1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Featured Bolt the cannibal and used hybrid/plug-in generator

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, Dec 14, 2016.

  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    That has literally nothing to do with the question I asked. They are about to bring the sixth year to a close. Sales volume needs to at least double. How will that growth be achieved ?
     
  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,597
    11,223
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Why must the Volt's sales double? It is already outselling many hybrids on the market. Have you held Toyota's feet to the fire over how the Prius v and c are doing?

    Why can't GM increase their plug in sales through the introduction of more models? More choices in a segment has increased total sales in the past. Last month, plug in sales were over 1% of new cars sold. That is better than diesels got back when the fuel was still cheap in most of the country.
     
    RCO, austingreen and San_Carlos_Jeff like this.
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,606
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I can see it now, next time Akio Toyoda comes to California, he'll be driving a Model S, and this will be his custom vanity license plate;

    uploadfromtaptalk1482348867904.png

    btw, any of you model 3 reservation holders want it ... it's available!
    I suppose I should show a little more grace ....

    .
     
    RCO likes this.
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    The goal of gen-2 Volt was sales growth.

    What was the point of the upgrade investment if it doesn't attract more interest?
     
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,606
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Geez, give it some time. It's not like Prius sales doubled every year. ...
    .
     
  6. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    The introduction of gen-2 Prius more than doubled its first year, and without a tax-credit.

    Volt enthusiasts claimed gen-2 would do even better.

    Why not expect the second year to do at least as well?
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,597
    11,223
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The gen1 Prius was basically a special order car in most of the country. The gen2 being on more dealer lots alone would increase sales, but it was also bigger with better fuel economy, and could have features only available on a Lexus. The Volt had nationwide availability from the beginning.

    Then there is the truism of hybrid sales following the price of gas. The 2016 inflation adjust price for a gallon of gas in 2003 was $2.05. In 2004 it was up to $2.36. Then $2.81 in 2005 and $3.08 in 2006. Finally peaking in 2008 at $3.63, before it went back down. 2008 is also the year that Prius sales had peaked in the US, which is also when the incentives were at their best. 2016 sales numbers might be lower than the 2005 ones.

    Gas prices started to climb back up in 2011 to where they were in 2008, which is when Prius sales started to recover, but they had started dropping in 2013, and quickly in the past couple of years. Now a gallon of gas is $2.25 at this time. Despite the lower gas prices, Volt sales appear to meet previous years' best, and might beat them.

    So the Prius growth in sales was helped by high gas prices, not by being the next generation alone, and the gen2 Volt is doing as well in its first year as the gen1 did in its best.

    Toyota Prius Sales Figures - GOOD CAR BAD CAR
    U.S. Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices (Dollars per Gallon)
    Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2016
     
    RCO and fotomoto like this.
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,606
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    well - for two reasons;
    #1 using the barely available 1st-gen Prius to shuffle the deck & make Prius sales increases look more than they are is disingenuous. Greater honesty would look at years difference between '04,' 05, '06,' '07, '08 etc & beyond
    # 2 claiming no tax credit for the 2nd gen Prius is also disingenuous, & that's the nicest word one can label that claim;
    2004 Toyota Prius Certified for Clean-Burning Fuel Deduction
    .
     
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It's all just denial of the problem at hand now.

    TRADITIONAL VEHICLE SALES ARE ABSOLUTELY CRUSHING PLUG-IN VEHICLES.

    No amount of spin or excuses will change that.

    Go ahead, settle for a "good enough". Some of us want a grade higher than "C". Constructive discussion has been lost. Time to unwatch.
     
    Got2bHam likes this.
  10. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,606
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    An optimistic company may not call it/sales a problem - but rather an opportunity. And as Bob always says, 'perfect is the enemy of good enough' . The IRS cite was just a correction. No offense intended, but .... oh well ...

    .
     
    #210 hill, Dec 21, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2016
  11. Got2bHam

    Got2bHam Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2016
    155
    51
    0
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    My comment of badge engineering is more in reference to everyone saying GM has changed their tactics. I understand that platforms are shared and that helps on costs but I also see no point to 4 brands vying for 2 groups of customers. The comment about Buick being like Mercury is pretty accurate, also what happened to Mercury may also fall on Buick. I think GM would be better served with two brands. Most likely Chevrolet and Cadillac and leave Buick to China (their best customers). Instead of axing the companies it might be in their best interest to sell off.
     
  12. Got2bHam

    Got2bHam Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2016
    155
    51
    0
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Lexus is playing the market, and I agree many people will never buy an EV or even consider a hybrid. As much as they try, it will take time hybrids are just now becoming more common and no longer avoided and how long did that take? Nearly 20 years. People's buying habits won't change overnight. Nor what they purchase.
     
  13. Got2bHam

    Got2bHam Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2016
    155
    51
    0
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Considering pigs like the Equinox can sell nearly 200,000 units a year while The new Volt struggles despite being way better in quality. Throw a lift on it and they'll mindlessly buy anything
     
    Rmay635703 likes this.
  14. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Your missing the point that other manufacturers were taking pot shots at his choice of car so why should they get a pass(?).

    You know the anti-plug in campaign continues to this day. Lexus takes aim at electric vehicles, again - Autoblog
     
    RCO likes this.
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    but he was talking about gm.
     
    RCO likes this.
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Trollbait, RCO, Got2bHam and 2 others like this.
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    'if you have the car, i have the time'
     
    RCO likes this.
  18. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    871
    160
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Now you've put the Miller High Life song in my head ;-)
     
    bisco and Prius Maximus like this.
  19. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,527
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Include a picture of you charging it. Lexus has also said that people won't charge phevs ;-)
     
    RCO likes this.
  20. UsedToLoveCars

    UsedToLoveCars Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    448
    102
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    GM kills the electric car, and people complain.

    GM brings a very nice little electric car that would be great for suburban commuters and people complain.

    What is the commonality here?
     
    Trollbait and Zythryn like this.