Press correctly notes that "a new wave of hybrids is coming to market from Toyota and other automakers," though he may be pushing it a bit when he says "they will change the way people think about automobiles."
At any rate, he also noted that more than 50 hybrid nameplates could be on the market by the end of this decade, according to the Hybrid Vehicle Sales Forecast.
"And with volumes increasing," he said, "costs for hybrids will go down."
Because Watanabe has set a new goal for Toyota to sell one million hybrids per year globally early in the next decade, Press said, "we will have to look at offering hybrid power systems in virtually all of our vehicles, including trucks."
That means about 600,000 hybrids a year in the U.S., or about a quarter of Toyota's total volume there. A quarter of Toyota Canada's volume would be about 30,000 hybrids a year at 2005's expected sales numbers.
"That's why we have 10 hybrids under development right now," Press said. "To us, it's not a passing phase but a vital technology for the 21st century."
But Toyota is also working on clean diesel, natural gas and fuel cell vehicles, Press added, and "that will give our customers plenty of choices in the years ahead."
photo:Toyota Canada
At any rate, he also noted that more than 50 hybrid nameplates could be on the market by the end of this decade, according to the Hybrid Vehicle Sales Forecast.
"And with volumes increasing," he said, "costs for hybrids will go down."
Because Watanabe has set a new goal for Toyota to sell one million hybrids per year globally early in the next decade, Press said, "we will have to look at offering hybrid power systems in virtually all of our vehicles, including trucks."
That means about 600,000 hybrids a year in the U.S., or about a quarter of Toyota's total volume there. A quarter of Toyota Canada's volume would be about 30,000 hybrids a year at 2005's expected sales numbers.
"That's why we have 10 hybrids under development right now," Press said. "To us, it's not a passing phase but a vital technology for the 21st century."
But Toyota is also working on clean diesel, natural gas and fuel cell vehicles, Press added, and "that will give our customers plenty of choices in the years ahead."
photo:Toyota Canada