GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

AZCivic · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-2005, 03:00 PM

That was, without question, the worst part of that article. The notion that conservation is pointless because it will get used some day anyway. By that logic, you shouldn't save any money either because you'd just spend it some day. Forget that "retirement" thing people talk about, that's just big business hype! Spend today like tomorrow will never come! Honestly, it's strange to see a financial journal write such an absurd thing.

Anyway, Toyota issued a reply a couple days ago:

Quote:

November 30, 2005

To the Editor:

On November 30, Holman Jenkins took the liberty of posing as a member of Toyota Motor Corporation to write an amazingly inaccurate article for your op-ed page regarding Toyota's hybrids.
As a Managing Officer for Toyota Motor Corporation, I'd like to take this opportunity to set the record straight.
Toyota is committed to hybrid technology because it makes sense for our customers, for our dealers, for society, and yes, for our business.
The Prius has captured minds and market share because it provides a sensible alternative for people looking for a mid-sized passenger sedan that offers twice the fuel economy and tremendous environmental benefits. Our Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h SUVs offer significant fuel savings compared to the V8 SUVs people are trading in, not to mention being 80 percent cleaner for smog-forming emissions.
Mr. Jenkins used some very inventive math to try to make the case against hybrids, including saying a comparable car to the Prius costs $9500 less. That's just plain wrong. I'd like to provide some different numbers that speak to the real heart of this matter ie: customer acceptance. This year, a Consumer Reports survey of more than 250,000 car owners ranked the Prius as the most satisfying vehicle, with 94 percent saying they'd buy one again.
Another significant number is 100 million that's the gallons of gas we estimate our U.S. hybrids have saved since the Prius debuted in 2000. That's enough to fuel a fleet of 200,000 delivery vehicles for a year.
As much as I'd like to take credit by saying we are brilliant marketers and have painted a green picture to sell our products, the people who purchase our vehicles know the truth, our cars tell the story for us. And we believe they will continue to do so, which is why we're introducing a hybrid version of the Lexus GS next year, as well as putting a hybrid powertrain in America's most popular car, the Camry.
We understand that Mr. Jenkins and other naysayers will continue to target Toyota as the leader in hybrid technology because innovation and technological progress can be intimidating for some people. That's what the free market and free speech are about. Ultimately, consumers know what's best for them and they will make the choice with their pocket books. When they do, we certainly hope they'll continue to choose one of our hybrid products.

Sincerely,

Jim Press
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. President and Chief Operating Officer
Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation