As it seems I wasn't the only one who would be wrong. Toyota's Scion division made more xA models ramping up to the new brand's launch but Scion's new customers chose the boxy xBs with a two to one margin.
June sales saw 900 xBs and 450 xAs leaving Toyota showrooms while so far July sales had reached about 1,500 xBs and 1,000 xAs.
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| The xB is outselling the xA by a two to one margin, and a call is in to the factory in Takaoko, Japan, to increase production. (Photo: Toyota) |
Who would have thought? Not Farley, who recently commented to reporters during a meeting at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., that he has asked the Toyota factory in Takaoka, Japan, to increase xB production.
Marketed in Japan as the bB, the Scion xB most closely resembles the Honda Element, a slightly more expensive box on wheels.
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| With prices ranging from just under USD$13,000 for the xA to just over USD$14,000 for the xB, the popularity of the Scion brand will only increase as word of mouth spreads. (Photo: Toyota) |
According to Farley xB production could likely double over what Scion originally planned, that is if such capacity is feasible. Currently two shifts are already working steadily at the Japanese factory.
Farley is optimistic though, stating "We'll get caught up."
Hopefully he's right, but with both well equipped Scion models costing under USD$15,000 - the xA starts at USD$12,965 and the xB at USD$14,165 including freight, they'll only increase in popularity as the word gets out.
So how does Toyota expect to make money on a new entry-level brand? Scion's younger customers are buying an average of USD$1,000 worth of accessories, compared to Toyota that sells an average of USD$310 on accessories per vehicle.