Toyota to Increase Imports to Meet Demand for Prius

[jpak]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/21/automobiles/21auto.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

LAFAYETTE, Ind., April 20 — The Toyota Motor Company will sell more imported vehicles in the United States this year, Toyota officials acknowledged Friday, even though the company has begun building Camry sedans at a Subaru plant here to replace those built in Japan.

Toyota’s imports will rise because it expects a significant increase in sales for the hybrid-electric Prius, which it builds only in Japan, said James Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

He estimated that Toyota’s total imports would probably rise by about 25,000 this year, if Toyota meets its sales targets for the Prius.

To be sure, Toyota’s production in North America is also rising as it opens new factories of its own and adds production at the Subaru plant here, where it expects to build 100,000 Camrys a year.

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[Crazy Dave]

1. Toyota, and Japan as a whole have been way ahead of the game

When it comes to economically friendly passenger cars. You probably don't see many monster-sized Tundra's or their larger SUV's in Japan or Europe. I'm sure they're primarily developed for, and/or only sold to consumers in the US market.

[Captain Angry]

2. Smart.

Prius sales went stagnant when gas fell to $2.25 over the last several months. You went from the waiting list to 10 of them sitting on the lot.

Gas is almost $3.00 now, and we haven't hit summer travel/hurricane season yet.

I'm sure glad the domestic manufacturers got on board with fuel economy. Oh, right. They are selling and advertising pick-up trucks.

Superb.

[nickinSTL]

3. yeah, gas fell all the way to 2.25...

amazing how stupid people are that they think a temporary drop will last :eyes:

[Captain Angry]

4. No doubt.

Somebody commented to me about how great it was with $2.25 gas. I asked them, how much greater was it 4 years before when it was $1.25?

What? It was never...

Yeah, it was.

[Crazy Dave]

5. And almost the same percentwise....

All of my insurance premiums, both home and auto were more affordable 6 years ago before this administration.

[nickinSTL]

6. I remember it falling to around $0.97 around here

just a few years ago.

"It was never..." :wtf:

Amazing how short people's memories are.