Toyota Prius – 1.74 million sold and counting
Still just a marketing gimmick?
But, can there be only one Prius?
In April Toyota sold 26,482 Prius hybrids in Japan, where the Prius has topped auto sales for the last 12 months and where waiting lists top 6 months. Worldwide, Toyota has now sold over 1.74 million Prius hybrids, a simply stunning number, as most other automakers can’t even sell 26,000 hybrids in an entire year.
I wonder if Bob Lutz still believes the Prius is still just a marketing gimmick?
Sure, part of the Prius success story in Japan is based upon tax incentives for green vehicles; however, the Prius is not the only hybrid available in Japan, nor the only ‘clean’ vehicle. And regardless of the tax credits, 25,000+ units sold month after month is unquestionably impressive, yet it also begs the question, can there be only one?
According to numerous forecasts, hybrid cars should achieve about 25 percent market penetration by 2025. Are the majority of those vehicles going to be Toyota Prius-based hybrid vehicles? Will another hybrid eventually challenge the Prius?
Only time will tell, of course, but if the hybrid market forecasts are correct, the Prius is undoubtedly the greatest marketing gimmick ever conceived in the auto industry.
Woo,Its a outstanding car and its looking stylist.I love it.
The quantity says everything about a Prius model and its popularity. I think its going to be the best selling car this month.
Well, according to well-to-wheel analysis by others, such as extensive studies by Toyota and MIT, there is a decrease in CO2 because of the Prius. Likewise, as supply chains for such technologies develop, the amount of CO2 produced will continued to decline.
Likewise, while it is possible that Toyota has not made significant profits from the Prius, claiming such an opinion as fact is nonsense. The fact is, outside of Toyota, no one knows, but there have been a number of analysts that have followed Toyota for the last decade that completely contradict your non-profit suggestion. So, you are making a lot of assumptions.
the prius has been an exercise in predatory marketing and wishful thinking. First gen prius cost toyota $30000 to make, then commodity prices skyrocketed. then there is increased co2 from a complicated combination of an engine and a motor and the regenerrative braking. In short the prius dumped 5o billion dollars of unprofitable automobile on the world market. Remember profits? No profit no prosperity.
I wouldn’t consider the Prius a “marketing gimmick”. It is a reliable vehicle, built by a quality manufacturer, and gives its customers exactly what they are looking for – the mose fuel efficent hybrid on the market with plenty of wireless integration.
And if people didn’t like it, Toyota would never have been able to sell 1.74 Million of them.
Hardly a gimmick…
What a success story… I knew people would warm up to the hybrid. Someone just had to make the right one. It’s doing EXACTLY what it’s supposed to do. It’s fuel efficient, it’s not emitting so many greenhouse gases into the air, and most importantly, at least to the automakers, it’s SELLING. Who really cares what angle they used as long as you’re getting your money’s worth?
The word gimmick could have either a positive or negative connotation, so yeah, I do think it was a well-devised gimmick perfect for this time period when everyone wants to be eco-friendly. I give Toyota a “Thumbs-Up!”
Prius defies conventional wisdom. I love it. Future cars will look like Prius. Just look at the Insight and Volt having the same 5 door hatchback.