"This is proof that mass production of the Prius has started in earnest," Takahara commented.
Toyota was initially projecting global sales of 76,000 Prius' annually, 36,000 units to be sold in its domestic Japanese market. For comparison purposes, the 2003 Prius sold 28,000 units in the global market, held back from selling more because of production limitations.
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| If the public's insatiable appetite for the new Prius continues, and production can keep up, Toyota could deliver more than 300,000 units before the model year is out. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
But with the ability to build one Prius per minute, and what seems to be an insatiable hunger for the new car, Toyota's targets are beginning to look conservative. With domestic Japanese sales reaching 17,500 units in the Prius' first month, and orders in the U.S., where it just becoming available, totaling more than 10,000 as of September 24, the Japanese brand has already reached more than one third its forecasted sales in its first month. If this pace continues, and production can keep up, it is possible Toyota could deliver more than 300,000 units before the model year is out, let alone by 2005/2006.
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| Toyota is leading the way with the world's most complete lineup of hybrid gasoline-electric cars and light trucks. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Toyota is clearly leading the hybrid gasoline-electric market, with Honda's two model lineup offering an alternative, plus forthcoming Ford and GM hybrids spicing up consumer's future choices.
Like GM, Ford, Honda and others, Toyota is also developing fuel cell cars, showing it is also focused on the elusive zero emissions goal. Until that time, the Japanese company will continue to win over environmentally friendly consumers with what will soon be the world's most complete lineup of hybrid gasoline-electric cars and light trucks.