ..."

How is it that Toyota isn't bankrupt yet ... after selling over a MILLION Prius's at a loss ... and already BLOWING their own 2010 Gen III Model projected 100,000 units sales target out of the watter.
Must be voodo.

.

Walking the dog this evening, I checked the lot of the local Toyota dealer and found only two hybrids, both Camry hybrids. There was not one Prius to be found in the front lot although I didn't check the showroom floor. There wasn't even a Prius in their used car area.

I'm relieved to see some 2010 Prius still for sale on Ebay with prices that are 'ok.'

Bob Wilson

While I don't think we're driving the Model T of the 21st century (which is probably a good thing), it is a car that can meet the needs of a lot of people, and at least here in Denver, it seems to be meeting them. You can't drive 30 minutes without seeing at least five or six of us.

If you're looking for bargains though, Toyota just doesn't have any direct competitors yet. Ford is getting close but the Fusion/Milan is more a competitor for their fellow sedan, the Camry. The Prius shows that Americans can love a hatchback, if it doesn't rattle all the time. I think Ford would do well to go down that path.

Only 6% up?

FYI,
In Japan, more than 22,000 Prius were registered in June, 253% up, from 6,231 June 2008. :cheer2:
Our wait list is now 8 months long. If we order it now, the delivery will be late February 2010.

Ken@Japan

Excellent news for both Toyota and fuel efficiency. This is at a time when gas prices dropping and predictions of further declines by the end of the year as the recession continues to depress demands.

Are these numbers for U.S. sales only?
The Associated Press is reporting 22,292 Prius sold in June, globally. (and the Prius was the #1 top selling of all vehicles in Japan in June) The article also says that hybrids are tax-free in Japan.
Toyota Prius is Japan's top selling car in June - Yahoo! Finance

How many Gen III's were sold in June?

I read somewhere that 85% of US sales were 2010.

With oil futures speculation still uncontrolled and gas prices creeping up, the public is moving towards hybrids while the car companies are loaded with gas guzzlers to sell.
What you call market disconnect.

Gen3 Prius is going to rule the world. Too good for many to resist.

While driving over 200 miles today, I saw at least six 2010 Pri's zipping on the highway. 1 in town also. It's catching on, no stopping it. Gen 2's are so common also. Sometimes see 3 in a row on the highway.

I saw .... one 2010 Honda Insight out there today. 1 Fusion hybrid also.

To my disappointment, the price of crude oil fell from 73 last week to close at 64 today. That is a decline of 14%. It is very unusual and very quick ... and it doesn't look very good (it looks like it may continue going down for a few more days, and into the 50s before it stabilizes). I've been following the markets closely for about 15 years now; consider me an expert on the subject - but also be mindful that no one can actually predict the markets. We rely on experience and knowledge of how the markets have behaved in the past.
What this means for gasoline prices: Probably about a 15% drop by the end of July. As much as I don't like it, it is unfortunately the reality we are facing. Long term though (as the economy begins to recover and demand from industrial and trucking increases), gasoline prices will undoubtedly be above $3.00 per gallon.

Something that seasoned investors saw last week that was mostly hidden from "the amateur investor" is that while unemployment hit a peak, manufacturing orders reported an increase of 1.2% (the greatest since Dec 2007, the month the recession began). Since unemployment is always about three months behind in an economic recovery, throughout history a resuming growth in manufacturing at the same time that unemployment hits a peak corresponds with the economy having hit a bottom; the minimum value on a graph. Note: I do not give investing advice; do not consider this investing advice. This is only FYI. Although it is "textbook" based on history, no one can fully predict the future. You should be investing in a 2010 Prius anyways.

This is disappointing because?

Because mainstream society only seems to want hybrids when gasoline prices are high. When gasoline prices fall, mainstream society seems to forget that hybrids exist and they are content with their SUVs. If gasoline was headed towards $4.00 a gallon right now, everyone would be scrambling to sell their SUVs and buy hybrids again.
It is very important that we get mainstream society to shift permanently from tranditional cars to hybrids. And, also consider the auto manufacturers. When gasoline is high, the auto manufacturers have more pressure and urgency to develop new hybrids. When gasoline is low, they take a lot longer or put hybrid plans on hold. High gasoline prices are a good thing right now, until society makes the shift to hybrids.

Understood, it's a Catch-22 though. One of the few good outcomes to this recession, at least we're not paying $4+/gal on top of everything else. And from a selfish perspective, I am betting gas prices go down short term (they're down 24¢/gal from 2009 peak here today) so I can get a great deal on a 2010 Prius because I do believe gas prices will increase over the life of my next car purchase, typically 5-6 years for me. Never thought I would, but I'd rather see gas taxes to bring the price up gradually and more predictably. There is no way automakers can win this game with buyers changing what they want with each major gas price swing. I don't blame the D3 entirely for the product line fix they're in - people were buying Escalades, F150s, Navigators etc. and walking right by small cars to do it for years. Has worked like a charm across Europe for buyers and automakers, unless you believe Europeans are just smarter than Americans (rhetorical)...

I expect gas prices to drop at the end of the summer, as they most always do. But there's a lot of concern about the volatility of oil prices, and how that affects the world economies. The volatility is based partly on a lot of speculation about world events which may or may not affect the oil supply (most likely not). Speculation itself (gambling that the price will go up) also drives energy prices up, and the world can't afford that right now. It's disconcerting that Obama has yet to address the problem of regulating oil futures trading again, as it was before Bush jr took office, to reduce price volatility.

I'm kind of liking it the way it is.
I think Toyota is selling a lot more Priuses because people are uncertain about the future of pump prices. (I hear you on the economy though. I definitely know what you mean. Businesses depend on shipping, which requires trucks, which requires fuel)