Toyota Motor Corp. has pushed back plans to build its Prius in the United States by as much as six years, with a top executive saying U.S. production is likely to start only when the best-selling hybrid is remodelled.
The world’s largest auto maker had previously planned to produce the Prius at its Mississippi plan, but had put those plans on hold indefinitely as the financial crisis hit demand.
Last month, Toyota said it would drop the Prius altogether and instead build the Corolla sedan in Mississippi, after local production of that model ended with the closure of a California factory formerly co-owned with General Motors Co.
“The main components for the Prius such as the motor and battery are not enough for local production,” Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi said. “We expect that they’ll be ready with the next remodelling.”
Translation: Not enough “green values” types are buying the current model to generate enough volume to justify local production. The market is still not rushing to showrooms for the various hybrids and now full electric models. Next, along these lines want to wager that GM will end up taking a huge financial hosing on the Volt? Talk is one thing, buying the electro cars is another. Meanwhile, some thinking persons can recall that loopy “who killed the electric car” bullwash.
“GM will end up taking a huge financial hosing on the Volt?”
Translated, the American taxpayer will take a huge financial hosing on the Volt after the 50 billion dollar investment that benefited the unions and their pension and medial plans. Screwed again without Vaseline.