When the next-generation Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle goes on sale next year, Japan’s biggest and the world’s second largest automaker will up its production numbers by 70 percent, up to a minimum of 480,000, today’s reports say.
Toyota will achieve the significant production hike by moving assembly of the Wish minivan, which is produced alongside the current Prius at the company’s Tsutsumi plant, to another factory in April, says an Automotive News report. The industry publication cites Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo daily for the information.
The recent high gas prices in North America made the Prius in higher demand than usual, with paying customers having to wait months to get their green cars. In 2007, Toyota sold 281,300 Priuses, all it could make. The automaker also said earlier it would produce the Prius in a Mississippi plant in the not-too-distant future.
The move would help Toyota meet its target of selling 1 million or more hybrid vehicles early into the next decade.
The Wish minivan will be produced at the company’s Tahara factory where some RAV4 production will move to a new factory in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
07/25, 8:47 AM
posted by:
acoats
Kill me…
07/25, 8:49 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
07/25, 8:54 AM
posted by:
Fletch
A prius wagon will really up the sales #’s, I think.
07/25, 9:04 AM
posted by:
Seriously
I’ve been working in Japan for about 9 months now and I see way more of the Wish minivan than Prius’. They’re usually lowered on at least 20’s, it seems like a spin off of SUVs as a status symbol in the US. The minivans here are much better looking than ones in the US with more car like features. Still makes me laugh though.
07/25, 9:09 AM
posted by:
ihustle
F**K TOYOTA HONDA AND NISSAN!
07/25, 9:09 AM
posted by:
sentinel1111
I think they need an SS model
07/25, 9:13 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
I can’t see this as being anything but good for Toyota.
07/25, 9:42 AM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
yeah ihustle thats all you can say. there are gona clean up
07/25, 10:10 AM
posted by:
thertrain
I love reading this site but i have yet to figure out why so many people on here HATE Toyota. I totally understand they are not the be-all-end-all of auto companies and their cars are not always the most exciting or stylized but the industry would be no where near where it is today with regard to fuel economy standards and reliability had they and Honda not pushed that boundary.
I say let them be successful since they are the ones who are building cars that people want to buy right now.
07/25, 10:11 AM
posted by:
xyunya
ihustle, you are stud!
07/25, 10:16 AM
posted by:
xyunya
… not a scholar
07/25, 10:17 AM
posted by:
shaver
Cant wait for the Iron Man Stewart Edition.
07/25, 10:45 AM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
yea this toyota hate including honda and nissan is a ****in joke.
I defintely aint a big fan of any of toyotas lineup any where on the planet. However I think the more than deserve there success. If it wasn’t for them and the competition they, have been bringing to the market including honda and nissan, I really dont think GM or Ford would have bothered to make any improvements.
I have to totally agree with THERTRAIN
07/25, 12:16 PM
posted by:
SickofGarbageMotors
Good I guess. Since inventories are so low due to ridiculous demand, more units will mean less ADM.
I don’t find anything Toyota has to be exciting, other than the rare Tacoma X-Runner (300hp, 6-speed man. rear drive) or the new AE85 successor, but Toyota knows their intended market very well and usually hits the mark. Remember, not all car buyers are enthusiasts like posters here. Most just want reliable, comfortable, A-B transportation that they’ll “drive until it don’t drive no more” as my dad always says. To those people, Toyota has proven themselves so I’m not surprised by their success.
The Prius is all by itself in the market right now, no rivals and a decade of positive reputation behind it. No wonder it’s so popular.
07/25, 12:18 PM
posted by:
SickofGarbageMotors
Oh and I don’t doubt they’ll sell all 480 thousand of them and still have a waiting list.
07/25, 12:27 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
well, at least 1 company still has employees left to work on something
07/25, 12:31 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
More than 1. I don’t see Honda or Nissan having any trouble either.
07/25, 1:09 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Style, exterior and interior are very subjective. I constantly find myself on a opposite side of the spectrum with many posters, but automakers are aware of it. The reason GM outsold Ford in late 20’s because GM understood that “any color they want as long as it black” does not always work.
Automotive world owes to Toyota for innovation in manufacturing and production. Today all companies are implementing principals pioneered by Toyota; basically it is revolution just like conveyor line from Ford.
There is a lot of false nationalism and ignorance exhibited in the posts, especially ignorance about what is American and what is not.
07/25, 1:33 PM
posted by:
ktulu
the Prius is not as green as people think. If U live in & dribve in a city, U R betrter off than a long-distance commuter.
A prius wagon will not B popualar in America
really up the sales #’s, I think.
I hate toyota cars, nut give respect where do. thau & honda have seen the way ythe wind is blowing, & now they get 2 rake in the nbenefits.
the cars R boring and underpowered.
& yes, ytoyota & homda get credit 4 moving the hole industtry up iun quality
I also say let them be successful, but u hiope the big 3 can build cars that sell. heu just need 2 get smart.
I really dont think GM or Ford would have bothered to make any improvements wiothout people turtning to japanese makesm and it being necessary 4 them 2 improbve to sell anything
The Prius is all by itself in the market right now — mno one else has a distinguesed modelm with cachet. evryboney else is playing catchup w/ hybrids of carsy thaty wlready make.
what is American? that is murky bnow
07/25, 5:41 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Even with the funky spelling, you hit the nail right on the head, Ktulu. I agree with you.
07/25, 8:05 PM
posted by:
DrFill
The funny thing is.
Toyota knows what Americans want/need.
Before we even know we want it.
And they are great salesmen too!
DrFill