That’s right; in the face of auto industry crisis, economic downturns and plummeting sales, Toyota is actually experiencing a waiting list for its hybrid Prius model, with the list in Japan apparently extending to a good seven months.

Reports say that the Prius production plants are running around the clock, overtime is on offer and workers from around the country are being moved in to facilitate manufacturing. This is possible the only recruitment drive currently in the car market anywhere in the world.

Higher than expected sales numbers for the Toyota Prius are driving the production, and even the battery supplier, Panasonic EV Energy, is working overtime to supply the demand. And from our point of view, here’s hoping the production is a sign of changing times and greener cars.

Source | Autoblog Green

Continue reading: Want a 2010 Toyota Prius? Get in line

In the following series of videos you can see the new technology and accessories available on the new Toyota Prius. The hybrid has already reached its third generation and the updates are essential in maintaining sales in the US market.

The Smart Key function will be present, along with Drive Mode, park assist, multifunction display, bluetooth connection and new XM Nav Traffic sat nav. Other options available will be the Moonroof, active cruise control and remote control air conditioning.

Continue reading: New Toyota Prius videos

Chevrolet has released shots of its Chevrolet Volt, that show the final look of this American hybrid and its technological aspects. You may as well save the photos at this stage, as the Volt itself won’t appear on the market until the end of 2010, while the new Toyota Prius and Honda Insight have got a jump on Chevrolet.

Chevrolet is still pursuing its hybrid programs though, with an agreement with LG to produce new batteries in its Michigan facilities. It’s not a bad looking car for the hybrid segment, though I don’t really get the shot of the flowers in the boot - economic friendliness taken too far when the norm is a set of golf clubs…?

Continue reading: New images of Chevrolet Volt

EDF (Électricité De France) and Toyota plans for testing of the hybrid plug-in are developing as after the first tests in France, in September 2007, the two companies are now experimenting on the streets of Britain. The tests are being undertaken mostly in suburban areas to study the necessary infrastructure required for these vehicles. The tests will continue for the next 12 months.

The first test car will used by EDF staff as if it were part of the fleet of company cars, to evaluate the realistic possibilities of daily use of a plug-in. The Prius used is equipped with a new recharge system, studied to be compatible with the next generation “refuel” stations. EDF has already installed 40 of these stations, but over the next months that number is likely to grow.

The first figures of the Prius plug-in are clear: compared to the current version, over a 25 km course, fuel consumption is reduced by up to 60 percent! This is an excellent result for a project still at the beginning of its research.

Source | GreenCarCongress

Continue reading: Toyota and EDF undertake hybrid plug-in testing in the UK

More sightings of the next generation Toyota Prius prototype have occurred, and while it’s difficult to get an idea of the overall look, these new shots give us a chance to check out the interior.

It appears more sporty, and the central gear stick is of particular note, compared to the joystick of the current version. The touch screen and general driving position have also been lowered.

The new Toyota Prius should be released in the course of 2009, with the “old” nickel batteries and similar dimensions and volume to the current model, although station wagon and cabriolet versions are currently being developed.

Continue reading: Toyota Prius next generation: more spy shots

The next Toyota Prius is expected in the course of 2009, and preparations are currently underway for the heir to what we could define as the first true mass hybrid. The photos you see here come from AutoWeek and the European headquarters of the Japanese company.

The heavy camouflage means no judgement on the car’s style can be made, but it appears to point to similarities to the current model. What is certain in that the new Prius will have cleaner lines than the current model: the roof, for example, will be carpeted with solar panels which should guarantee the functioning of the air conditioning, and a plug-in model is currently planned.

Continue reading: Toyota Prius: next generation in testing phase

The next generation Toyota Prius will be available for sale in the course of the next year, and will produced in higher numbers - a good 70 percent more than the current according to Automative News.

To make for new assembly lines required for such a strong increase in production, next April the Japanese company should move production to its minivan Wish chain Tsutsumi facilities, where two models are currently produced.

It’s an excellent opportunity for the company in the American market, strangled by petrol prices, which is just crying out for hybrid vehicles. Long waiting lists demonstrate this, some of many months, and the 281,300 units sold last year.

To enter the US market in the best possible way, Toyota will also move some of the Prius production to a Mississippi facility, where together with the Tsutsumi factory, 480,000 units a year will be produced.

Continue reading: Toyota: a 70% increase in Prius production, destined for the US market

It appears the Japanese are asking help from the “enemy” to globalise the apple of their eye: according to unconfirmed reports, Toyota wants to collaborate with General Motors to export a Prius production line to an American facility.

The Tokyo company has apparently spied facilities in Vermont, California, as a possible place to welcome the first site of hybrid production outside of Asia - current assembly is shared between Japan and China. The previous joint-venture between NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.) and GM would be the first, fundamental point of departure to start negotiations.

Despite usual denial of reports, this could be the first step towards achieving the objective of one million hybrids by 2010.

Via | Autoblog.com

Continue reading: Toyota Prius in the US thanks to General Motors

Toyota Motor Corporation has triumphantly announced today that global sales of the Prius, “first great hybrid car”, has reached one million units.

The precise figures, calculated at the end of the first quarter 2008, passes 1,028,000 cars sold in 40 countries with a significant share going to Japan and the United States. Toyota calculates that the Prius sold have contributed to cuts in total CO2 emissions that amount to 4.5 million tonnes compared to what would have occurred with petrol cars of the same class.

The first Prius series was launched in Japan in 1997 and then in 2000 in the US and Europe. The current model comes from 2003, and since 2005 has also been produced in China, in the Changchun plant. In the course of the next year, Toyota expects to introduce the Prius also to South Korea as part of a global market expansion in hybrids, of which the company intends to sell one million a year as of the next decade.

Continue reading: Toyota Prius reaches one million sales

More than batteries and hybrids: for the third millenium we’re still in high seas for fuel sources. Or at least this is as much reported by the British publication the Sunday Times, in which a Toyota Prius and a BMW Series 520d were put to a long highway test. And the results are surprising.

Everything stemmed from some readers notes who sustain that the consumption declared by the Japanese company is 15 miles per gallon (six km per litre) higher than comparable values on the road. And at this point the experiment took off.

The test was conducted on the road from London to Geneva, taking in nearly 700km of highway and more than 150km of urban and suburban roads. Although we need to admit that high speed cruising penalises hybrid cars, and the German car weighs 230kg more, the comparison was quite stark.

Continue reading: The Bmw 520d challenges the Toyota Prius on consumption: are the results given?