Huge lift in Prius production set for 2009

60 percent increase in production in 2009

Toyota will increase production of the Toyota Prius in 2009 by 60 percent according to reports coming out of Japan. In 2007, Toyota produced some 280,000 Prius hybrid cars, and next year the automaker plans to produce 450,000 of the hybrids per year.

While the reports don't make the claim, it seems pretty obvious that Toyota is gearing up to launch the the third iteration of the Hybrid Synergy Drive, thus the increase in production.

Wow! Honda is hoping to sell 200,000 Prius killers next year. A big jump for Honda, but still less than half of Toyota's Prius production - let alone their total hybrid production. Every other automaker won't sell even 100,000 hybrids for at least a few years after 2009. Do US automakers have enough in the tank to catch up? I'm not sure, but the Chevy Volt better move like greased, fricken lightning - that's for sure.