Long wait for new Prius model
By Yuri Kageyama |
May 14, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Some buyers will have to wait until April next year for deliveries of a new bigger Toyota Prius because of a battery shortage that's adding to production delays from the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
The launch yesterday of the more spacious "Prius a," or "Prius alpha," a revamp of Toyota's popular gas-electric hybrid, had been initially set for April. But the March 11 earthquake in northeast Japan destroyed key parts suppliers and forced a delay.
The parts shortage has disrupted production at Toyota's Japanese plants, and the auto maker has said production won't be completely back to pre-disaster levels until late this year. The battery shortage was an issue even before the earthquake.
The new Prius model, which looks like a station wagon or a tiny minivan, comes in two versions - one seating five people, set to go on sale in North America later this year as the "Prius V," and one with three rows seating seven people, being offered in Europe in mid-2012 called "Prius +."
Toyota executive Satoru Mouri said only 1,000 of the Prius with the lithium-ion batteries could be produced a month. Toyota is planning to produce 2,000 of the other model a month, and is trying to increase production, he said.
Toyota is aiming to sell 2,000 of the new Prius a month in North America, and another 2,000 a month in Europe.
In Japan, Toyota has already received 25,000 orders for the new Prius models - 18,000 for the model with nickel-metal hydride batteries, and 7,000 for the one with lithium-ion batteries.
Buyers have had long waits for previous Prius models. But the wait this time for some could be especially long, lasting until April next year, according to Toyota. Still, Toyota's launch yesterday was a bit of bright news that has been rare in Japan these days.
The launch yesterday of the more spacious "Prius a," or "Prius alpha," a revamp of Toyota's popular gas-electric hybrid, had been initially set for April. But the March 11 earthquake in northeast Japan destroyed key parts suppliers and forced a delay.
The parts shortage has disrupted production at Toyota's Japanese plants, and the auto maker has said production won't be completely back to pre-disaster levels until late this year. The battery shortage was an issue even before the earthquake.
The new Prius model, which looks like a station wagon or a tiny minivan, comes in two versions - one seating five people, set to go on sale in North America later this year as the "Prius V," and one with three rows seating seven people, being offered in Europe in mid-2012 called "Prius +."
Toyota executive Satoru Mouri said only 1,000 of the Prius with the lithium-ion batteries could be produced a month. Toyota is planning to produce 2,000 of the other model a month, and is trying to increase production, he said.
Toyota is aiming to sell 2,000 of the new Prius a month in North America, and another 2,000 a month in Europe.
In Japan, Toyota has already received 25,000 orders for the new Prius models - 18,000 for the model with nickel-metal hydride batteries, and 7,000 for the one with lithium-ion batteries.
Buyers have had long waits for previous Prius models. But the wait this time for some could be especially long, lasting until April next year, according to Toyota. Still, Toyota's launch yesterday was a bit of bright news that has been rare in Japan these days.
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