The Yomiuri reports that Lexus hybrids are selling like hotcakes in
Japan. The car is back ordered until February next year, and selling
at the rate of about 10,000 cars per month. The paper notes that
sales were predicted to be 500 per month, "so the actual sales rate
is 20 times the sales target, which is a sign of the great popularity
of hybrid cars." To say the least. The Lexus hybrid, model HS25Oh,
costs $37,500 in Japan.
It seems to me this is good news for the GM Volt. It shows that
wealthy people, who do not need to worry about the cost of gasoline,
are willing to pay a premium for high-efficiency, high-tech cars.
That doesn't surprise me but I am pleased to see it confirmed. I
expect the hybrid part is a status symbol to some wealthy people, and
to others it is a way to save gasoline and reduce global warming.
I predict that the 2011 Yaris hybrid model, for $15,000 with 94 MPG,
will wipe out the market for gasoline-only compact cars. No auto
company will be able to sell a conventional compact after 2011. No
gasoline-only car will ever get anywhere near 94 MPG, and the only
reason people buy these cars in the first place is to save fuel
costs. $15,000 is very reasonable cost for any small car, not to
mention one that gets 2 to 3 times better gas mileage than most
compact cars, and 6 times better mileage than an SUV.
- Jed
- [Vo]:Lexus hybrid selling like hotcakes Jed Rothwell
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