[efusco]

Over at the GM Inside News forum I've been defending hybrids. Someone posted This Blog Article from The Car Connection which claims that Prius sales in Japan are poor.

I know this is totally inaccurate, and the bloggist doesn't show any data to support his contentions, but neither did a quick google search reveal the data I need to give hard facts to contradict it.

I know someone here will have the numbers and would appreciate if you could point me to where that data is.

 

[mrv]

Well, the question is: what time period is being looked at, and being compared to what other time period?

I can find general information on Toyota sales in Japan on their English press release site, but I haven't seen a breakdown by model:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/05/manufacturing_sales/
for example:
Sept. 2005: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/05/1024_1.html
Aug. 2005: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/05/0927_1.html

and if demand is down in Japan, that just means more Prius for the US (shorter wait times)! At some US dealers, it's still a year waiting list!

 

[efusco]

Darn Michelle, you were my best hope...

I think the author of that blog was repeating another unfounded rumor...I've heard nothing of the sort from any of our Japanese contributors and Toyota sure seems to be making a lot of cool toys for that 'disinterested' audience over there!

 

[ken1784]

I know someone here will have the numbers and would appreciate if you could point me to where that data is.

Below is my personal list derived from the following monthly report...
http://www.jada.or.jp/contents/data/ranking/index.php

Monthly Prius sales in CY2003
SEP OCT NOV DEC
Japan 3,661 3,520 3,478 4,083
Japan-T 3,661 7,181 10,659 14,742
US 4,085 5,584 4,025
US-Total 4,085 9,669 13,694

Monthly Prius sales in CY2004
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Japan 4,235 4,870 6,130 5,051 5,806 6,740 6,180 3,810 4,386 4,384 (8,169)
Japan-T 4,235 9,105 15,235 20,286 26,092 32,832 39,012 42,822 47,208 51,592 59,761
US 2,925 3,215 3,778 3,684 3,962 4,219 5,230 4,393 4,309 6,123 5,866 6,287
US-Total 2,925 6,140 9,918 13,602 17,564 21,783 27,013 31,406 35,715 41,838 47,704 53,991

Monthly Prius sales in CY2005
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
Japan 2,952 4,414 4,679 3,346 3,267 4,378 4,238 3,455 3,620
Japan-T 2,952 7,366 12,045 15,391 18,658 23,036 27,274 30,729 34,349
US 5,566 7,078 10,236 11,345 9,461 9,622 9,691 9,850 8,193
US-Total 5,566 12,644 22,880 34,225 43,686 53,308 62,999 72,849 81,042

I have no data about the Honda Hybirids, but I believe their number is about one tenth of the US sales.
The monthly number for Honda Insight is a single digit.

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[efusco]

Thanks a lot Ken, I updated that Blog with the data.