New Prius spotted out testing in China, due to launch next year
The next generation Toyota Prius has been spotted out testing in China, the Prius is currently in production via the FAW-Toyota JV in North East China, and has not seen spectacular sales since its launch.
The Prius biggest short coming is its high price of around 200,000rmb to 250,000rmb, making it a perfect car for the wealthy green conscious consumer. On the other hand, a 1.6L car will cost anything 60,000rmb to 120,000rmb, a 1.8 compact sedan will be anything from 110,000 to 180,000rmb and 2.5-3.0L V6 sedans are in the 200,000 to 300,000rmb sector, but Toyota are bringing a 99hp 1.8l hybrid into the market and are wondering why its not gaining many sales.
Pricing aside, the Prius does have an important part to play in showing Chinese consumers that driving a car needn’t be a wasteful exercise, and due to government subsidies of upto 50,000rmb the Prius could actually become quite a bargain should the price of fuel shoot up to 10rmb or more in the next few years. The issue of price is still a major stumbling block, the 2010 Prius starts at around 140,000rmb in the Japanese market, but the Chinese built version costs over 100,000rmb more? Perhaps FAW-Toyota really need to rethink this one.
Green car fans can expect to see this car on the road in the first quarter of 2010, pricing is not expected to change much from the old model.
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Good article. It is nice to see this car being offered in China. Here in the U.S. this has become a bit of a cult car with small waiting lists at some dealerships to get one.
It is a bit of a battle here between Honda and the Toyota for sales in the hybrid market.
Thanks for the report,
Denis
Yes, the Prius is still fairly rare here but I have seen more on the road than I’d expect. The government subsidy would definitely help sales – Prius is a fairly practical car too.
http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/04/28/faw-toyota-say-we-will-sell-more-than-1000-prius-cars-in-08/
I wonder what 2009 sales were like, perhaps slightly improved thanks to the price cut and subsidies.
The prius is like th Ipod. Great marketing but not much of a product. Facts. One of the ugliest cars on the road. Very small ( all small cars should get 40-60 mpg). The old Hondas and toyotas in the early 80s got 40-55mpg. Where is the advancement. They have gone backwards so many years that they take one step forward and are crowned. What a bunch of crap. I have to laugh when you see someone driving one that actually things thy are helping the world.