Toyota Doubling Down On A BAD Bet? Says Six New Hybrids On The Way

Here we go!

Toyota is planning to unleash six new hybrid models by the end of 2012. Six. For any any manufacturer, that seems to be a pretty big push. Especially, when hybrid sales are on the downward trend.

According to Carscoop, some will be only hybrid specific models but details remain sketchy on body types and what classes will be targeted.

Additionally, we can look forward to a car co-developed with Tesla Motors. Could it rival the Nissan Leaf? Possibly but nothing has been confirmed.

With that said, with declining hybrid sales figures, is Toyota doubling down on a bad bet?


With the recent unveiling of a production-ready Fit / Jazz hybrid by Honda, fellow Japanese automaker Toyota is readying for a big hybrid fight. Undaunted by the recent drop in hybrid sales, Toyota plans to launch six new hybrid models by end of 2012, one of which will be a Vitz / Yaris hybrid.

In a presentation in Detroit on Monday, Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada explained that two of the six new hybrids will be for Lexus and four for Toyota adding that all of them will be new and not next-generation versions of existing hybrid models...

[Source: Carscoop]








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Joe_Limon - 9/14/2010 10:40:04 AM

-3 Boost

It's not a bad bet... it would be like if they decided to move their cars upscale so as not to compete with hyundai, as there is less of a market up there but there still is one.

Agent009 - 9/14/2010 10:53:10 AM

0 Boost

I think they are banking on what was successful in the past. The only problem is that I have yet to see any studies that showing Hybrids breaking even in under 100K.

Now with that in mind it has been proven that with the tax credits given new models they do indeed sell. (placing the carrot in front of the donkey?) So six new models means six new tax credits and instant appeal.

g2ok - 9/14/2010 10:51:29 AM

+3 Boost

Not with the new mileage standards, they are just hedging their bets.

I think all the companies are going this route seeing how fuel demand is going to go higher in China and India. Those economies are still growing and more cars on the road every year.

Joe_Limon - 9/14/2010 11:41:54 AM

-3 Boost

gas demand doesn't drive the price of gas silly. Share holder value does.

enthusiastx11 - 9/14/2010 8:14:57 PM

+2 Boost

makes sense to drop the existing hybrid engines into other models. good way to amortize costs across lots of cars. it's not like they're developing six new models.

Whelan - 9/28/2010 8:54:51 AM

+1 Boost

It seems Toyota is going towards being more Hybrid of a brand as a whole. I still think the new little Lex hatch should have a turbo 4 and a stick with optional AWD. Then it would sell.