Honda Now Focuses on Fuel Economy for Hybrid Market

Toyota Prius may be the most fuel-efficient car at the moment, but its competitor in the hybrid car market, Honda Insight, would beat Prius in terms fuel economy in future. That is what Takanobu Ito, Honda CEO, has recently vowed. Toyota is now leading the hybrid car market with a big difference from its competitors, but Insight has given a tough challenge when Honda introduced the second generation Insight in 2009. The biggest advantage of Honda Insight was its price. Last, it became the least expensive gas-electric hybrid car, and thus, putting a huge challenge for market leader Prius.

Toyota already sold more than 1.6 million Prius so far. It may not be easy for Honda to surpass Prius in the neat future. After beating Prius in price, Honda’s focus is now on mpgs.

Autoguide reported:

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has recognized this issue and an overall complacency at the Japanese automaker and has vowed to do something about it. Stating quite frankly that he’s not “satisfied,” with the efforts of the company, he has vowed that the next generation Insight will top the Prius in fuel economy. Currently the Insight gets just 40/43 mpg (city/highway) compared to the Prius at 51/48 mpg. Ito is also urging haste, telling Honda’s engineers to bring the car to market quickly – suggesting that the current Insight may not last for a full four or five year cycle.

Well, it is pretty much clear that Honda would go all out to defeat Toyota Prius in the hybrid car market with its third generation Insight. So, it is high time, Toyota should also plan how to hold on to stave off Insight challenge.

Toyota Prius Could be a Family of Vehicles in Future

Toyota is currently leading the global hybrid market with a 75 percent share and it seems that the Japanese automaker is planning to strengthen its hold in the hybrid market. There is no doubt, Toyota Prius has become an increasingly popular brand in the hybrid car market and that is why, the automaker is planning to roll off several other hybrid cars under the brand name of Prius, and thus, making it a sub-brand of Toyota.

That means Toyota Prius could be a family of vehicles; rather than just one vehicle. However, nothing has been finalized yet, but it has been reported that the plan of making Prius a sub-brand is now on the discussion table and it could happen in future. If Prius really appears as a family of several vehicles, you could find large as well as small versions of hybrid vehicles from Toyota Prius.

No doubt, Toyota has seen extensive success through Prius in the hybrid market and it has been perhaps the most popular hybrid car in the world. The company is also planning to sell more than 1 billions hybrid vehicles per year from now and the company will churn out 10 new hybrid cars.

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What You can Get from Toyota Prius 2010?

You already know that the third generation (2010) Toyota Prius hybrid car has caught the attention of car enthusiasts. While many were thinking that Prius will face stiff competition from Honda Insight which came to the market recently, Toyota came up with the third generation Prius car. Now, the question is if Prius 2010 would be able to stave of the challenge of Honda Insight.

Well, first of all you should look at the features Toyota Prius 2010 is offering and only then you can decide whether this is the car you are looking for. Prius 2010 is considered to be first true hybrid car which can run only on electric battery or fuel (natural gas) or the combination of both electric battery and fuel. Moreover, this is the first car which can run 50 miles per gallon of gasoline. So, you can see that the maintenance cost of the new Prius would be muss less than other hybrid cars. Moreover, the car is eco-friendly which is another attraction of Toyota Prius 2010. There are a number of instruction panels in the dashboard, and you will be advised by the panels how to drive your car so that you can save fuel.

Overall, the third generation Toyota Prius seems to offers some attractive features which are not currently available in other hybrid cars. No doubt, Honda Insight also has some of these features, but still, Prius 2010 seems to be superior car to Honda Insight. What do you think about it?

Toyota to Decrease Prius Hybrid Car Price

Global economic recession is gradually getting worse and its effect on the global car market is not a surprise anymore. Big carmakers are experiencing falling demand in the major markets and the companies like Toyota are facing operating loss. Naturally, the market has somewhat become too difficult to survive on for the carmakers. That is why, car makers are now turning to hybrid car which are fuel efficient as well as environment friendly. Demand for hybrid car is gradually increasing, and many car companies have already focused on hybrid car market, making it a very competitive category.

It has been reported that Toyota is going to cut its Prius hybrid car by $1,000, and thus, making the new price tag of $21,000. Bloomberg News cited an unnamed person to reveal this information. Toyota has taken this initiative mainly because of intense competition from fellow Japanese automaker Honda in the hybrid car market. Honda’s newly launched Insight hybrid car has become a threat for Toyota’s Prius. Insight is now available with a starting price of $19,800.

Toyota will reportedly announce the prices of 2010 models and the upcoming car model which will hit the market next year. Reports available in the media also suggest that Toyota is going to come up with a number of low-cost car models in 2010. This is definitely a good initiative to offer cheap car models amid the ongoing economic slump. Now, let us see if Toyota can improve their current condition in global market.

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Honda Insight: A threat for Toyota Prius?

Two Japanese automaker Toyota and Honda seem to be involved in a race in the hybrid car market in the aftermath of Honda’s new hybrid model Insight being hit the market. Toyota Prius has been a very successful hybrid model for the company in America, the largest hybrid market in the world. Honda Insight, providing same kind of performance and going on sale for a same price range, seems to have an instant impact on American hybrid market when it will be launched in America on Tuesday.

Honda Insight has already showed excellent prospect in domestic market (Japan) since its launch in February, outperforming Prius in terms of sales in Japan. Toyota did not have a very good year in 2008 in American market as recession hanged over USA. US car market has been struggling now and the demand for Prius has also been lowered over the last one year because of fall in oil price. Now that Honda Insight is emerging as a new threat for Prius, it is pretty much sure that Toyota would have to decrease the price tag of Prius in America.

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Plug-in hybrid car users "Be careful"

Now days, there is a new trend of converting hybrids into plug-in hybrids in the USA. Many government officials and political leaders are supporting this move as the price of fuel is hurting people in the USA. However, you have to be careful if you are planning to convert your Toyota Prius or any other hybrid model into plug-in hybrid. Several days ago, a plug-in Toyota Prius went up in flames. The Prius was run by a South Carolina electric cooperative. Later, it was found out that the fire was created by sparks from loose connection in the car’s battery. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The major advantage of converting a hybrid car into plug-in hybrid is that it increases the car's electric power and the level of oil consumption by the car can further lowered. In case of going long distance, you have to recharge the car from time to time. However, the conversion process of the hybrid is still not modified. Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203), the maker of the most popular hybrid car, Toyota Prius, declared to release the plug-in version of hybrid in 2010.

Currently, some ‘after-market companies’ are doing this conversion which would cost between $7,000 to more than $20,000. So, if you are planning to convert your favorite hybrid into a plug-in hybrid, just be careful.

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Hybrid Prius, Hydrogen powered car and the new after market kit from A123 Systems

It looks like the auto arena has become a major battle ground of two BIG “H;” Honda’s Hydrogen vs. Toyota’s Hybrid. Who do you think deserve most lime light? If you ask me then my answer will be, I do not know.

By this time, I think all the readers who are reading/not reading this blog, know about the 2009 Honda FCX Clarity, the hydrogen fuel-cell car.

Toyota’s hybrid caught the attention of media after the price of oil started to rise and American people for the first time got the hit of high oil prices. Now, it takes very small time for the Toyota Prius to hit the show room and getting sold. Dealers all over the USA are just observing their Toyota Prius waiting list getting longer day by day. Last month, Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO:7203)) declared that by the end of April it sold about 1,028,000 Prius cars. Now, they have set a target of selling one million vehicles per year after 2010.

Toyota also declared two new hybrid models that will be powered by lithium-ion battery. Masatami Takimoto, Head of R&D, Toyota Motor Corporation, said that one of the new vehicles is going to be a new design and it would be larger than Prius and released under the Lexus Brand in 2010. The other car, a production of version of Toyota’s “iQ microcar”, is a 10 feet long small city car for four passengers.

Battery technology company, A123Systems, has begun selling its new aftermarket kit which can convert the Toyota Prius hybrid into a Plug-in hybrid and increase fuel-efficiency to more than 100 miles per gallon. The kit’s retail cost is under $10,000 and includes installation at select dealerships.

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Reuters

Toyota and Nissan acquire top position in April Japan car production

With the rising price of fuel, Japanese cars have become ‘hot cakes’ in North America. In April, Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) and Nissan Motor Company Limited (TYO: 7201) took the top position in car production in Japan. According to the latest figure published by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the combined auto production of twelve major Japanese automakers have increased 5.4% to 917,951 and exports increased 21% to 584,059.

Currently, Toyota’s hybrid model is very popular in the USA. On May 27^th, Toyota announced to build a third battery plant in Japan for its hybrid vehicles. News came out that Toyota is talking with GM to produce Prius hybrid at the Toyota GM joint venture plant in California. However, Toyota spokesperson said that nothing had been decided on production of Prius at the joint venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. Bloomberg reports:

The price of gasoline has jumped 30 percent in the U.S. so far this year, prompting demand for small cars. Toyota and Nissan increased sales in the world's largest car market last month, winning customers from General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Japan's vehicle exports to the U.S. jumped 21 percent.

``Rising gasoline prices are certainly helping the Japanese carmakers the most,'' said Jesse Toprak, director of market forecasting for Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, California. ``The Japanese brands are perceived to have more gas-efficient vehicles.''

Sales of the domestic cars in the USA is at the lowest since 1995. Japanese companies are making profits from their small vehicles. Toyota increased its domestic output 1.1% to 331,100 vehicles. Exports rose 8% and shipment to China rose 77%. Production of Nissan Motor Company increased 42% to 98,873 vehicles and export to the USA increased 64%.

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Toyota Motor Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. declare to build two new battery plants for hybrid cars

On May 27^th, Japan’s top car maker, Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) announced to build a third battery plant with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (TYO:6752) In the face of the rising demand of hybrid vehicles, Toyota decided to increase its battery production. The batteries are used to drive the electric motors in the hybrid vehicles.

Toyota and Matsushita joint venture Panasonic EV Energy Co. will spend $289 million (291 million according to IHT) to build the battery plant which will be situated at Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan. The company will start its operation by 2010 and it will produce 200,000 units of nickel-metal hydride batteries per year.

On May 23^rd, the two companies announced to build their second battery plant in Shizuoka Prefecture in Tokyo. The plant will cost $194 million. Bloomberg reports:

The new plants will make nickel-hydride batteries to help Toyota meet its goal of selling 1 million hybrid cars including the Prius annually in the early part of next decade. Drivers are opting for cars that use less gasoline after the price of oil has more than doubled in the past year.

``Toyota is way ahead of everyone else in hybrids,'' said Edwin Merner, president of Tokyo-based Atlantis Investment Research Corp., which manages $2 billion in assets. ``Hybrid cars are in short supply and demand is increasing. If they don't exploit this advantage, they may lose market share.''

The factory in Miyagi will start production in 2010 and will be able to make 200,000 batteries annually when it reaches full operation.

Despite high price tag and comparatively lower sales, Toyota Prius is the environmental champion of Toyota and the most sold hybrid car in the USA. Since its inception in 1997 till April 2008, Toyota sold 1.03 million hybrid cars. Of the total sales, North America accounted for 58% and Japan 31%.

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Toyota Yaris is more popular than Toyota Prius

Yes, it is true. The green house effect and soaring price of fuel have put our lives in jeopardy and fuel efficient, eco-friendly hybrid cars are the choice of the season but there is a catch; MONEY. The hybrid cars come with a higher price tag which makes them out of rich for many people. Hence, traditional four cylinder cars are still dominating the highways. Even today in the USA, hybrids consist of 3% of the new cars sold and SUVs 14%. Canada.com reports:

The four-bangers account for 37 per cent of the U.S. market, up from 30 per cent just three years ago

The fact is that hybrids are still quite expensive -- $30,000-plus -- and no matter what the opinion surveys say about how green we have all become in our purchase choices, the bottom line is still the bottom line.

"For now, the easiest, cheapest way for new-car shoppers to get better mileage is to choose a model with a conventional four-cylinder engine. And they are," said Jason Rothkop, a J.D. Power and Associates analyst recently.

Toyota Prius from Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) may be the most popular hybrid in the USA, it is facing serious competition from Toyota Yaris model. The little car saw an 83% rise in sales in March. Prius may not be so cheap but American people are buying more fuel efficient small cars. Compared to the USA, Canada people are more into small cars and if you are a resident of Canada you check the fuel efficiency of all cars in the region from the website: http://oee. nrcan.gc.ca. You can also obtain a hard copy of the Fuel Consumption Guide 2008.

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Rising demand makes Toyota Prius scarce in the USA

Toyota Motor Corporation's (TYO: 7203) Prius hybrids are becoming scarce in many parts of the USA and the reason is rising fuel price. Because of high price of fuel, more and more people are going for hybrid cars. Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid model in the USA. The high demand and lower supply has created this problem. Frank Pugliese, general manager, Millenium Toyota at Hampstead said that all the Prius hybrids in his store have been pre-sold. Anyone looking for a Toyota Prius will have to wait at least for two months. Like Pugilese, most of the Toyota dealers are on the waiting list of Toyota Prius. News Day.com reports:

The auto information company R.L. Polk & Co. of Southfield, Mich., said registrations of new hybrid cars and SUVs in Nassau and Suffolk rose 54 percent, to 4,022, in the 12-month period that ended March 31, the last month for which data is available, compared with the same period a year earlier. That's far beyond the 6.8 percent growth overall in new vehicle registrations.

Since then, demand has only increased, Pugliese said. "For every 20 cents that gas goes up, you can add another week to 10 days to the wait for a Prius," he added.

Long Island is one of the high oil consuming regions in the USA but hybrids account for only 2% of the new cars sold here. Out of the 23 hybrid cars and SUVs sold in USA, Toyota Prius is the most popular. The regular price of a Toyota Prius is $21,760 but some dealers are asking for premiums over sticker price. Toyota Motor Corporation ordered its dealers to sell 1754 cars per month which is 86% high from last year. After waiting for long time, many customers are now rolling out with other models.

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