Toyota has announced that it plans to sell one million hybrid vehicles annually by the early 2010s, a goal that will be aided by new plug-in hybrid models. The Japanese automaker will soon begin testing its new plug-in hybrid technology in Japan, Europe and the United States.
“We are making steady progress toward commercialization of this vehicle,” Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told Automotive News. The new vehicles will use lithium-ion battery co-developed with Panasonic EV Energy Co. Mass production of the batteries are scheduled to start soon, but the companies failed to give an exact date.
Since the launch of the Prius in 1997, Toyota has sold 1.25 million hybrid vehicles. The plan to reach one million hybrid vehicle sales per years includes new hybrid-only models, as well as hybrid versions of every Toyota model by 2020.
Honda recently announced that it will ramp up hybrid production — including a new hybrid-only model — but will not be using plug-in technology.
12/27, 12:35 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I mistaked “Watanabe” for “wannabe”
12/27, 1:14 PM
posted by:
CA36GTP
I sure hope they are working on a process for breaking down these short-lived things.
12/27, 1:17 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Is this in response to the Honda puppet yesterday claiming real competition has not started yet.
I hope Honda guy responds again tomorrow with 2 -million vehicles per year by some vague date in the future.
12/27, 1:26 PM
posted by:
Commodore
Toy is really not get back on my good side anytime soon. Now they plan to set sales records with hybrids? All they give a **** about is sales numbers! And why are they planning hybrids in 2020? By then, we should be at something much more advanced and worthwhile than hybrids - like maybe hydrogen or B100 (biodiesel)
12/27, 1:56 PM
posted by:
peter g
Think they’ll have to for marketing purposes. Hybrids as we know them today probably aren’t the answer to the challenges facing us, but surely not doing anything isn’t the answer either. So until we come up with something better, hybrids will do. Hope somebody comes up with something better…Soon…
12/27, 2:01 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Toyota is starting to sound like McDonalds: ‘over 1,000,000 hybrids served’. What’s next? Happy meals on wheels?
12/27, 2:13 PM
posted by:
LP640
lol @ jayjc08 & johnnycanuck
with the way the world is goin and everyone ****ting their pants about global warming then its no surprise.
12/27, 3:26 PM
posted by:
autonut
I am sure that batteries will be recycled. I don’t know who throws away battery core for which you get $5 back, we are talking core here in excess of $100 or more, so I don’t believe there will be landfills full of them at this price.
Per article Toyota plans to sell 1,000,000 hybrids as of 2010. It is about 10% of their 2008 sale projection therefore Toyota anticipates to start making money on hybrids. At this moment they are breaking even at best. Based on Toyota record so far, I think it is much closer to the reality then Tesla at 1/4 of the price.
12/29, 10:33 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
Toyota might be breaking even on Hybrid, but holy cow they’ve been sainted for even making them! Gawd, Americans are such sheep…
12/31, 8:15 AM
posted by:
V2
how exciting……………the environment is stronger than we are led to believe and hybrids are just a waste of time, they are basically cars for poofters to buy.
12/31, 3:38 PM
posted by:
lamboz get a life
Just in time for the release of a even larger Tundra to rival trucks from Kenworth and Mack.
01/07, 6:53 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
lga life:m Funny!