New Toyota Prius Orders are Much Greater than Initially Expected

Prius Frenzy in Japan

In Tokyo on Thursday, Toyota Motor Corp. stated that orders for its all-new second-generation Prius gas-electric hybrid have reached approximately 11,000 units during its first two weeks of sales only, eight times more than initially expected.

Toyota only had planned to sell 3,000 units of the 5-door model per month in Japan, for a total of 36,000 examples annually. The car went on sale in its homeland on September 1, and is expected to be available in North America in October.

If it were to continue its current sales pace the Prius would eclipse the total sales of the outgoing model, which ran from 1997 to present, in exactly one year. It seems that Toyotas plan of selling 300,000 new Prius hybrids by 2005 is not only attainable, but quite conservative.

According to a statement released by Toyota on the subject, "Orders have come from wide-ranging age groups, from under-30s and over-60s."

Recently upsized from compact to midsize, increasing interior space and now offering the convenience of full pass through access via a hatchback style liftgate, the new Prius is obviously striking a chord with Japanese consumers.

The fact that it can be had for the same price as the previous generation car, 2.15 million yen (USD$18,870) in Japan, belies the reality that it is better in every way (price in U.S. is USD$19,995). Rising gasoline prices have also helped its sales progress, being that the new model is more fuel efficient despite offering dramatically improved performance.

Although Hondas tiny 2-seat Insight was first on sale in North America, the Prius was the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle globally, and the only vehicle initially available that was large enough to be used day to day.

Speaking of larger interior capacities, look for the Lexus RX Hybrid to become available in the near future.