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Toyota struggling to meet small car and hybrid demand

omarrana submitted on 7/2/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 3:46:07 PM

12 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Link: Toyota

While demand for fuel-efficient compact cars and hybrids is on a rapid rise, Toyota is struggling to meet demand due to shortages of popular models such as the Prius hybrid and the Corolla.

Toyota’s car sales fell 9.4 percent in June. On the other hand, rival Honda reported a 13.8 percent gain in overall U.S. sales mainly due to a record demand of the Honda Fit and the Civic Sedan.

Toyota’s Prius, the top-selling hybrid in the U.S., fell 26 percent as dealers struggled to have the vehicle available in their inventory and customers faced a six-moth waiting list. Toyota hopes to satisfy that demand...

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Toyota struggling to meet small car and hybrid demand

About the Author

omarrana

I hooked up my accelerator to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.

— omarrana (View Profile)


User Comments

carguy68

What a bunch of fools waiting for the prius when there are other options out there.

— carguy68 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/2/2008 5:41:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Agent63

There are other alternatives such as diesel but the price for diesel isn't exactly cheap for those who want eco-friendly econo-cars.

I wonder how the Toyota "quality & reliability" is going to hold up with this demand. The hybrid demand should be handled by partner GM to further produce hybrids. That way Toyota themselves could concentrate on the Corolla.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/2/2008 11:49:18 PM | | Votes: 0   

F1_Driver

I wouldn't worry too much about Toyota's "quality and reliability". Despite producing more vehicles, Toyotas are relatively high quality and reliable compared to the competitions.

— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 3:03:02 AM | | Votes: 3   

Agent63

Anyone have the link to the reports regarding quality or reliability? I remember it was posted on Autospies awhile back.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 9:46:50 AM | | Votes: -2   

truckmen

I can't wait until cars with performance and fuel economy of PML's mini cooper are available to us consumers. The prius needs to be better on gas with more power.

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 7/2/2008 6:23:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76

It's amazing what a difference hopping over the border makes.

Toyota/Lexus sales in Canada are up 8% from last year and they're lowering prices on all compact (up 30%) and hybrid models.
The Prius' new price is now $27,50CDN, the same price as the old Jetta TDI (new TDI should be higher). The shortage is due to battery suppliers not being able to meet demand.
http://www.wheels.ca/article/268423

Toyota still hasn't dropped the price on the Tundra, nor are they offering any special finance/lease rates on it.

Why get a TDI when you can get a same sized Corolla with a little less mileage or a Yaris with basically the same mileage for $10,000 less?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/2/2008 11:36:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Agent63

I would still get the TDI for the better build. I've seen Yaris and Corolla's and recently the Prius. Their not built too well. Sorry my standards are high.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/2/2008 11:52:07 PM | | Votes: -2   

F1_Driver

VW's build quality is higher than Toyota's? When did hell freeze over?

— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 2:57:12 AM | | Votes: 6   

jasaero

There are different types of quality. He is talking grade and robustness of material and components used. VW does make a more robust vehicle than Toyota's small vehicles. VW doesn't necessarily put them together as well as Toyota though. But, small VW's just feel like more expensive cars than small toyotas which seem cheaply built.

— jasaero (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 5:58:57 AM | | Votes: 1   

kpaxx

remember that is "perceived" quality. toyota quality is the same as the rest of the auto industry there is nothing to substantiate otherwise!

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 1:10:54 PM | | Votes: 0   

Agent63

F1_Driver.

Have you seen the inside of a Prius? Have you? If not I wouldn't talk. VW's build quality actually is better. Have you actually believed ALL their products are "high quality"? please. Honda Civic Interiors are better than Corolla's. I'm not biased don't worry.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/3/2008 10:50:05 PM | | Votes: 1   

ChicaneShooter


Agent63--

you, like many others, are being FOOLED by mere SURFACE APPEARANCES. sure, vws and audis LOOK nice in the interior appointments.

that DOES NOT EQUAL build quality, nor mechanical robustness and reliability. toyota and vw/audi products are on the OPPOSITE ends of the scale. look at any CR or JDP reports on both initial and long term reliability. the superior quality of toyota parts and assembly are starkly revealed here.

most mfgrs' vehicles get to averaging 100 problems per 100 vehicles in about 5 years' time. vw/audi get there SOONER. toyotas later, MUCH later. like after 17 years!

i would never trade a 'nicer interior' for mechanical reliability. especially in the harsh clime of interior alaska. the vw dealership LEFT TOWN a few years ago. those unreliable vehicles simply do not hold up out here over the long term. (audi never even got a toehold. bmw dealers went extinct too. only MB still maintains a dealership here.)

(meanwhile, the toyota store has grown by leaps and bounds, gobbling up additional franchises and lots.)

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 7/5/2008 1:47:32 AM | | Votes: 1   

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