Toyota to increase Prius production
July 28, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
The Prius may be a few years old and starting to show its age, but there is a new one coming out late next year and the world’s largest car manufacturer, Toyota, is planning to increase annual production by 70 percent.
The Big T plans to manufacture at least 480,000 Prius cars per year starting from 2010, according to a report published in a Japanese industry daily published last Friday.
If you’re wondering, Toyota is experiencing unprecedented demand for the Prius in most part of the world. Last year 281,300 Prius car were sold worldwide with demand largely outstripping supply.
Current production of the iconic car takes place at Toyota’s Tsutsumi factory in central Japan as well as another manufacturing plant belonging to affiliate Toyota Auto Body. Some 320 Priuses were also put together in China last year.
The plan is to make the Tsutsumi factory a Prius only production facility, transferring production of five other models to another factory by April next year.
The latest news follows a recent announcement by the world’s biggest automaker to begin production of the Prius at an upcoming Mississippi (US) factory from 2010.
No doubt the plan to increase hybrid production is to reach Toyota’s goal of selling at least 1 million hybrid vehicles annually by early next decade.
Print it: 
*****PRIMO!*****
What about S3 Prius and the 120MPG target?
Cheers
F-0
PS BIGT released a memo, batteries are good for 500,000km, not to bad really!
MADE IN CHINA LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
to Dayton
if they can last 500,000kms,why not?
You will have to replace the batteries every 100,000Kms, not very cheap transport and plus they look like crappy old porta loos..
Is it too late for the greedy Toyota company to admit Hybrids are not the way of the future or have they ploughed so much money into it that its too late to admit they got it badly wrong?.
Dayton,
Currently that claim is un-true. There are Prius Taxis in Australia which have done 550,00km and from memory certainly haven’t replaced their battery packs.
I do agree they are overpriced, but hopefully that will change once more hybrids get on the market – then there will be a price war.
Yes they look crappy, mainly because of the aerodynamics and tiny tyres for low rolling resistance. Unfortunately as of now you can’t get sporty and *extremely* efficient in the same car.
And really, as if the average person will keep their car for 500,000km anyway :)
Steven A,
While all bang Toyota for coming out with ugly hybrids, lets not forget many of the major car companies with the likes of BMW as well are finally releasing their hybrid models in the near future.
And yea, I’m pretty sure Toyota isn’t that stupid to just invest in Hybrid technology alone – but I do think it is a smart move as the infrastructure for petrol will still be here in a good 10 years time anyway. Cars which run on alternative fuels (not electricity but like hydrogen) will take a long while to pick up as we slowly change our fueling infrastructure to one that will suit the new cars. Heck, maybe someone will invent teleportation.
Another Prius story.Why don’t I just burn my eyes out with a pionted stick on fire
Phill.LOL.Agree.
Go Pirus
here u go again – FORD had devloped thier own version of teh tecnology – being an honest company they did a patent search – found that thier system was to close that Toyota patened so – they said to Toyota
Hey u let us use your Hybrid Patent and we will let u use our Fuel injection Patent – Toyota agreed – FACT as u would say
Toyota on the other hand just took a piece of tecnology and used it with out permission – reall honest people that
Now they have to pay back the licence fee plus the ongoing fee
In future how about u include the WHOLE story no just the bit that suits u
hey…INCREDIBLE!! The above poster is Dingo as well! He’s having a conversation with himself! Cute….
oops…mah mistek.
Dingo why bother.
Well Done Toyota. How long till Ford goes bust…$9 Billion losses per quarter and no plan for the future.
TP,
Try finding out some facts before you continue to slander.
FORD US: US$9 billion loss, including a special one-of US$8.4 billion. Revenue was over US$40 billion.
They have very aggressive plans for the future, with massive rejuvenation plans, cost cutting in excesss of US$5 billion. Current huge write-downs are short term pain for long term gain. Go and find out the truth! (But you won’t because it doesn’t suit your one-eyed toyota bias).
Sorry to put a wet blanket on your slandering fire, but Ford will be around for a long time yet!
They must have been planning for years now… because I cant recall when they were last in the black. And what exactly are they planning… turboed engines for fuel efficiency? The future doesnt look good short or long term.
Paul,
The shallowness of your reply is typical of your lack of knowledge and intelligence.
Thankyou for proving my point perfectly – twit!
Go Pirus
Just as Toyota purchased the Fuel injection Patent – because they are so far behind Ford in that area !!!!!!
oh and I am sure that the company that they stole the chip tecnology was happy about it only being $25 each
from your comment its ok to steal so long as its not to much – dimwit
Hey “Stop The Lies”: Do try to learn how to spell first (it’s Prius, not Pirus, and “too much” not “to much”) before you call other people dimwits. It only shows how much of a dimwit _you_ are!
lol haha watch they will bring out a “hybrid tax” for the money you save not buying fuel, and cars will come with a sticker “batteries not included
Well done on marketing this car so well Toyota. Id prefer a Hybrid Civic. Wonder if Mugen has touched a hybrid civic yet……?
Hey got to w w w.greencarsite.co.uk/GREENCARS/Toyota-Prius-Hybrid.htm
Read the reveiws at the bottom. Genuine users are only able to achieve 10% LESS than the stated 67mpg with some proving that 50mpg is likely under normal driving as we currently do in our 50mpg 2.0litre diesel large family saloons.
Sorry got midly off topic – Yep Prius is the all conquering Hybrid but a complete farce. Roll on the diesel Hybrid, then i’ll listen.
No Name, Forget Diesel Hyrbrid, look out for LPGHybrid!
Can you imagine having a Prius as a daily driver? God I couldn’t think of anything worse! Then imagine how humiliated you would feel after being blown away by a turbo diesel Golf at the lights?
Next imagine how tempting suicide would be as you realise the Golf is also a greener car with lower emissions and better fuel consumption!!
PRIUS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST CAR MAKER.
millatime you HAVE NOT DRIVEN a prius if you say ” a turbo golf will bet it at the lights” crap! the prius goes very well so do yourself a FAVOUR AND DRIVE ONE BEFORE YOU GO MOUTHIN OFF AGAIN!
Millatime, it looks like you’re right. O-100km/h time for the Prius is 11.3 seconds, according to WHEELS and 11.1 seconds even for my 1.9TDi Golf. The 2.0TDi records 8.4 seconds and 16.4 seconds over 400 metres.
So the Golf’s a clear winner.
Oh what an incontinence feeling, oops I mean Dingo
Actually I have driven many Prius’.
And each and every time I was mesmerised by it’s stunningly glacial performance.
ADD TO THAT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NON HYBRID CARS THAT ARE MORE E-C-O-N-O-M-I-C-A-L!
Now take your aggressive language and GO TO YOUR ROOM!
PRIUS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST CAR MAKER.
PRIUS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST CAR MAKER.
I’ve driven a Prius too, Millatime.
It’s not involving to drive like the Golf is. Quite the opposite, in fact, as one seems to be transported, even when seated on the right side. It’s an anodyne experience. But I did admire the seemless integration of the petrol and electric units and I love the cabin design and interior room. I didn’t crash from looking too much at the monitor either.
PRIASS SUX BIG TIME, IMAGINE DRIVING A REGULAR SHOPPING TROLLEY WITH WEAK BATTERY POWER, WHICH IS NOT ECONOMICAL THAN A DIESEL BUS.
PRIASS AND TOY-MOTA SUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Millatime – with exception of hybrid platfroms from Lexus, the Prius has proven to be the highest quality, most reliable, dependable and durable ‘everyday’ hybrid in the world today (unlike hybrid’s from GM that have been recalled due to leaking batteries) and booming in popularity … it’s obviuosly very good enough.
As i said earlier – the Prius recently ranked No.1 in the 2008 UK JD Powers Quality / Customer Satisfaction survey fending off over 100 other models and scoring a massive 910 / 1000 pts. And despite the current model which is now aging (next generation Prius due in 2009), it’s engine / hybrid system also won the 2008 World Green Engine Of The Year.
These are facts representing the Prius in the real world while your comment is nothing more then just pure rot.
And the best hybrid’s in world do come from the world’s largest manufactuer with examples including the Lexus RX400hl (due to replaced with the RX450hl in 2009), GS450h and ofcourse the 327kw/650nm, 5.0 V8 / 8-speed, AWD LS600hl which is also the world’s first V8 hybrid.
Oh yeah, and lets not forget Toyota’s trucking subsidary – Hino – was the first brand in the world to introduce/sell hybrid diesels.
What more do i need to say … !!
These posts are so hysterical! I totally enjoyed reading the comments!
I am a happy and delighted Prius owner. It’s a true space age vehicle, keyless entry and start (so it’s like it recognizes me) and living near NYC, USA – I am VERY grateful to not have pay attention to gas prices all the time as they wobble up and up.
Prius isn’t just a car… it’s an experience!
Hey.. I should start writing tag lines…
thank you for the wonderful spirited posts!
:-)
I only consider the Prius given that it’s the same price to the Yaris..
Laughing_Hybrid, you give full currency to that episode of South Park- where hybrid owners :
* think they are above everyone else
*close their eyes when they talk
*sniff and savour their own farts
*cause the town to succumb to ’smug’ pollution
Laugh all you want, but bear in mind you drive something that looks like a frightened doorstop, where there are now several cars on the market now that drink less fuel than the Pious. But your too ‘ahead of the curve’ to worry about that aren’t you.
Since you bought it,I bet everyone thinks your a twat!
Thank you Toyota, for giving these people an equally dopey looking vessel to pomp around in.
Laughing_Hybrid, Are you the robotic driver of a johnny cab? with that tag line you sure suit the job lol.
Prius – Lagging in the today’s hybrid technology scape, it can do better and should do better, but Toyota are happy for people to keep buying them at the rate their going for such a 10 year old car… it was and eyeopener then but cmon its substandard in its effeciency against cars of today.
Oh what an incontinence feeling, oops I mean Go Prius, oops I mean DINGO..
How predictable and utterly boring you are.
Why do you ignore the main points of my post, ie Toyota with their vast resources could build and market a truly “green” motor car, and simply punch out yet another advertisement for Toyota?
Are you employed or paid either directly or indirectly by Toyota or one of its agencies?
PRIUS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST CAR MAKER.
It’s a dangerous gimmick as it allows Toyota and other manufacturers to say “hey we really are trying to advance alternative technologies” whilst the status quo is effectively maintained.
What a shame…
Millatime – you have got nothing, absolutely jack sh*t. Infact … you are pathetic.
Anyone ingnoring facts and it is you … PERIOD !!
Your comments are not critism – just stupid rot.
Read my comment again and tell me what’s not fact. I’ll even even help because you need it – none !!
Toyota and to a lesser extent, Honda – have lead the hybrid charge for many years and now a greater number of manufactuers are coming onboard including some of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
The Prius is a remarkable car and has proven it’s credentials on the world stage despite the current platform showing some age of which it will be replaced with the next generation example in the 2009.
The NG Prius will be powered by a 1.8 instead of the current 1.5 mated to an advanced, more refined and developed hybrid system therefore the vehicle will be more powerful yet more efficient and that’s Toyota’s reponse to global demand … more power yet more efficient.
What i find downright brain-dead about dimwits like you is you critise Toyota’s hybrid technology despite them being the most advanced in the industry and improving performance with every new release.
Toyota hybrid’s have proven to be the most efficent, reliable, dependable and durable in the hybrid industry and also recognised for the high quality of thier vehicles (impeccable for Lexus) so why don’t you critise GM for thier lack of development and due care sense thier hybrid platfroms are proving unreliable and downright under-developed.
Toyota leads the charge in the hybrid industry and no matter amount of stupid, pathetic comments from you will change those very simple facts … not even remotely.
Better still – why haven’t i seen a critism from you directed at GM because of thier current recall due to leaking batteries resulting into a complete system shutdown effectively rendering the hybrid package unserviceable / useless.
Answer that – why no critism ??
This will be good, Mmmm …
The Toyota Prius, Lexus RX400hl, GS450hl, LS600hl and diesel hybrids from Hino all lead the charge in the hybrid industry from the world’s most popular manufactuer … PERIOD
ps. why do you ignore the facts of my comments ??
Oh what an incontinence feeling, oops Dingo
If you wish to trade insults I’m fine with that.
GM dont manufacture batteries.
Every time you post you prove yourself constsntly to be the dumbest human to ever sit in front of a computer.
I have begun praying for you that mercifully one day even the smallest spark of intelligence will ignite and take hold in that pea sized mush filled crumb that you call a brain..
Let me spell it out for you and it’s a shame I can’t use crayons for you so you’ll understand..
Promoting hybrid technology is the automotive manufacturing equivalent of fiddling away while Rome burns.
It is doing very little under the banner of doing a lot.
You tell us with monotonous regularity that Toyota are the worlds largest automobile manufacturer, posting the largest profits.
Look at what Tesla have achieved – one of the worlds smallest vehicle manufacturers by the way – with all electric technology.
0-100 in 3.9 seconds with the running cost equivalent of 256 mpg! Did you bother going to the Tesla website to check it out?
So here’s the crunch – if (one of) the worlds smallest car manufacturers can achieve that, just imagine for a second what the worlds largest and most profitable (as you continually tell us) could achieve if they devoted even a small portion of their gargantuan profits to all electric technologies.
Toyota worldwide would spend more on pens and paper than Tesla do on the development of their roadster.
Toyota are in a unique position. As the largest and most profitable car maker, as you tell us every day, with the market acceptance they have earned, if they developed an all electric car and stuck a Toyota badge on the front and rear of it, and applied their marketing genius, combined with Toyota’s reputation for quality, it would sell in numbers from day one.
Now do you understand why the Prius, and all other hybrids, are simply not good enough? Especially from the worlds largest car manufacturer..
Millatime – we all know who’s got the challenged mind and it’s not me.
As for being dumb … fairdinkum – you are killing me !!
The problem my friend is that much of my written comments are based on fact and reality, not stupid rot from la, la land.
As for Tesla, one of the smallest automotive companies in the world and with the smallest number of commtments.
Toyota however is now the largest manufactuer not to mention the most profitable, wealthiest and engineering amoung the best that can be found anywhere in the world today but thier commitments are amoung the most diverse in the world aswell.
While Toyota (and to a lesser extent, Honda) lead the charge in the hybrid race, incase you haven’t noticed but they also have huge commitments in maintaining thier diverse fleet, ongoing engineering and development of Lexus (which co-incidentally is amoung the most technologically advanced automotive brand in the world today), Scion, Hino and ofcourse motorsport including F1 and thier new commitments in NASCAR just to name a few.
Tesla is a good company but thier commitments are limited, Toyota is huge but so are thier commitments especially when maintaining a strong, reputatable, quality, well balanced and guided uniform not just today but into the future and strive not to fall into the same traps that GM and Ford did which co-incidently is destroying them.
Considering the size and diversity of Toyota Motor Corporation, they have done a remarkable, argueably an impeccable job of establishing themselves as they exsist today so don’t you dare critise thier commitment in hybrid technology.
Just for you because you really need it, i’ll repeat myself – Toyota leads the charge in hybrid technology with the Prius, RX400hl, GS450hl, LS600hl and hybrid diesels from Hino all the best examples that can be found anywhere in the world today and until other manufactuers match them especially in mass production, i suggest you pull your head in and stop being a clown.
As for Tesla accelerating from 0 – 100 in 3.9 secs – all well and good but what is thier history like for reliability, dependability and durability which are amoung the most important performances of hybrid technology then just accleration … have a think about it.
Oh yeah – i still haven’t seen critism from you aimed at General Motors … why not !!
And don’t you dare give me that crap GM doesn’t manufactuer thier own batteries becuase that is not an excuse. Infact, it’s nothing more then a pathetic sidestep but haa – that’s what clowns do … put on an act !!
It is a well known fact that if GM or Ford were achieveing the same remarkable results as Toyota is, all would be the best and impeccable engineering but becuase that’s not the case and Toyota leads the charge, circus clowns like yourself put on an act instead which is down right pathetic.
But then again – you are pathetic so what else would we expect !!
Oh what an incontinence feeling, oops Dingo
I knew I should’ve used a crayon so you’d understand..
Are you employed or paid either directly or indirectly by Toyota or one of its agencies?
TOYOTA PRIUS IS SIMPLY NOWHERE NEAR GOOD ENOUGH FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST CAR MAKER.
Oh what an incontinence feeling/go prius, oops I mean Dingo
Are you employed or paid either directly or indirectly by Toyota or one of its agencies?
Toyota could do so much better, what a shame they don’t.
YOUR KIDDING YOURSELF, GO PIRUS = POOF TALKER Toyota and Lexus hybrids have proven themselves to be the WORST in the world !!
TOYOTA & LEXUS = BLAND, BORING, GRANDPA, WHITEGOOD DRIVING. ME DON’T NEED A TOYOTA, I ALREADY HAVE A FRIDGE PARKED IN MY KITCHEN AND IT RUN’S ON ELECTRICITY JUST FINE.
AC COBRA, Ford Makes bland, boring, cheap, mass produced appliances that really just don\’t excel at anything!! Thats why nobody buys them!! Remember the 9 Billion loss in the last 3 months?!!
While Toyota is ready to adopt new technology for the changing times, and the demands of the Market!! No Wonder Toyota ignites such a passion in people, and is the highest respected automobile manufacturer on the planet!! And keeps breaking it\’s own profit records!!
You guys really need to stop living in fantasy land, and start living in the 21st Century!!
dingo quotes –
“While Toyota (and to a lesser extent, Honda) lead the charge in the hybrid race, incase you haven’t noticed but they also have huge commitments in maintaining thier diverse fleet, ongoing engineering and development of Lexus (which co-incidentally is amoung the most technologically advanced automotive brand in the world today), Scion, Hino and ofcourse motorsport including F1 and thier new commitments in NASCAR just to name a few.”
Why is it, every time you guys are stumped with a truly compelling case against your cause you resort to F1 and Nascar? It is irrelevant to what you can buy from the showroom (same, same with the V8 supercars) When has Toyota in this last decade won a road
race with a car you can buy from a local dealer?
On topic though…
The Prius was revolutionary in its case of bringing to the world the need to look for alternate ways to power our vehicles (with the oil supposedly running out). I dont give a sh1t about batteries or any of the crap that people say against the Prius (ie my diesel this does .1 of a litre less etc etc). The prius has a place on the market and performs it’s intended function as best it can.
What I cant get around is that Toyota (largest and most profitable) are still charging over 40k for it after 9 years of the technology being available. That is ridiculous! How is it then they can get a grant off OUR government to build them (hybrid camry’s – what are they going to cost????!!!) here when they post a profit equal to that of our GNP? When other manufacturers bring out Hybrids i can guarantee that they wont be ripping people off to the extent that Toyota are (which might be a good thing when they have 200,000 extra Prius’ gathering rust on the Docks around the world – we’ll see maybe sane pricing then I hope)
The Prius is now a part of Automotive history and represents the first vehicle in a step towards the future.
But it doesn’t represent good value if it is going to take 40,000 years to recover the purchase price on the fuel saved alone.
This is why you will always have the dissenters out there to make you question why you are so passionate about a company that really doesnt give two hoots about you!
BTW…Millatime…Still chortling at some of your comments.
Fenno – sorry mate but i’ll reply ‘if’ or ‘when’ i make it to the end of your dribble. I keep fall’n to sleep each time i start reading it … i really do !!
Thomas79 – i have some of the financial figures for the past couple of years of the automotive manufactuers in Australia.
* 2007 / 2008 FISCAL year
1. Toyota … $242 million profit
2. Holden … $6 million dollar loss
3. Ford … $84 million dollar loss
* 2006/2007 FISCAL year
1. Toyota … $184 million dollar profit
2. Holden … $146 million dollar loss
3. Ford … $ ??
2005/2006 FISCAL year
1. Toyota … $55 million profit
2. Holden … $145 million loss
3. Ford … $ ??
So, in the past 3 years – Toyota Oz has reported a $481 million profit compared to Holdens $297 million loss … oooch !!
That represents a massive $778 million dollar diference in just 3 short years alone.
And whats funny about all this, the usual monkeys question Toyota’s stability in Australia … haa, what a joke !!
Seriusoly dude, the clowns on this site are just killing me with thier stupidity
Cheers
ps. to all those idiots that have stated in the past that Toyota Australia sells the most cars but not make the most profit … i dare you monkeys say that now !!
Dingo/go prius/oh what a feeling/toyota supporter and every other name he posts under is an employee of Toyota and or one of its dealers/agencies,therefore his posts are tainted with commercial self interest and should be considered nothing more than very, very low quality advertising, and not his objective opinion and car advice.
Interestingly, due to his abrasive and abusive nature, even Toyota Motor Corporation Australia wish he would shut his stupid mouth as they concede his rants are only damaging the brand.
His post above (31/7 at 5:13pm) illustrates this perfectly. After highlighting Toyota’s record profits in this post every Toyota customer should now be rightfully asking themselves, “have I been overcharged?”, and the answer is most certainly yes.
Every “new” Corolla owner should go to straight back to the dealer they purchased it from and demand to know why it doesn’t have life saving ESP fitted. Hyundai’s have it.
With the record profits Toyota are making they certainly could prvide ESP, so the answer can only be Toyota do not regard it’s customer safety as a priority, instead prefering to focus on maximum profits.
As Fenno so rightly points out, “a company that really doesn’t give two hoots about you”
Unfortunately, as you look across the range of Toyota vehicles you find evidence of this overcharging and under delivering everywhere.
In these difficult and uncertain economic times with the cost of living rising most of us battle and work hard to make ends meet and keep the wolf from the door – for ourselves and our families, not for Toyota’s record profits.
Well done Dingo on alienating yourself, and damaging Toyota’s reputation, even further.
Dingo if you find staying awake whilst reading a bit of a challenge perhaps you should read something closer to your intellectual level or easier for you to understand, something like Little Golden Books or maybe Dr Zeuss..?
I’ll keep it simple because the attention span is waning.
Dingo
Toyota ARE number one (both in profits and volume)
I have never disputed that. Although every counter arguement starts with this fact, or some irrelevant JD power survey result.
When supply outstrips demand (as it will when the Prius production is increased -the whole point of this article and it’s associated comments), the price should go down. Mazda can do it why cant Toyota?
Toyota instead choose to increase the prices on all of their poplular models and blame the cost of steel.
Are Toyota that concerned for the environment?
You would say yes because they have Hybrids.
They cant be that concerned if they charge what they do for access to technology that everybody should have a right to. Especially when they can now meet the demands for such a product (the point of this article – remember)
In other words – You can all have our product now…but we’re still going to make you pay top dollar for it.
In essence, Toyota dont care about their customers (they describe their vehicles as ‘units’ – a word associated more with accounting than passion or service) and it reflects in their pricing.
Oh what a (sinking) feeling (in the gut).
By the way, Porsche are the most profitable car company on the planet if you calculate it per vehicle, so please be more specific when conjuring up irrelevant facts or making idle boasts.