Hybrid Car Review

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. President Jim Lentz had a lot to say at the 2009 Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars.

According to Lentz, people want the solar panel on top of their Prius. Although Toyota had estimated 2-3% of customers would opt for the solar panels, the going rate is actually closer to 12%.

That's putting a bit of a strain on production (along with the previously mentioned battery constraints on Prius sales). Toyota is currently projecting 135-140,000 units sold in 2009 for the Prius.

Sales are very brisk under the Cash for Clunkers (CARS) program, as the Prius has had the days supply drop to 6-7 days, which indicates long waiting lists. (A 6-7 days supply indicates it's taking less than a week to sell the Prius once it arrives on the dealers lot. In other words, it takes 6-7 days to move the Prius off the lot after calling the customer to let them know the Prius they had ordered was finally here).

Lentz says the Prius has been sold 5,400 times under the Clunkers program.

Oh, and Lentz also mentions the Blue Springs, MS plant is still set for Prius production. They just aren't going to start up until the 'volatility' in the present market goes away.