Toyota this week officially overtook the ailing General Motors to become the world’s largest automaker. Both companies saw sales declines in 2008, but Toyota’s 8.97 million vehicles sold bested its U.S. rival by about 620,000. GM was the globe’s undisputed auto-king for 77 years.
Sales of Toyota’s hybrid models dropped by 45 percent in December 2008, but the carmaker might win customers back with the 2010 Prius, which boasts 50+ mpg fuel efficiency, rooftop solar panels, three different drive modes to minimize fuel consumption, and LED headlights.
Meanwhile, Toyota announced Tuesday that it would launch a Certified Used Hybrid program.
In other auto news ...
• Fiat agreed to take a 35 percent stake in Chrysler, which prompted speculation from media types that small, full-efficient, Italian-leathered, pentastar-bedecked coupes would be heading our way soon.
• Aptera announced Wednesday that pre-production of the all-electric Aptera 2e is complete. The Carlsbad, Calif.-based automaker said it will begin full production and delivery of the aerodynamic, futuristic, 100+ miles-per-gallon-tastic tricycle in October of 2009.
• Shelby claims it will produce the fastest electric vehicle.
• What happens to all those unsold cars? They go to the races, says Jalopnik (cool photos).
• Now that the Detroit Auto Show is behind us, we can look forward to the green themes at the Geneva industry gathering in March, along with the debut of the first open-source car, spearheaded by the German design firm EDAG. Then in May, Bright Automotive, Amory Lovins’ new car company, will introduce its first vehicle to the world at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Norway.
Comments
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Matt G Posted 6:04 am
22 Jan 2009
Oh, and it looks like there's an EV button that makes it an electric vehicle for half a mile. But, um, wouldn't that only make any sense if you could plug it in?
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amazingdrx Posted 12:43 pm
22 Jan 2009
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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realfarmer Posted 10:41 pm
22 Jan 2009
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amazingdrx Posted 11:15 pm
22 Jan 2009
An engineer or scientist who looks at the facts knows how to do it too.
So wouldn't a really desperate corporation like Chrysler listen to its engineers and scientists? And leap frog the competition.
I guess that culture doesn't have it in them to do the right thing. And rule the world.
I guess they did when they built the power wagon to help win WW II.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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archigeek Posted 2:43 am
23 Jan 2009
The mellotron is your friend.
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drewtiss Posted 8:33 pm
30 Jun 2009
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