Toyota Shows Distain: Even for their Own RAV4-EV

Can you say "...internal in-fighting within divisions?.." sure you can!

 

In-fighting? How is it in-fighting when the Toyota CEO telling the same story?

 

The target is Tesla IMO

Mike

 

With the PPI only available in 15 states, and the Rav4 EV in 0ne, chances are good that most seeing the ad won't know Toyota has any plug ins.

 

it's not encouraging, that's for sure. i would hate for this to be my last prius.

 

Another disappointing ad from Toyota America. Hopefully changing their homebase location and firing all the dolts there will improve things.

At least it is not as creepy as the giant sushi Prius ads...

 

Godzilla Marketing?

 

I must say I progressively get more disappointed with Toyota. I think their reluctance to offer decent plugins other than the PiP is disappointing. I always thought that my next car also would by a Prius, hopefully a Prius+ with plugin option since I have a few kids and mostly commute short distances. However, Toyota only offers one plugin and that is not a decent family mover. Other brands now offer several plugins with better mileage than Toyota. Where is a Highlander PiP for example? Other SUV such as Outlander is now on offer with plugins in Europe at least. Toyota has been lagging behind the last years. The hybrid system is pretty outdated, new diesels on offer from other brands get better mileage than the Prius and the germans seems to constantly offer new models and have a lot of PiP:s coming. The crown as the most progressive carmaker is about to get lost Toyota.

And yes, this commercial is a shot at a lot of loyal Prius customers who are early adopters of new environmental friendly technologies.

 

I didn't realize Toyota hired anti-EV execs from oil companies and GM. ;-)

The comments at the bottom of the article display a lot of hatred towards Toyota, which is kinda funny. Hating (or loving) a soulless entity is a bit nonproductive.

 

Is he schizophrenic? Does he argue with himself...and...lose? (wink,wink)

Sounds like "Godzilla 'Trojan-horse' Marketing" to me.

 

Interesting. I wonder what they might know that many others don't.

 

Or might not know what many others do?

It is another sign that Toyota is throwing all their eggs in the hydrogen basket.

Which seems odd, as their hydrogen vehicles will be completely reliant on mostly unbuilt hydrogen infrastructure. Whereas basic electric infrastructure is already in place, and is growing.

 

They know that they plan to offer a FCEV in southern California possibly next year. They are trying to get some of that small market to wait for instead of picking up a Tesla.

 

The video.

 

really odd ad whereas so many Americans are pro-EV(maybe not a majority but vocal)...last few days I am wondering if something is going on behind the scenes with future of CA green HOV stickers, that Toyota doesn't like

 

They know that could lose a bunch of sales to the i3 and B-class EV, as well as Tesla, so they need to push Lexus towards the wealthy ignorant douchebag market.

 

Toyota has been doing anti-plug in PR for over a year. Toyota has been working CARB politics and got them to give fuel cell vehicles even more favorable treatment.

December 2013 Dashboard - HybridCars.com
Add up the powerful lexus hybrids LSh, GSh, and RXh and you get 115, 522, and 12,223 respectively in the US that is 12.9K total for 2013. Lexus does fine with lower power, but not in Tesla's ballpark.
The Tesla S sales were 18,650, the X which will compete with the RXh should be shipping in quantity a year from now.

BMW and Mercedes are doing the obviously and making some plug-ins. Lexus is resisting. I don't know why, but it is coming from the top. Even if Toyota/Lexus do not want to support plug-ins I think its a bad marking mistake to bad mouth them.