Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A, Inc., today announced a 31 percent increase in
production of its all-new, second-generation Prius gas-electric hybrid sedan to
help meet the vehicle's heavy demand in the U.S. market.
The original Prius production plan for 2004 calendar year was 36,000 units.
With 12,000 pre-orders received before the vehicle launched in mid-October and
approximately 10,000 units delivered in its first six weeks on sale, it became
necessary to boost Prius production to 47,000 units annually.
"This is all about customer satisfaction," said Don Esmond, TMS senior
vice president and general manager. "With record-shattering sales in both
October and November, and no sign of demand letting up, it became clear we had
underestimated our early sales projections. If 47,000 units is still too low,
another request for additional production from our Tsutsumi Plant in Toyota
City, Japan may be necessary."
Prius (the name comes from the Latin "to go before") was the world's
first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle when introduced in Japan in
1997 (2000 in the U.S. market). It has since become the best-selling hybrid
vehicle in the world. Improved in every metric of comparison, the second-generation,
2004 Prius is the first hybrid vehicle to provide the room, comfort and features
of a midsize sedan.
The new Prius is the first Toyota product to employ Toyota's Hybrid Synergy
Drive, gas-electric hybrid powertrain technology. The new system produces more
power from both the gasoline engine and the electric motor, giving the Prius
acceleration comparable to the Camry midsize sedan. It carries an estimated
EPA rating of 60 MPG in city driving and 51 MPG on the highway, with a combined
EPA mileage estimate of 55 MPG compared to 48 MPG for the previous-generation
Prius. And like the previous model, Prius never needs to be plugged in for recharging.
In addition to its best-in-class fuel economy, the new Prius emits 30 percent
fewer emissions than the previous model. That equates to producing nearly 90
percent fewer smog-forming emissions than a conventional internal combustion
engine vehicle. Prius has been certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
(SULEV) and an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) category
vehicle in California and those states adopting California standards.
For the fourth consecutive model year Prius pricing holds steady with a manufacturer's
suggested retail price of $19,995.
