Toyota to extend Prius production to California, build version for GM?
05/30/2008, 11:57 AM
By Drew Johnson
The Toyota Prius — the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle — is due for a revamp early next year, but it looks as though Toyota might have more in store for the hybrid than just a new face. A new report indicates that Toyota is seriously considering extending Prius production to its plant in Fremont, California.
The Prius is currently produced in China and Japan, but Japan’s Tokyo Shimbun is reporting that Toyota will extend production of the all-new model to include Toyota’s New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. facility in Fremont, California, which is jointly run with General Motors.
“Nothing has been decided on production of Prius at the joint venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., even though Toyota is always seeking ways to build the most appropriate production system,” said a Toyota spokesperson.
The mention of the NUMMI raises several questions, including whether or not GM is slated to get a version of the new Prius. The NUMMI plant currently builds the Toyota Corolla, Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe which all ride on the same platform.
While a GM-badged Prius would help the auto giant with its green credentials, it could also eat into the company’s sales of the 2010 Chevrolet Volt. Whatever the case, more details should be revealed by January 2009 when Toyota will take the wraps off its new Prius.



05/30, 11:59 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
The mention of “Toyota” suggests quality problems.
05/30, 12:00 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Last I checked, GM said it was sticking with its two mode and developing lithium ion hybrids
05/30, 12:22 PM
posted by:
shaver
It will be badged as a GMC Sierra “Club”
05/30, 12:31 PM
posted by:
oldraven
GM should know better. There is no lie like HSD.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/oldraven/junk/prius.jpg
05/30, 12:31 PM
posted by:
audi-lover
GM doesn’t need a prius in their line up. they have much better hybrids to make than that ugly little bug
05/30, 12:32 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
NoName, I’m in agreement w/ you on this. It sounds like LLN is speculating again…
05/30, 12:37 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Here is something interesting, a Toyota using GM parts
The famous Baja 500 begins today in Ensenada, CA, and one of the more interesting dirt racers discovered by our friend Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com is the Tundra D-Cab PreRunner from TForce Motorsports. It looks good, has ridiculously huge King off-road racing shocks, and it’s owned by former Indy 500 champ Danny Sullivan, but that’s not what makes this rally racer unique. Power for the PreRunner comes from none other than GM’s LS2 small-block. TForce crew member Matt Riggle told Levine that the team chose the 375-hp, 400 lb-ft powerplant because of its reliability, as well as its ability to run on regular Pemex gas that’s much cheaper than facing fuel.
05/30, 12:46 PM
posted by:
TOZO
GM could use a Prius.
05/30, 12:54 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I wish all prius’s would go to the crusher and then turned into speed parts for my Road Runner
05/30, 12:57 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Why would GM want to use old hybrid tech when they proved that lithium ion batteries are more efficient and spend development there, not to mention they are developing the Volt.
05/30, 1:08 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Just slap a bowtie grill on it, install some ugly seats with cheap fabric that are too low so you feel like you’re sitting on the floor, go to the parts bin for some plastic dash bits sure to rattle after the first pothole, then just for good measure leave a few nuts and bolts on the chassis loose or missing, and viola- there’s your Chevy Prius.
JUST KIDDING!!! Really! Anybody?
05/30, 1:39 PM
posted by:
A4
now the hippies can build it too!
05/30, 2:09 PM
posted by:
murphy1
like it or not, this would fit into the saturn line up, while the volt is developing…
05/30, 2:11 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Even though Saturn has the Aura and Vue Green Lines and they will probably do an Outlook (you know it is coming)
05/30, 2:37 PM
posted by:
hateful83
A GM version doesn’t seem to make any sense. I don’t see how either company would benefit from such a move.
05/30, 3:19 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Well it’s only speculation. Doesn’t mean GM will get a Prius, Toyota is obviously expanding because the high cost of fuel is going to further drive hybrid sales, they might as well use the weak U.S$ to their advantage and produce here. Seeing GM has their own hybrid and flexfuel program, although it wouldn’t hurt GM to share hybrid technology with Toyota.
05/30, 3:58 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Exactly
GM would benefit, I don’t see much upside for Toyota.
They can share costs, which could help them prodcue it here, but Toyota would have to show all the tricks in their bag. Not worth it for me.
GM, like everyone else, has torn apart 20 Prius’ to learn at Toyota’s feet.
I’d bet against it.
GM is probably the one lobbying Toyota for that.
I’d bet on that.
DrFill
05/30, 4:10 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
DrFrill, if GM wanted to learn at Toyota’s feet, why is GM looking at the next generation of batteries for hybrids while Toyota is stick with the old alkaline batteries?
05/30, 5:42 PM
posted by:
DrFill
GM hasn’t shown that they can build either!
So what do they have to lose?
Toyota OWNS the hybrid market (70+%), and people expect 10X more from them than they expect from GM.
GM is trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
Toyota owns the bottle!
Toyota will go Lithium when they are ready to put their name on it, not before.
Do you think anyone has researched Lithium-Ion more than Toyota?
GM barely has a name anymore, so they can swing for the fences.
Same with Hyundai and the other followers.
Talk is very cheap.
Just ask Hyundai!
Toyota has shown them all the way.
And put their money where their mouth is.
DrFill
05/30, 6:10 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
How do you explain the lithium ion battery powered concepts that GM showed and said would get 40% better gas milage, or the HCCi engines that they are testing. Not to mention the Volt and fuel cell vehicles, so I think GM is doing well in alternative fuels.
05/30, 7:13 PM
posted by:
DrFill
There are plenty of 8th graders who can build a concept.
Make it real.
Make Toyota blink.
Then pound your chest.
DrFill
05/30, 7:52 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
They are working to make it a reality, that is why they have something called research and development.
05/30, 10:29 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Both would gain.
GM gets a proven hybrid design with no development costs. It can hold the fort until the Volt is ready. Pontiac or Saturn could sell these for around $15K each.
Toyota rolls out their next generation Prius, keeps it in the $25K range, while still earning revinue from the GM sales.
Win-win
05/31, 3:39 AM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
You spelled revenue wrong, and for another thing as I have stated, GM is gonna stick it out with the two modes until the lithium project works and probably couple it with the HCCi engines.
05/31, 7:36 AM
posted by:
DrFill
Toyota needs GM like Obama needs Clinton
DrFill
05/31, 5:14 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
This is hilarious…given how domestic **** huggers made fun of Prius and called it hippie mobile. Now domestics are on their knees wishing they had what Toyota’s got. Toyota really shoved its foot up the General’s ass and made all the fanboys squirm…awesome lol.
05/31, 5:54 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Suprmann, read the posts where I show that GM is going to surpass Toyota in this technology and learn something.
05/31, 8:25 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Reading your posts.
Learning.
Never the two shall meet.
DrFill
05/31, 8:55 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
DrFrill, my posts are filled with actual knowledge on a subject, your posts usually are pretty pointless, like LaCaLOver’s, Impulsive’s, or Deanster’s, pointless rude and not logical.
05/31, 11:13 PM
posted by:
olds307
Toyota builds Tacomas at NUMMI and there (thankfully) is no GM version, so it would reason that the prius wouldn’t have to have a GM version either.
05/31, 11:26 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
Oldfart, NUMMI builds the vibe for GM, a ripoff of the Toyota Matrix. And NoName, GM is going to pass Toyota in what? More engine fire cases? lol…You are right in one thing though; GM is going to learn something – and thats not to keep building ****ty gasguzzlers
06/01, 12:41 AM
posted by:
A4
my silverado runs on AA’s
06/01, 10:47 AM
posted by:
jayjc08
oldraven- What’s up with the picture?
global-lightning- At 15k$, what revenue can Gm spare? Currently, Toyota is making very, very small profits off of it’s hybrids, if any at all on some of their models.
supermann1- No, the Vibe was NOT a ripoff from the Toyota Matrix. GM put their design teams at work on the vehicle, Toyota put their mechanics at work on the vehicle. All the faulty parts so far have been of Toyota’s doing, and while Matrix sales trickle, the Vibe has sold very well and so has the Volt (Japanese version of Vibe). Toyota’s quality and GM’s design have done great so far.
While I would say Toyota is diligently at work, they are neither as loud and open as GM or at work with as many products with future tech. stuff. Toyota is not doing major work and working prototypes with hydrogen, electric (they had been, but stopped), diesel hybrids, the current gasoline generator system that GM is working on or ethanol/biodiesel engines that GM is offering.
And you may agree that GM is building less gas guzzlers, what about Toyota? They just launches one of their largest vehicles in North America ever, with some of the worst fuel economy ratings. They now have nearly as many SUV’s and trucks as GM. 4Runner, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Tundra, Tacoma, etc.. Both are at fault.
06/01, 12:26 PM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
The Volt will never make production by 2010… GM is running into too many propulsion issues. Oh, hold on I forgot that GM is known for rushing product onto the market before hammering out all the bug first. I revise my previous statement. The Volt will make the 2010 deadline… it just will be plauged with serious quality issues.
There are other manufactures out there that are further ahead in the plug in hybrid race than GM. They are holding back on decreeing deadlines for production until the long term reliability of the Lithium Ion battery can determined.
06/01, 1:55 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
^^ Agree. jayjc08, Toyota refines their products, doesn’t rush to major overhauls, and puts a lot of work in their design, a trait that has served them well. GM is known for changing nameplates like soiled diapers, which is why I guess so many of their products stink so bad. Think before you do.
06/01, 6:14 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Toyota is a bland mobile, and is basically a Japanese Buick. When I last checked, the Malibu has had no issues and looks good, compared to the Toyota, and was more fuel efficient.
06/01, 10:13 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
Anyone who thinks a top of the line malibu looks better than a top of the line camry needs to get his brain checked, cuz its obviously gm washed.
06/01, 10:17 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
malibu’s a flash in the pan with a fugly rear. camry will keep kicking its ass into the next century, along with any other posers.
06/01, 10:38 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Supermann1, your just angry because Lex Luthor keeps trying to kill you. The Malibu is great car, good looks and more fuel efficient. The Top of the line 4 cylinder Malibu gets a 6 speed auto, great interior and fuel milage. The Camry will not keep doing well if its design remains bland and GM adds the HCCi engine going into the Opel Insignia to it.
06/01, 11:24 PM
posted by:
Supermann1
Dude, I can’t blame you for being a squirming gm fanboy cuz u live in some midwestern state. Maybe you`ll get to see a tricked out camry someday, or even an SE trim camry, and realize how bland it makes any garbagemotor look.
06/01, 11:29 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
When I last checked, I was not a GM fanboy, nor did I live in a midwestern state, since Texas is part of the South, maybe you should re-take geography.
06/02, 12:07 AM
posted by:
Supermann1
^^Oh sorry, that was your husband lucklaster. are you guys seperated now?