Toyota Prius Hybrid To Be Produced In China
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 12.20.05
Toyota, along with the Chinese FAW group, will begin production of the Prius hybrid car in the Jilin Province in China. The hybrids will be made for the local market and not for exportation. Reuters reports that the aim for 2006 is to sell 3,000 units. It wouldn't be surprising if production ramped up quite fast in the following years, but nothing has been announced yet. "The Chinese-built Prius will be priced between 288,000 yuan and 302,000 yuan ($35,680-$37,410), compared with around $22,000 in Japan and North America." ::Toyota begins Prius hybrid assembly in China, ::Sichuan FAW Toyota Starts Prius Production in China, ::Jalopnik, ::Toyota begins producing Prius in China
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I am in India, and strongly believe that countries like India and China can leapfrog the entire pollution issue (somewhat) by going for hybrids right now. While the Prius in China should be great news, it really isn't.
At a price that is 80 % more than what you have in the US, sales are not going to be dramatic. Just what pushes it up so much? Do they believe the Prius is going to be a status symbol for the Chinese, and they will pay that kind of money? Asia understands value for money, and this isn't it. At thgis price, this will be an expensive car in China, and that is not going to help the Chinese family man or the environment.
I do not know how much an average family car costs in China, but a mid-size car in India costs around US $ 11,000. Add a preium of a 2-4,000 $ to it, and you have a family car for India which every middle class Indian would aspire for. Nothing gets us here excited more than the promise of fuel efficiency.
If you can't capitalise on the low manufacturing costs in India and China, just what other point is there to it all? Hybrids in Asia at affordable prices are what the people there and the world's environments need. (They are the fastest growing automobile markets in the world.. I think)
"compared with around $22,000 in Japan and North America."
Actually in Canada the base Prius is priced at 26,657.58US at the current exchange rate. Almost $5000 more than the US version. Can you say ripoff?
Hybrids still use GASOLINE! If anything, countries like China & India should move towards biodiesel, which work in regular diesel engines. Yes, biodiesel blends use petrol as well, but not pure b100. Better yet, why not electric vehicles, or good ol' human power. And the price will be a huge factor, considering the average annual income in China is much less than the price of the car. It just doesn't add up.