BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Toyota aims to sell one million hybrid vehicles annually]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/toyota-aims-to-sell-one-million-hybrid-vehicles-annually/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/toyota-aims-to-sell-one-million-hybrid-vehicles-annually/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/toyota-aims-to-sell-one-million-hybrid-vehicles-annually/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Although Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) basically invented the popular notion of hybrid vehicles years ago by making the Prius compact passenger car the spokescar of the hybrid world, the automaker now has its sights set a little higher. Toyota wants to sell at least one million Hybrid cars every year shortly after 2010 gets here.

Although Toyota was not the first automaker with some form of hybrid vehicle on the road, it's been the most aggressive marketer of such technology and resulting vehicles by far. Although the hybrid Prius has sold only 1.25 million units since first being introduced in 1997, Japan's largest automaker thinks that mark can be hit annually within a few years. Are those plans too ambitious?

If fuel prices stay at the level they are at now, it's not inconceivable to think Toyota can't hit that mark. The automaker has publicly said that it wants a hybrid drivetrain in every vehicle it sells come 2020, so to get that kind of expertise ramping, it needs to move quite a few hybrid vehicles this year and increase that amount every year going forward.

The internal combustion engine still is not perfected, so transitioning millions of vehicles to a hybrid drivetrain in a little over a decade sounds like a risky plan to many. If Toyota can start selling a million of them per year long before that, though, it just may have a chance.

Toyota aims to sell one million hybrid vehicles annually originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>TMToyota hybridToyota MotorToyota PriusToyotaHybridToyotaMotorToyotaPriusFri, 28 Dec 2007 13:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota (TM) hybrid stalled -- can Detroit capitalize?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/09/toyota-tm-hybrid-stalled-can-detroit-capitalize/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/09/toyota-tm-hybrid-stalled-can-detroit-capitalize/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/09/toyota-tm-hybrid-stalled-can-detroit-capitalize/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Due to potential safety problems, Toyota (NYSE: TM) has decided to delay the launch of new high-mileage hybrids with lithium-ion battery technology by one to two years, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the strategy. The decision destroys any chance of Toyota meeting its goal of selling 600,000 hybrids a year by early next decade, up from almost 200,000 in 2006. The move allows General Motors (NYSE: GM) and others the opportunity to narrow the gap of future vehicle technology.

Toyota has also postponed its plans for the hybrid versions of the Sequoia SUV and the Tundra pickup until 2013-2014. That puts Toyota way behind General Motors and Chrysler's plans to launch hybrid SUVs in 2008.

The "potential safety problem" Toyota says, is the development of lithium cobalt oxide particles in its batteries, which have a tendency to overheat, catch fire or even explode. According to the company, similar problems have been seen in Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) lithium-ion batteries in laptops -- mostly because the chemistry of Sony's batteries was similar to that of batteries they were attempting to use in future hybrids.

The next-generation Prius will instead use the conventional nickel-metal-hydride batteries for its launch in early 2009. The first Toyota hybrid with lithium-ion battery technology will not arrive in the U.S. until 2011.

GM will have an opportunity to launch its first lithium-ion hybrid, the Saturn VUE Green Line model, as soon as late 2009, and before any competitors. Toyota's delays also give Honda Motors (NYSE: HMC) the opportunity to highlight its launch of a subcompact hybrid with improved nickel-metal-hydride batteries in 2009. Volkswagen (OTC: VLKAY), BMW and DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DAI) all plan to create clean diesel engines for U.S. cars starting in 2009. The automakers say they now have obtained the technology to meet tough American clean-air standards.

Regardless of which company produces the first lithium-ion hybrid, Toyota's delays push back J.D. Power's estimates on future hybrid sales. Hybrid sales totaled 2.3% of all auto sales this year and were expected to reach 5% by 2010.

Toyota (TM) hybrid stalled -- can Detroit capitalize? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daidaimlerdcxgeneral motorGeneralMotorgmhmchondahybridhybrid vehiclesHybridVehiclesinthenewsionlaunchlithiumlithium-ion batteryLithium-ionBatterypowersnesonySUVtmtoyotaToyota hybridToyota hybrid batteryToyotaHybridToyotaHybridBatteryvlkayvolkswagonThu, 09 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota unveils new hybrid]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/toyota-unveils-new-hybrid/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/toyota-unveils-new-hybrid/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/toyota-unveils-new-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) proudly unveiled its newest (and most expensive) hybrid automobile today. Before you get too excited about the newest gasoline-electric vehicle you should be warned that these cars are not for the faint of heart, coming with a nice little price tag of $124,000.

Toyota has long been interested in the hybrid car market. Their first introduction to the field came 10 years ago when they launched its first hybrid car, the Prius. So far Toyota's market for hybrid cars has not been very material to their business, but the company expects that the trend is coming it way and within a couple years we could see massive growth in consumers thirst for hybrid cars. Last year the company "only" sold 300,000 hybrids, but by its estimates expects that it will be selling a million plus hybrids each year starting in 2010.

Toyota could definitely be on the right track here. Societal concern of global warming the past couple of years has definitely been on the rise, and this is inevitably going to keep interest in hybrids increasing. Add on top of the current social movement, we also are dealing with record high gasoline prices. Sure, the current high prices of gas are bound to recede, but even if prices do fall back down towards $2 a gallon, that is still not exactly "cheap" gas (although we would all be jumping for joy to pay $2 for a gallon of gas these days).

Toyota rolled out the newest hybrid LS today in Japan and will be starting to offer the car in Europe, North America and Asia, including China, beginning next month.

So all you environmentally friendly consumers with an extra $124K laying around, get ready... your new luxury car is on the way!

Toyota unveils new hybrid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 May 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel effeciencyFuelEffeciencyhybrid carsHybridCarstoyota hybridtoyota LSToyotaHybridToyotaLsThu, 17 May 2007 18:02:00 EST