Blog Archive
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2011
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May
(102)
- Fisker Karma Makes European Debut at Monaco Grand ...
- Ford Focus RS
- UPS Composite Van Boost MPG by 40%
- Fullycharged John O'Groats to Lands end in a Tesla...
- Suzuki With Hot Hatchback in Geneva with Swift S-C...
- Lorinser Gives Revamped Mercedes-Benz S-Class More...
- Seat Start Production of Audi Q3 in 2012
- Mitsubishi target 25,000 i-MiEV sales in FY 2011
- Transformers 3 "Dark of the Moon"
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz Fight to Outsell Each Other in ...
- Nissan LEAF: Gas Powered Everything [video]
- Renault - Electric Life [video]
- BritNed 1 GW HVDC Interconnector between UK and EU...
- 2011 Ford Escape
- Newey: Red Bull Racing underestimated KERS
- Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2011 overview and drea...
- 2011 Holden VE Series II SS V8 Ute
- Targa Tasmania 2011 - In the Cockpit of a Tesla Ro...
- Bosch to get VW contract for EV batteries
- Tesla Announces Follow-On Offering of Common Stock
- The fastest way to charge your Nissan Leaf - towin...
- Grand Prix Electrique Pile Up at 2011 Grand Prix d...
- 2011 Ford Fiesta S1600
- Mercedes-Benz to Style Helicopter Interiors, Yacht...
- Nissan Leaf Earns Top Safety Rating from NCAP [video]
- UK Police take delivery of first electric patrol car
- Electric Porsche Boxster E breaks cover @ Challeng...
- Lexus LF-Gh Concept
- Concept vehicle art by John Frye
- Azure Dynamics Sells 27 Ford Transit Connect EVs t...
- Venturi Volage wins 3 awards @ the Challenge Bibendum
- Nissan Leaf prices set to fall
- All-New 2012 Kia Rio 5 Hatchback
- VW plans to introduce EVs in Japan within 3 years
- All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza
- Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2011 [video]
- Vexing Hex: Iranian Designer Pens 6-Wheel Mercedes...
- New Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck
- Multijet II Turbo Diesel for Alfa Romeo MiTo
- Deal for first 100 government EVs almost done
- Chevrolet Volt Plant Prepares for Production Boost...
- Nissan could help Red Bull with KERS
- Japanese electric car 'goes 300km' on single charge
- Toyota Extends Production Halt until March 22
- Johnson Controls Moves to Dissolve Battery Joint V...
- Brabus Gives Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series M...
- 2011 NYIAS: Lexus CT 200h
- Majority of consumers would consider buying an EV ...
- Obama administration wants rebate on electric cars
- V2G might make a profit for EV owners
- GM Electric Motors Plant is First for Major U.S. A...
- Toyota Verso-S 2011
- Aston Martin Will Build a Cygnet EV
- Fully Charged Delta E4 test drive, Blackcurrent VW...
- Opel: First battery car from 2013
- All New NISSAN LEAF NISMO RC 2011 SHAKEDOWN [video]
- Toyota’s Prius V Gets Over 8 Times As Many Orders ...
- Germany Doubles Electric Vehicle Research and Deve...
- BMW M5 Concept
- 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC
- Brammo wins in TTXGP season opener at Infineon Rac...
- Volkswagen to make electric cars in China with FAW
- Solar Field to Power Chevrolet Volt Assembly Plant
- Test Drive of the Electric Ford Transit Van [video]
- Order Books Open for Nissan Leaf in Spain
- Volvo Going Racing with Rear-Drive Volvo S60
- Porsche 911 GT3 500HP
- Clarkson and Co filming the Nissan Leaf and Peugeo...
- Top Gear up to their usual Electric Car comedy rou...
- How It's Made: Audi R8 e-tron AWD Electric Super C...
- Aurelien Francois concept vehicle
- Air Conditioner
- Electric cars take off in Norway
- Volkswagen to introduce plug-in hybrids by 2013
- Vettel, Webber Praise Red Bull for KERS Fix
- Toyota to make plug-ins standard for Prius from 2014
- Concept vehicle art by Nick Carver
- New York Could See Electric Taxis by 2017
- Nissan Leaf NISMO Electric Race Car ON TRACK [video]
- Toyota consumer’s first choice for hybrid and elec...
- Ford shows off prototype of new electric Focus [vi...
- 'KERS worked well' - Webber
- Jaguar and Williams F1 set for UK-made hybrid car ...
- All-electric garbage trucks to sweep French streets
- Spyker Set to Sell its Cars in Select Saab Showrooms
- A123 signs on as sponsor of TTXGP electric motorcy...
- Hertz Introduces Tesla Roadster Electric Vehicles ...
- Wrc
- Nissan's Leaf sales spike in April
- Peugeot EX1 electric car record run around the Nür...
- Red Bull's KERS problem fixed - Marko
- Increase proposed to $9,500 Electric Car Tax Credit
- BYD e6 all-electric car [video]
- Rent A Racer: Audi Race Experience Program Puts Yo...
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Rav 4
- YASA Motors Announce Electric and Hybrid Road and ...
- Amp Electric Vehicles scores $100M deal in Iceland
- Mercedes plans electric S-class
- Chevrolet Volt Drawing New Customers to Dealers
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May
(102)
Toyota’s Prius V Gets Over 8 Times As Many Orders As Expected
Building on the success of its hybrid Prius brand, Toyota has recently launched the Prius Alpha in Japan. The Japanese model is a minivan with the Prius family styling, but as a 5-seater with two rows of seats, or three rows of seats making it a 7-seater. The same model will be launched at the Prius V in in the US and Prius Plus in Europe with two rows of seats.
Toyota was expecting to have orders for about 3000 units per month, but after opening its order books for the first month (April), Toyota now reports that it has received orders for 25,000 units -- over 8 times as many as expected. Toyota is expecting to sell 2000 units per month in the US and 2000 in Europe -- but given the huge demand in Japan, it would not be surprising to see these numbers eclipsed many times over.
To put these numbers in perspective, the number 1 best-selling car in Japan in April was the Honda Fit, which (in regular ICE and hybrid form) sold just 8,574 units in that period. March had much better sales numbers, but even then the best-selling car (the Fit, once again) only sold 22,284 units.
This is a testament to the power of the Prius brand, as there are other hybrid minivan options in Japan (such as the Estima hybrid) already in the marketplace. It will be interesting to see how much this new model draws sales away from the standard Prius, as well as models such as the Estima hybrid previously mentioned, and how much it brings drivers into the hybrid fold.
The only fly in the ointment with this one is that with the effects of the earthquake continuing to be felt into the fall, Toyota is going to be hard-pressed to keep up with this level of demand. In fact, the TBS news report below states that some new owners will need to wait until next April to receive their cars!