Finally – after a long time wait and see, Toyota automaker announced its plans to produce and market a plug-in hybrid – version of the Toyota Prius in significant numbers. Takeshi Uchiyamada, the Executive Vice President, explain that Toyota will sell several tens of thousands of hybrids plug-in a year globally starting in 2011.
Nissan and General Motors – other global automakers, also announcement to promote their plug-in hybrids, which go on sale in late 2010. And when this happens, the consumers will have at least three options or choices of plug-in hybrid cars – from Prius, Nissan, and General Motors. Moreover, the consumers can compare the price of plug-in hybrid cars prices – according to electric driving range and a range of costs.
And General Motors with their Chevy Volt likely become the most expensive – for about $40,000 – with offering up to 40 miles of all electric range before an on-board engine sustains the batteries charge for an additional 300 miles.
Nissan automaker with their Nissan Leaf will offer 100 miles of driving range – this pure electric will driving 100 percent of electric. The Nissan Leaf will not have an engine – would recharged after in range to about 100 miles. The company expected to sell it about $32,000.
The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid will cost about -$20,000s and it will likely be the least expensive, but this plug-in hybrid will offer just 14.5 miles at speeds up to 60 mph – the least of all electric range. But Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid will rely on its gas engine more than the other cars – although you will be fully to charge it quickly.
All three of the vehicles will be eligible for tax credits, as high as $7,500. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will use a 5.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack—compared to the Leaf’s 24 kWh pack and the Volt’s 16 kWh—will not qualify for as high a tax credit as the other vehicles.
In the race for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, Toyota will be able to leverage its commanding lead in conventional hybrids. In September, the company announced that cumulative global sales of the Prius topped 2 million units—far more than all other hybrid cars combined. Yet, GM, Nissan, Ford and others recently have taken aggressive steps to take a leadership role in the next generation of alternative vehicles, the plug-in hybrid and electric car. Toyota’s announcement about the Prius Plug-in Hybrid indicates that the company will not easily relinquish its market advantage—and perhaps more importantly, its image—as the leader in green cars.
The competition to give us with affordable plug in vehicles has a wild card. China with its BYD, the largest Chinese automaker, backed by investment guru Warren Buffet, makes a great combination of powerful forces – an enormous burgeoning low cost production, battery expertise, and domestic market – gives credence to the company’s plans to sell millions of hybrid-electric cars within just a few years. That’s if BYD can ‘conquer’ its challenges and technical problems. And that’s a big if.
According the Wall Street Journal’s is reporting that BYD’s e6 all electric cars is barely ready for the United State market – in spite of plans to carry the vehicle to the United State next year. An expert – tech chief of a global auto car – test drive the car and said that this hybrid plug-in car such a half-baked car. He said that the handling was ‘squishy’ and the ride was ‘rough.’ I think BYD will have a hard time selling the e6 hybrid plug in car at the predictable price of United State $45,000 – if the quality problems persist.
The Wall Street Journal explained that BYD does not have a good track record in keeping promises on product launches. Some industry analysts suspect there may be technical glitches plaguing its green vehicles, which include a hybrid plug in car called the F3DM, in addition to the e6.
According to Gasgoo, a website reporting on the Chinese auto industry, describe how BYD became the first automaker in the world to sell a hybrid plug in car, the F3DM, but sold fewer than 100 through August.
Toyota Prius, JPN. Recently, if you look at the history of Toyota Company since the company was founded in 1937, Toyota is in the midst of its worst recession – but in other side it’s raising the price of the 2010 Toyota Prius by about $400. This seeming contradiction appears to be part of Toyota’s core ‘rotate’ strategy: blow up the volume on marketing, and lead with the Toyota Prius.
The base Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price or MSRP of the new third generation of Toyota Prius will currently range from $22,400 to $27,670, depending on the trim package. The revolution will be effective in late October.
In spite of the recession in its sales and the slightly higher price, Toyota is showing little concern about selling Priuses. Actually, Toyota had only 3 days of provide of Toyota Prius in mid September.
In the fourth quarter of 2009 the supply might get even thinner, as the company plans to pay out $1 billion on marketing. That spend is more than 40 percent of the carmaker would typically spend in the quarter. The campaign will contain funding for more incentives and advertising, while dealer will granting more higher profit margins. Irv Miller, the vice president for Toyota’s US sales unit, at a meeting with its dealers in Las Vegas said, “”We see the economy is starting to strengthen a bit, we’ve stopped playing defense. It’s time to go on the offense.”
A Family of Toyota Prius
Miller also said that Toyota plans to add more variants to Toyota Prius line up. He not describe when the timetable. For about two years, the company has hinted at the idea of a family of Priuses, ranging in size from compact to small sports utility or a wagon. The idea has been openly discussed first time in front of top Toyota brass and dealers in Las Vegas meeting.
One of the participants who attended the meeting said, “The Camry hybrid and Highlander hybrid do OK, but calling it ‘Synergy Drive’ never resonated with customers.” Stewart told to Automotive News that Prius it’s a magic name. When you tell anybody that you drive a Toyota Prius, everybody knows what you mean. Stewart said the Priuses will not be a separate sub-brand like Scion.
Additionally, Nikkei, the Japanese business daily report that Toyota plans to start in on commercial production of plug-in hybrids in 2012, and in the first year Toyota will producing between 20,000 and 30,000 units. Toyota expected to sell its plug-in hybrid for about $48,000. Toyota also enlarges its evaluation of plug-in hybrids by leasing five hundred of its third generation of Prius in Japan, the US, and the whole of Europe – government agencies and corporation.
The Main Reason Why Expanding Toyota Prius
The main reasons why Toyota expanding the Prius brand beyond one vehicle is to dominate global hybrid car market. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was marketed as a better more fuel-efficient alternative to the Toyota Camry Hybrid. And Honda is aiming for greater hybrid affordability with the Honda Insight and other future small hybrids. At the same time, a long list of established car companies—as well as a growing number of start-ups and Chinese manufacturers—have announced plans for electric and plug-in hybrids. Last week, BYD –Chinese auto company, said that it to overtake Toyota as the world’s largest automaker in about 15 years, using electric cars, hybrids and other plug-in cars as a key strategy.
2010 Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car: Fisker Automotive is a United States manufacturer of premium green cars based in Anaheim, California, founded in 2007. The main goals of this company it to producing EVer or Electric Vehicles with extended range that delivers uncompromised responsible luxury cars. As the first premium hybrid car in the world, Fisker Automotive belief that environmentally conscious cars no need sacrifice style, passion, and performance.
2010-Fisker-Plug-in-Hybrid-Sport-Car
Fisker Automotive debuted at the 2008 NAIAS or North American International Auto Show. The company first production car is the 2010 Fisker Karma. The Fisker Karma has a claimed total range of 483 km or about 300 miles with the first 50 miles using electric charge only and after that (250 miles) using gasoline. The starting price of Fisker Karma is about $87,900 ($80,400 after US government tax credits).
