Toyota boasts 80,000 Prius pre-sale orders
May 19, 2009 by George Skentzos
Toyota has announced the pre-sale orders of its new generation Prius following strong competition from fellow Japanese rival Honda whose Insight became the first hybrid ever to top the best-sellers’ list in Japan last month.
With the Prius set to debut in its home country first, Toyota is counting more than 80,000 pre-sale orders in Japan alone ahead of the start of sales on Monday in Japan, where it aims to sell 10,000 vehicles a month.
The new hybrid will also go on sale in North America and Europe this month with Toyota establishing a global sales target of 400,000 units for the car in 2010.
“The hybrid market is going to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the world,” said JPMorgan Securities auto analyst Takaki Nakanishi.
With Honda selling nearly 10,500 Insights in April – more than double the monthly sales forecast – Toyota has been forced to rethink its pricing strategy.
Initially the new Prius was slated to cost significantly more than the Insight as well as attracting a premium over its predecessor; instead Toyota has since slashed over A$4,000 of the new vehicle price in a move which has upset Honda.
This will no doubt have a dramatic effect on Toyota’s bottom line as the new generation model had been engineered to suit a higher price point, featuring a bigger 1.8-litre engine and better mileage of 4.7 litres per 100kms.
“You can’t just suddenly change your pricing policy — that’s going to destroy the market,” Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, “We’re not paying any attention to (the Prius). They’re not going to last long with that strategy,” he added, speculating that the Prius would eat into sales of other Toyota cars and hurt its dealers.
Both companies are suffering due to the economic downturn with Toyota forecasting a $8.6 billion loss for the current fiscal year while Honda’s operating profit last year collapsed 80 percent to $1.95 billion.
Print it: 
Toyota has made a number of claims similar to this which they are reluctant or unable to back up with factual evidence.
They do it by either omitting or manipulating certain other facts [that is in relation to what other car companies have done in the past etc] inorder to make their cars appear to be more impressive than they actually are.. that their cars are the first to have special innovative features; or that they have “class leading” performance etc
Yet when these claims turn out to be wrong or misleading their marketing and media monkeys back pedal quicker than a corolla hire car does in reverse.. The “Game Changing” [TRD] Aurion is a perfect example of this
My god there are 80,000 gullible idiots outs there then,and I thought Japan were in the worst recession ever.
So the Government kicking in some sort of incentive to buy Jap cars or what ?
At least Honda has caught them out with over charging for this so called green fridge……..
Just shows how many people can be one over with a facelift and a solar panel. I wish somebody would come to an exact number for how much Co2 a Prius puts out when you add in all the batteries. If there was an exact number and some evil SUV to compare it to, maybe they wouldn’t sell so many. It’s getting a bit scary though isn’t it? Almost every car company seems to be planning on releasing an EV at some point in the next five years. I’m wondering if the fuel we really should be using (hydrogen) is going to be completely overlooked. I’m starting to get a bit worried here. Batteries taking over is simply not a good thing.
The future of all car fuels couldn’t have picked a worse financial time to become a prominent issue. I’m confident that the main reason why hydrogen isn’t really making it’s mark is because most hybrid and electric systems were probably designed before the financial problems. Or at least I hope so. As I wrote, with numbers like 80,000, it’s getting a bit scary.
Why is this car still so ugly? I reckon the Volt is going to kill the Prius.
As a matter of interest: Have Toyota paid the multi-million dollar fine they got last year for stealing the technology on which the Prius Operation System is based?
Luke – That’s only if the Volt doesn’t kill itself first. The way GMs looking I doubt we’ll ever see the Volt.
and you think ssangyong are ugly. billy h.
This car is the most over-rated thing the world has ever seen. Green maybe, but not green enough to be owned by 6 million tonnes of celebrities and to be considered the ‘it’ car of the 21st century. The Prius isn’t green, you have to actually chuck the batteries out at the end of their life. Do you do that in a VW Polo Bluemotion of MINI Cooper D? Didn’t think so…
Yes the Prius is a bigger car but there cars of similar size with similar green credentials. Skoda Octavia Greenline (even the Superb Greenline), Ford Fusion Hybrid, VW Passat Bluemotion, the Audi A3 1.9TDIe and Audi A4 2.0TDIe…all these get under 5.0L/100km which is all the ‘Green’ needed to ’save the planet’.
I’m not a V8-rev head (actually I’m a 4cyl Turbo-rev-head) and my car does produce under 9L/100km so you could hardly say I’m trying to poison the Earth. But this car isn’t the answer, especially not for the prices Toyota charge. There are many other alternatives out there to go ‘green’.
Jake02, point well made but I don’t think you can go on about batteries and then list the Fusion Hybrid as a good alternative (unless I am unaware and it’s a hybrid of another sort).
The other thing to consider is that the Prius is renowned for not getting it’s claimed fuel economy in the real world. Diesels usually do. And what’s 20 grams of Co2 here and there? Get a diesel Mondeo or something, anything else.
Agree with all above. The Prius is an extremely overrated vehicle. I’ve been saying for years that the Toyota media mill is the best in the world – who else could convince Governments, motor journos, etc, etc that the Prius is a really, really green car.
Give me a Passat Bluemotion any day – more room inside than a Prius (which, by the way, is about Corolla size inside – even Toyota dealers agree!), better to drive and VW have proven green credentials.
I’ll probably buy one of these. My dream car is a Porsche Targa 4 but since 80% of my driving experience is in the city where I rarely the get the chance to hit 4th gear what would be the point in a Porsche? This thing has a button that instructs the engine to only run on electicity provided your doing under 60km/h. Perfect for my application. When I can afford it I’ll still buy the Porsche for the weekend runs to the beach/winery, but I can’t see a better vehicle for day-to-day use. This thing even looks good.
For the record I don’t work for Toyota. To prove that fact I’ll make the statement that I think Toyota make very boring cars – there! (The Prius is the one exception).
quote ” Toyota make very boring cars – there! (The Prius is the one exception).”"
That was a joke………… wasnt it ?
No joke. Really boring cars… Camry especially… haha
Yes another Prius article!!! I love the Prius… would i buy one, own one, lease one … nope! But I just love the passion it stirs on this website.
“I wish somebody would come to an exact number for how much Co2 a Prius puts out when you add in all the batteries”
ooohh those evil batteries that cost $50 Millon AU dollars each and only last 10K’s before they leave you stranded or explode and kill your family.
“I’m wondering if the fuel we really should be using (hydrogen) is going to be completely overlooked”
Oh yes, that excellent fuel we’ve been looking at for the last 50 years, invested billons and still isn’t easily available.
80,000 pre-orders is good work in this climate. Even if it is the most boring car ever made. What i’d like to see is some hybrid competition. How about that Ford Fusion,with out the bling bling grille.
So 80,000 pre-sale orders in JAPAN.
Toyota expect to sell 10,000/month or 120,000/year.
They just cut the domestic market price by $4000
120,000 x $4000 = $480 MILLION annual profit drop.
80,000 x $4000 = $320 MILLION profit drop on pre-sale orders.
I thought Toyota were supposed to be good at business??
“I thought Toyota were supposed to be good at business??”
Yeah, but lets face it. The Prius has always been overpriced, its about time it was cheaper. Its an excellent fuel performer. But it no longer represents the latest technology.
Bret, maybe they are selling more than expected, so they can drop the price. (Economies of scale, isn’t it?) I am sure that all of the economists and accountants working at Toyota would somehow have allowed for this, don’t you?
That said, it is way overpriced for what it is, but at least they are having a go at providing an alternative to petrol only cars.
They dropped the price because it was being outsold by the Honda.
New Prius was designed to a higher price point, which determines material qualties and cost to build.
Their market research was wrong and the’ve stuffed it to the tune of $420 million a year.
Stop the presses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just heard that the Japanese whaling fleet have ordered 80,000 Priuses (Priii) to appease GreenPeace!!!!!!!
Seriously though why do the Japanes believe a Hybrid has to have the same shape as a steam Iron???? Give me the 1400 mile per tank Fusion any day!!!!!!!!!
Yep that was the reason Bret,Toyota are hoping this will be the car that helps them reduce those billion dollars losses,4k reduction on their cash cow must of stung.
Frontman……When you’ve finished stirring the blubber in the pot I want that spoon back to punish you with…..hahaha
You know the Toyota lovers dont have a sence of humor !
Think some are missing the point.
Prius has to look “unique” so buyers can flaunt their green credentials. What’s the point if is isn’t instantly recognisable as a Hybrid?
Is why it is more successful than regular styled i.e similar to petrol model competitors.
Supply & Demand, I would at least suggest that you go and have a look at the superb Mini D before you go buying a Prius. No, it doesn’t run on electricity only but considering the Prius still uses petrol to make the electricity, it’s not that different. If you buy the Mini, you won’t look stupid and boring, in fact, you might almost look cool. You’ll also have a LOT more fun. Unless you need the extra space, go for the Mini.
” Priuses (Priii)” I did read this then laugh about 1 hour later. Having a kinda slow performance day :)
The Prius would have to be made of vine leaves & tofu, while running on baked beans & fart power before anyone from GP would endorse it.
Forgive me fellow bloggers, for i have sinned.
Yesterday Arvo i sat in a Toyota showroom with A pair of Yaris (yarii??) to my right, and salesmen talking native tongue to the typical toyota buyer.
Yes, I just purchased a vehicle from a toyota dealer.
I signed on a………….MAZDA ha ha ha ha ha ha
Would have picked it up today but the flooded roads prevented me from getting there
lazybones Says:
May 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
The Prius would have to be made of vine leaves & tofu, while running on baked beans & fart power before anyone from GP would endorse it.
:-o you mean to say that they aren’t???? :-o
If only they would put something like cylinder de-activation on this, then they could really call it green
Yeah SteveH and have a cutout through the floor where we scoot along with our feet,yaba-daba-do
Oi AndrewM I hope your in quarantine still………dont know how many MNBG’s {mind numbingly boring germs}you got,let me know if your XR8 start to turn a little beige ……
“:-o you mean to say that they aren’t???? :-o”
Sorry thats classified, What I can tell you is the interior is actually made of rice crackers. So when you get bored (18.8 Nano Seconds into driving) you can chomp on the dash and enjoy the lentil dipping sauce supplied in the glove box.
BM,
I think its safe to say the germs are all dead now.
Picked up the SP23 this arvo, and i reckon when the germs saw the car they died.
There aint a boring bone on the mazda where germs can populate
Even the toyota salesman was like “WOW”.
He said they are only starting to get them in/through their yard and he was amazed by it
He was even hitting me up for info on them because he could tell I’d really done my reasearch
Dont tell wheelnut its got his favourite Bose branded sound in it…..Shhhhhh
AH Prius The Magic Wonder Car,helps rainforest grow,saved the baby seals from being clubed to death,stopped french nuclear testing in the Pacific and can perform an environmetnal ordit.Yes Prius The Magic Wonder Car the only thing it can’t do is stop illegal whale slaugther.