Due to overwhelming demand, Toyota shifts Aqua production into Overdrive

Corolla and Camry are top two best selling non-hybrid for Toyota.

Prius c and Prius liftback may become the same pair since Prius c has more leg room than the Corolla. If not, Prius liftback and Prius v would.

 

i am pretty sure that 30k means a lot of them coming to USA, as thats where they will be selling them.

Realistically they can not sell more than 15k a month in Japan consistently... even with govt incentives, it will be 20k a month... Japanese market is not that large. November Prius sales were 33k for Prius and Prius v, so maybe we will see 50k when Prius c swings into full production and arrives at dealers in February/March.

 

If Toyota is planning on filling inventory in Japan, then you can't simply ship to US because of the modifications that have to be made (steering wheel in the wrong side, restrictions on lights and so on). We would have to wait until Toyota is done filling inventory in its home market before we can benefit from the high production capacity.

 

i am pretty sure their factory is capable of producing car for the both markets... 30k month is a lot more than what Japanese market needs... there will be plenty in the USA.

 

Sure they can make cars for both driver sides, but I am referring to anyone who might think they can benefit from high Japanese inventories being shipped to the US.

 

Corolla will always have a market but take out the "under 25 and single" crowd and i bet their #'s suffer. drive thru any high school parking lot. it is probably the #1 rank for "first car"

the Prius has the advantage of being able to haul a family and be used as single commuter with the great gas mileage. that 1-2 punch is the reason for its popularity

 

December 2011 in Japan:
Prius 22,998 (includes the alpha)
Fit 15,248 (includes the hybrid)

(The Daihatsu Mira K-car was the 2nd best seller with 17,603).

Unless they pumped out the Aquas for all the pre-orders they won't be selling 50k in a month.

 

In December all of their cars had very low inventory for all of their cars due to Thailand floods... Fit has low inventories as well.

I expect January or February numbers to double from those, as Prius sold 33k in November alone (Prius + Prius v).

But yes for sure, those 30k month production means a lot of them for USA, as I said already.

 

It will be initially up until Mississippi plant in Blue Springs starts cranking them up. Since one would expect C to take on Corolla sales

 

cranking up who?

 

Next Toyota Prius To Be Built in U.S.--But Not Until 2016
technically Prius C is "next Prius"

It would make sense since the Kanto Auto Works in Iwate also produces Corollas, and there are shared components/equipment btw both. Mississippi plant currently builds Corollas only.. One can assume taking body part forms and equipment programming from Iwate wouldn't be as expensive as taking Gen III production from Tsusumi.

Besides GenIII is already produced in Thailand and China.. C is only produced in Japan

 

From the mouth of the people who created the car. There will only be 30k a month:
Review (Of Sorts): Prius C, Japanese Spec | The Truth About Cars

(BTW. Nice read about battery placement, CW and other details)

 

OMG they put 12v battery "IN" the rear seat, alone with 9.5gal tank and traction battery.

 

#33, if you are right that took balls.

As if the battery was not enough to make a passenger sweat a little, to add a fuel tank is just pushing the envelope. I prefer a design where one rear passenger rides the fuel tank and the other passenger rides the battery.

 

Weight distribution would be off when you are low on gas.

 

uh, i dont think those plans are plans at all .
So far it seems they want to export their Prii.

 

Does that mean you have to remove the back seat to change the 12V battery? I understand its a better place for weight, but don't like that design.

 

That's how it was with the original Beetle.

 

12V battery is under the back seat in many other cars: BMW 5 series, Audi 100, etcetera.

 

It is easier to hook up an amp, speaker and subwoofer.