Nissan and Toyota had Better Worry About the Volt Fires And So Should You

You have to be wondering how closely Toyota and Nissan are watching the NHTSA investigation into the Chevy Volt fires.  Actually, all car makers should be watching for fallout very carefully.  But specifically, Toyota just started taking orders on the Plug-in Prius.  And the Nissan Leaf has been competing (sales-wise) with the Volt from the beginning.  And consumers are not going to make a distinction between any of the car makers when it comes to battery fires.

They've seen too many cases in laptops and phones now of spontaneous combustion to ignore the issue.  Mind you, the opposite argument could be made, that they have gotten used to the risk of having batteries that could overheat near them on a constant basis.  But I doubt it.  There's something different about the batteries in electric and quasi-electric cars (the size!).

Imagine if consumers stop trusting large battery packs.  What will the automakers do when it comes to the new fuel efficiency guidelines if they can't sell at least some electric or extended range electric vehicles?  They are all working on them.  Imagine if all the research investment, time and money, has been wasted in the effort as they have to pull up and wait for a new generation of batteries to come forward?  Imagine what that will mean when they lobby for a postponement to the new fuel economy laws?

I can see it now.

"I'm sorry senator, we really would like to build and sell electric cars, but we just can't yet.  The technology isn't there.   I'm sure you understand why we can't put voters, err... I mean drivers at risk just to meet these fuel economy guidelines." - any car maker lobbyist in D.C.

In case you're not familiar, the NHTSA was conducting crash tests on the Chevy Volt (5-stars!).  They put one through it's paces (i.e. smashed it up, really good!) and then placed it into storage.   A few weeks later, a fire broke out in the battery pack (the coolant line had been severed) and burned up the Volt, plus several nearby cars.  Since then, in cooperation with Chevy (General Motors), they have subjected several other Volts to similar circumstances in an effort to start more fires.  They were successful (smoke and sparks, at least).

GM says this is a known factor when dealing with these battery packs.  One of the safety measures they've outlined is to discharge the battery pack after an accident to keep a fire from starting.  But the NHTSA didn't follow their guidelines and that's why the fire occurred.  In the meantime, they emphasize their cars are safe (noting the 5 star rating they received) but just in case anyone's nervous, they will let them drive a loaner for free while the investigation continues.  A 'handful' of customers have done just that.

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Hybrid Car Brands

Just who is making hybrid cars these days and what brands are considering making hybrid cars in the future?

Major Hybrid Car Brands
Hybrid cars are currently being built and sold by General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan. General Motors builds hybrid cars under several divisions including Saturn, Chevrolet, and GMC.  Ford has the Mercury and Ford divisions.  Toyota sells hybrids under the brand name of Lexus .  While Honda and Nissan just sell hybrids under their own name plates.

Toyota
Under the Toyota brand name, there are three models currently on sale. The iconic Prius is almost synonymous with hybrid and is the first car most people think of when they think of hybrids. Toyota also sells the Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid under the moniker of Toyota.

Toyota also has their luxury division, the Lexus hybrids. Under the Lexus brand name, Toyota sells the HS, LS, RX, and GS Hybrids. They keep adding models under the Lexus nameplate, so expect and IS hybrid to arrive soon. The HS hybrid is a dedicated model like the Prius. The others are subtypes under the model. In other words, you can buy gas-only models, or you can opt for the hybrid engine.

Honda
Honda sells the Civic Hybrid under their brand name. They also currently sell the only other dedicated hybrid on the road, the Insight. They used to sell a Hybrid Accord, and the two-seater hybrid Insight, but have retired both models.

Expect to see Acura Hybrids in the future.

Nissan
Nissan has only one hybrid model for sale, the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is built using hybrid technology from Toyota and is sold in only eight US states. Nissan has plans to bring an Infiniti M35 Hybrid to market in the coming year.

General Motors (Cadillac, Chevy, Saturn, GMC)
They build several models (currently) using the Chevrolet brand. There is the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Volt, the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), will be out soon and while GM considers the Volt to be a subtype of electric vehicle, it still falls under the hybrid type.

GM also builds the GMC Yukon and Sierra. And the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid also falls under the GM brand.

The Saturn brand was at one point, the cornerstone for hybrids under the GM umbrella. But Saturn is no more. You can still see the hybrid Vue and Aura on the road today.

Ford
Ford sells four different models under two different brand names. The Mercury Division sells the Milan and Mariner Hybrid. While Ford retains the Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The Lincoln division will have its own hybrid soon, but it's not here yet. The Mercury hybrids are the upgraded version of the Ford Hybrids, so expect them to be very similar if you take a look at both of them.

Chrysler
Chrysler sold the Aspen and Durango Hybrids for a total of two months before pulling the plug on both models. The Dodge Durango is very similar to the Chrysler Aspen, and both were built using the dual hybrid technology developed in partnership with BMW and GM.

Chrysler at one point had plans to bring a Dodge Ram Hybrid to market, but that seems to be on hold.

Hyundai
Hyundai is jumping in with both feet in the next year, with the Sonata Hybrid. Distinguishing itself from the other hybrids listed above, it's going to be one of the first hybrids to use lithium polymer battery packs, giving it an advantage over some of the more established hybrid models and brands listed above.

Mazda
Mazda has sold the Tribute hybrid in very limited numbers.  The Tribute was built using Ford Hybrid technology, when Mazda and Ford were a lot tighter than they are today.  Now Mazda is looking to partner with Toyota for the technology used in the Prius for their future hybrid model in 2013.

Fisker and Tesla
Fisker and Tesla are both bringing hybrid cars to market (they probably don't appreciate being lumped together given the lawsuits over the past few years). These startups are working hard to go straight to electric or hybrid and are emphasizing performance, rather than fuel efficiency right from the get go.

Audi, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, Ferrari, Lotus, Kia, Maserati, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Volvo
Each of the brands mentioned above are attempting their own hybrid models, and several have brought some noteworthy test models to auto shows. Several are on their way to bringing those cars to market right now, but are still a few years away from seeing them on the road in more than just 'test fleets'. Some are closer than others, while some probably have no intention of ever going hybrid unless they are forced to do so by the tighter restrictions being enforced in Europe, Asia and the US in the coming years.

Looking for more information on one of the brands above?
Either search for the brand name here on this site or use the categories below or on the sidebars.  Each of the major brands listed will have more information that I've accumulated over the years.

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Prius is Top Seller in Japan for 11 Months Straight

The Japan Automobile Dealers Association noted the Prius was once again the top selling car in Japan. Helped by government incentives, the Prius has been and will continue to be the top selling car for months.

Toyota sold 35,546 units in March. That's 11 months in a row the Prius has held the top spot, which was briefly held by the Honda Insight before the third generation Prius came to market.

Sales have quadrupled in Japan this year. Toyota has sold over a quarter of a million units so far (277,485)

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Mazda Will Have Hybrid Technology From Toyota

Despite the back and forth last week (Toyota will be hybrid components, Toyota won't be supplying hybrid components), Toyota and Mazda did get together and ink a deal.

Expect Mazdas first hybrid sedan to show up in 2013, using hybrid components supplied by Toyota. Mazda will be piggy-backing on Toyota's already extensive research and practical use of hybrid technology, while Toyota will be helping reduce its own costs by the art of economies of scale.

Toyota has also supplied parts to Nissan over the past few years for the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

The Mazda hybrid may only be available in Japan (base on the following quote:

"Hybrids are spreading fast in Japan, and launching a model in the domestic market has become an urgent task," Mazda Executive Vice President Masaharu Yamaki told a joint news conference in Tokyo.

Mazda had to go elsewhere now that Ford is no longer as big a partner.

The press release from Mazda and Toyota:

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) have reached an agreement on the supply under license of hybrid technology used in the Toyota Prius.

Leveraging this agreement, Mazda plans to combine the hybrid system with its next-generation SKY* engine that is currently under development, and develop and manufacture a hybrid vehicle in Japan. Mazda is aiming to commence sales of a hybrid vehicle starting in Japan by 2013.

Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority, TMC began sales of the Prius, the world's first mass-production hybrid vehicle, in 1997. Since then, over 2.3 million TMC-produced hybrid vehicles have been delivered to customers in over 70 countries and regions.

TMC recognizes the importance of benefiting the environment by encouraging the popularization of its eco-friendly technologies, which are represented by its hybrid systems. Accordingly, TMC has announced that it will consider requests from other companies to supply hybrid technology.

Based on its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, Mazda aims to increase the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally 30 percent by 2015, compared to its 2008 level. In order to offer all of its customers driving pleasure as well as outstanding eco-friendly and safety performance, Mazda is implementing a Building Block Strategy. Under this strategy, Mazda will enhance the core aspects of its vehicles - including engines, transmissions and weight reduction - and then progressively add electric devices such as idling stop, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.

Through this partnership, each company intends to offer technologies and products with outstanding environmental benefits to as many people as possible.

*Concept name for engines and transmissions that are intended for launch from 2011 onward.

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Toyota May Not be Supplying Mazda

Toyota is now saying "Nothing has been decided" in a reply about the possible deal with Mazda.

Yesterday, a Nikkei report said a deal had been struck. Toyota would supply the hybrid components. Mazda would build a hybrid sedan by 2013.

But it seems that the deal is not finalized.

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Mazda Hybrid by 2013 via Toyota

A Nikkei report (via Reuters) says Toyota will be supplying Mazda with some key hybrid components. That will give Mazda the ability to put a hybrid vehicle on the road by 2013.

Mazda will introduce a midsize hybrid vehicle by 2013, putting them years behind the major players (Toyota, Honda, GM, and Ford).

Toyota will be selling their Toyota Hybrid System II (THS II) to Mazda, which includes the battery, electric motor, a generator and a power control unit.

Nissan has used hybrid components from Toyota to build their Nissan Altima Hybrid. By selling their components to other auto makers, Toyota helps defray their cost to develop the Hybrid Synergy Drive by building up their economies of scale.

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Toyota Limited in Fight Against Paice LLC Lawsuit

Toyota is facing a patent lawsuit from Paice LLC. It's a case they've already lost, but one in which the number of cars was expanded upon. Word has just been released that Toyota will be limited in their ability to defend themselves further against Paice.

Toyota won’t be able to challenge the validity or infringement of patents owned by Paice LLC during an April hearing on the dispute, U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Theodore Essex said in an order dated March 3 and made public today.

In other words, since the courts already decided the patent has been infringed upon, Toyota can't use this trial to once again fight against it.  Toyota can make the argument that Paice cannot keep them from importing their hybrid vehicles.

That's kind of a big deal, since that's the big stick Paice is using to force the issue.  Just take a moment and think about what it would mean if a judge decided to order Toyota to stop importing any of their hybrids.

The case been around for years now. For more information, you can follow the links below:
Toyota Loses in Appeal
Toyota loses to Paice
Toyota Sued Again by Paice
Paice vs Toyota summary

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Toyota Will Replace the Pedal... if Asked

The New York Times has gotten its hands on a memo from Toyota telling dealers to replace accelerator pedals for free under the braking recall.

If customers are dissatisfied with the repairs made, unhappy about how they feel, then Toyota is telling the dealers to provide a replacement pedal at no cost.

An AP analysis shows over 100 customers have complained to the NHTSA after Toyota fixed their vehicles.

The dealers will only do it after the repairs have been made and only if the customers ask for it. The memo the NY Times received was dated from March, but recently updated with the procedures and parts number.

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Toyota Should Talk to Apple About the Cruise Control

Back in February, Apple co-found Wozniak weighed in on the safety of Prius, noting he could create an 'unintended acceleration' in his Prius repeatedly. This made news, of course, but it turns out he just didn't understand his cruise control.

But then, he doesn't seem to be alone. According to Ward's auto, Toyota has been looking into the complaints being made about the cruise control. It seems a lot of people are complaining. 11% of the complaints about the 2010 Prius made with the NHTSA) cite difficulty getting cruise control to turn off.

According to Toyota, the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) which is optional on the Prius V is causing some confusion with drivers. If you hold the stalk up for one second, the Prius will accelerate five mph. Hold it up for four seconds and you will accelerate 20 mph.

This sounds just like the situation Wozniak described at the Discovery Forum.

Also, the adaptive cruise control will speed up or slow down the car based on the speed of the car in front of you. On curves, the DRCC will have trouble detecting cars in front of you. There are two complaints at the NHTSA citing a crash with stationary objects when the cruise control was enabled.

Toyota is continuing to investigate this problem.  They should also send a note to Wozniak about this before he complains in a public forum once again about his Prius.

As an aside, Toyota notes that the Prius V makes up 8% of sales so far. The Prius V is the top end of the Prius spectrum with all the bells and whistles.

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Prius Reliability

Once again, the Toyota Prius ranked highly for dependability on the J.D. Power and Associates study. The 2007 model Prius won a segment award, with just 103 PP100.

“This is great news and timely for both our customers and our dealers, as it provides reassurance our vehicles continue to be an industry benchmark for quality,” Jim Lentz said in a statement.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2007 model year) vehicles, includes 198 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

The 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 52,000 original owners of 2007 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded between October and December 2009.

Hybrids, not withstanding the recent press, have been very reliable over the years. It's not surprising to see the Prius at the top of its segment once again.

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Ford, We Make Hybrids Too

I'm not a huge fan of SNL, but I found this to be hilarious. The setup was a little long, but the punch line was great.

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Toyota Findings on Runaway Prius in San Diego

You can read all about Toyota's findings below in the press release, but basically, nothing they found was consistent with the story that the driver gave about the runaway car.

My opinion isn't too far off from what others have already said, both in the media and outside the media. But at the end of the day, a 'runaway' car has to be treated seriously.

It seems that Toyota is trying very hard to get on top of this as quickly as possible. They investigated quickly and openly and not surprisingly, found nothing.

Syke's lawyers response was ridiculous on the face of it. (In case you didn't see it, it was something along the lines of 'of course they didn't find anything. They never do.'

That same lawyer represents the police officers family who died in another runaway incident. If that's what he's going to present to the jury or judge, I feel bad for the family.


SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 15, 2010---At a press conference today, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. offered key preliminary findings of technical field examination and testing that were performed on March 10 and 11 regarding an alleged “runaway Prius” event dramatically covered by national news media.

Toyota engineers completed an investigation of the 2008 Prius driven by Mr. James Sikes that was the subject of a 911 emergency call on Monday, March 8. The driver reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, the accelerator pedal was stuck, and that the vehicle was out of control and could not be stopped. The emergency operator repeatedly instructed the driver to shift the car into neutral and turn off the power button.

A California Highway Patrol officer intercepted the vehicle and instructed the driver to press firmly on the brakes, apply the emergency brake and turn off the car, at which time the Prius came to a safe stop.

While a final report is not yet complete, there are strong indications that the driver's account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis.

Toyota engineers employed data download/analysis, static and dynamic testing as well as thorough inspections of all relative components. In addition, they retraced the reported driving route taking into account driving time and accounts from the 911 recording.

The investigation revealed the following initial findings:

• The accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally with no mechanical binding or friction. It should be noted that the Prius is not subject to a recall for sticking accelerator pedals and the Prius component is made by a different supplier than the one recalled.

• The front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating. The rear brakes and parking brake were in good condition and functional.

• A Toyota carpeted floor mat of the correct type for the vehicle was installed but not secured to the retention hooks. It was not found to be interfering or even touching the accelerator pedal.

• The pushbutton power switch worked normally and shut the vehicle off when depressed for 3 seconds as the 911 operator advised Mr. Sikes to do.

• The shift lever also worked normally and neutral could be selected. The neutral position is clearly marked and can be easily engaged by moving the lever left to the “N” marking.

• There were no diagnostic trouble codes found in the power management computer, nor was the dashboard malfunction indicator light activated. The hybrid self-diagnostic system did show evidence of numerous, rapidly repeated on-and- off applications of both the accelerator and the brake pedals.

• After examination of individual components, the front brakes were replaced and the vehicle was test driven, during which the vehicle was observed to be functioning normally.

• During testing, the brakes were purposely abused by continuous light application in order to overheat them. The vehicle could be safely stopped by means of the brake pedal, even when overheated.

The Prius braking system uses both conventional hydraulic friction brakes and a regenerative braking system which switches the electric drive motors into brakes to generate electricity.

The system features a sophisticated self- protection function which cuts engine power if moderate brake pedal pressure is applied and the accelerator pedal is depressed more than approximately 50 percent, in effect providing a form of “brake override.”

This function, which is intended to protect the system from overload and possible damage, was found to be functioning normally during the preliminary field examination.

Toyota engineers believe that it would be extremely difficult for the Prius to be driven at a continuous high speed with more than light brake-pedal pressure, and that the assertion that the vehicle could not be stopped with the brakes is fundamentally inconsistent with basic vehicle design and the investigation observations.

These findings suggest that there should be further examination of Mr. Sikes account of the events of March 8.

NHTSA investigators were present during Toyota’s examination, and are conducting their own investigation of the vehicle and its performance. Toyota’s examination was also observed by a congressional staff member.

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Toyota Considering Cutting Production of the Prius

The Times is reporting Toyota is considering cutting back on production of the Prius by 10%. The Japanese production is looking at worldwide demand and trying to decide how the current climate is going to affect their sales.

A spokesman for Toyota said: “The outlook for Prius demand is uncertain."

This is despite the sky high demand in Japan, where the Prius is still the number one seller and probably will be for months. The waiting list is months long there, with the incentives on hybrids helping to push sales there.

There has also been a recent report indicating Tennessee is pushing to open the plant there to build the Prius in the US. If that happens, production in Japan would be used to focus on the demand in Japan.

If production was cut by 10% in Japan, Toyota would go from producing 50,000 Prius a month to 45,000. Toyota had increased production of the Prius to its current levels based on the pre-orders they received before the third generation Prius was released.

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Orange County DA Sues Toyota

The Orange County DA has jumped into the Toyota fray, filing a suit against what they say are "continued unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices as it pertains to both consumers and competitors." (Via GCC)

They are looking for $2,500 per violation under the Unfair Business Practices Act.

I'm surprised and not surprised by this action.  It seems that everyone wants to sue Toyota right now (and you wonder why companies are reluctant to say things are wrong in public and apologize).  But, given the issue, wouldn't this be considered a federal issue?  Not that that matters, since I'm sure other states will jump in on the chance to get money out of an international company.

Toyota has its principal headquarters in Torrance, so the Orange County DA says it has the right to bring this consumer protection on behalf of the people of Orange County.

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Mass Hysteria, Maybe...

This is something I have been thinking about the past couple of days, but I can't say I am an unbiased observer when it comes to the Prius.

Spike in Prius complaints may not be all it seems - Yahoo! News

But as long as reports of Prius profile keep rolling in — just look at the extensive coverage given to a single crash in that New York suburb, something that would have gone utterly unnoticed a year ago — expect complaints to keep rising.

"We are basically anticipating them happening, and we may be prone to jump to conclusions," said L.J. Shrum, a marketing professor who specializes in consumer psychology at University of Texas at San Antonio

The story focuses on how the number of complaints has skyrocketed, not surprisingly, in conjunction with the media attention.  And the second high profile story of a Prius crash yesterday would have gone completely unnoticed by most.

It's hard to know what's true or not at this point.  People are reporting things they never reported before.

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Scary Ride in a Prius

A Prius driver went on a wild ride in San Diego.

A driver accelerated on Interstate 8 in La Posta to pass another car; however, the driver could not keep the car from moving at 94 mph afterward. He called 911 and the officers who were dispatched spoke to the driver over loudspeakers, advising him to push the brake pedal and apply the emergency brake.

Along with the car heading up a steep upgrade and their instructions, the car decelerated to about 50 mph and the driver turned off the engine and coasted to a stop with officers surrounding him with their patrol units. The ordeal ended with no incident or injury in this case.

This is scary stuff for Toyota, Toyota owners and the public in general. The debate continues on how this is happening.

Update1: Insideline questions the story  given by the driver of the Prius in California.
Driving for 20 minutes at 90+ mph anywhere in the US, never mind a busy highway?  A Prius 'jumping forward' is just about impossible.  And they show how easy it is to shift the Prius into neutral while driving it.  InsideLine is calling 'BS' and I'm inclined to wonder myself.

Update: Another reported Toyota Prius run away: Yahoo! News

The woman, who was not identified, was driving on a long, curving driveway when the Prius accelerated beyond her control, Marraccini said, adding that the two-lane road she sped across is a "fairly busy" street.

She traveled 150 to 200 feet, he said, before the Prius' front end struck the rock wall -- built with boulders weighing some 500 to 1,000 pounds -- with such force that it "hurled those boulders 10 or 15 feet away."

"The floor mat is not a contributing factor," Marraccini said, adding that it was firmly secured.

He said the car had previously been taken to a nearby Toyota dealership by the owner after the model was recalled.

Toyota recalled 2004-2009 Prius models last November as part of a wide-ranging safety recall to fix loose floor mats that can trap the accelerator and cause unintended acceleration.

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Prius Plant in Mississippi May Be Back on Again

Toyota, despite all the bad press lately, is going to open up the plant in Mississippi according to recent reports. At the same time, they could be delaying the launch of new cars in Europe.

The 2010 Rav4, Auris, and Auris Hybrid could all be halted if Toyota is not satisfied with the solutions to their acceleration problems.

In the meantime, the plant in Mississippi has been on again, off again for a while now, so we'll have to take a wait and see attitude. If it does ever get up and running, it will be good news for Prius buyers, who won't have to worry about the production in Japan being syphoned off.

But the state of Mississippi is pushing Toyota to go ahead with the plant in an effort to combat the state employment rate of 10.6 percent.

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Lexus CT 200h - More Details Ahead of the New York Auto Show

The Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid will be at the New York Auto Show March 31 through April 11.  The fivie door will be Lexus second dedicated hybrid model.

CT 200h Revealed at Geneva Auto Show

The LF-Ch, unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009 served as the basis for the CT 200h.  The compact hybrid is meant to fill the luxury compact division, for those who are interested in luxury and fuel efficiency.

The CT 200h features a 1.8-liter gas engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), a high performance battery, power control unit, transmission with an electric motor generator, a power split device to re-allocate power from the engine and electric motor generator according to operational requirements.

The CT 200h comes with four drive modes.  Each mode will change the rate of throttle opening for a given throttle-pedal angle.  EV mode allows you to drive on all electric power for as long as you can.  Eco-mode reduces the throttle response, while also adjusting the air conditioning settings to emphasize fuel economy.  Sport mode will provide a more responsive throttle, while modifying the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) settings to give a faster response to driver input. 

Normal mode allows you to balance between Eco and Sport.
 
In the interest of maximum fuel efficiency, particular attention has been paid to the aerodynamic efficiency of every aspect of the CT 200h’s design. The front and rear corners have been pulled in tight to improve the flow of air down the sides of the vehicle and minimize wind turbulence within the wheel arches. The sides of the cabin have been tapered, the rear edge of the roof lowered and even the lower body painstakingly detailed to optimize airflow. Completing the look are unique 17-inch alloy wheels and blue badging specific to Lexus hybrid vehicles.

CT 200h is Compact Luxury

The interior is 'efficient and elegant.'  Lexus made extensive use of metallic finishes and dark, soft touch materials reinforces the luxury experience.

The CT 200h 102-inch wheelbase allows front and rear seat passenger accomodations 'that is amongst the most spacious in the compact segment.'

Lexus has high hopes for the CT 200h in Europe, but it won't be released in the US until next year.

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Lexus Hoping CT 200h Will Help Boost Sales in Europe by 80 Percent

Lexus is hoping the new CT 200h will boost sales of Lexus vehicles by 80% in Europe next year. That would put them up at 50,000 units a year in Europe. Their sales have been stable this year, at 28,000 units.

“In 2011, we expect to see significant growth in our sales from relatively stable growth this year,” Pfeiffenberger said.

Hybrids make up 60 percent of Lexus sales in Europe already.

The Lexus CT 200h (the h is for hybrid) uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor powered by a nickel metal hydride battery pack.

The CT has a longer wheelbase allowing for more interior room. Lexus added in a damping system and rear wishbone suspension. It is headed to Europe at first, but Lexus has said it will be sold in the US next year.

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Toyota Extends Extra Services Nationwide for Recall Customers

Toyota is extending the 'extra services' they offered to New York residents nationwide, in cooperation with Attorney Generals across the country.

Two days ago, Toyota announced they would be providing extra services to New York residents. It took two more days for them to announce the same extras would be provided to everyone else.

The extras being provided may include (depending on the owner's individual circumstances):

• Expediting scheduling of the repair.
• Pick up and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative.
• Driving the customer to the dealership or to his or her place of work.
• Where necessary, providing other alternate transportation for the customer, such as a rental car, loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her car.

There will be no charges for these services.  Reimbursement to the dealerships will be separate from the stipends of $7,500 to $75,000 that the company already has provided to dealers in connection with the recalls.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to these recalls are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.

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