re: us economy is doomed/macrae
I agree - you have taste. But I like the idea of hydrid vehicles (I hold ARU). There is currently a 6 month waiting list in Australia for the hybrid Toyota Prius and a hybrid Camry will be released next year. The end is near for the combustion engine.
TOYOTA Motor Corp may consider setting up plants in Asean countries to produce its range of hybrid vehicles.
Its president, Katsuaki Watanabe, said the decision would depend on the market in the region.
“However, we don't have immediate plans yet. The production of the environmental-friendly vehicles involves very sophisticated machines,” he said to a question raised by StarBiz at a dinner hosted by Toyota for international journalists attending the 39th Tokyo Motor Show 2005.
The show is from Oct 22 to Nov 6 at the International Convention Complex in Chiba.
Katsuaki Waranabe Watanabe said production plants for hybrids could be set up in any of the Asean countries, including Malaysia.
“But it all depends where the demand comes from,” he said.
On whether Toyota planned to market its hybrid cars in Malaysia, Watanabe said it was considering it, but could not say when this could be realised.
Hybrid vehicles, although more expensive, promote fuel efficiency and low emissions, as well as smooth acceleration and low noise.
Toyota, Japan's largest carmaker, is the first manufacturer of hybrids, which is the future direction for cars, especially with escalating cost of fuel and increased awareness of a clean environment.
Watanabe said Toyota planned to achieve accumulated sales of a million hybrid units by early 2010.
To date, Toyota – since rolling out its first hybrid Prius in 1997 – has sold some 470,000 hybrid units worldwide.
On counter measures to beat car thieves, Watanabe said: “We may consider fitting all Toyota cars sold in Malaysia with the immobiliser anti-theft device.”
At the moment, he said, only certain cars were fitted with the device. But, in view of its popularity, Toyota might have to fit all its cars with the mechanism, he added.
According to statistics, Toyota topped the list of foreign cars stolen last year (946 cars) followed by Nissan (481) and Honda (322).
