Toyota to boost production of 2010 Lexus HS 250h to meet demand

The brand new Lexus HS 250h, which just made its debut last month in Japan and the U.S., is selling like hot-cakes. According to Japan’s Nikkei, Toyota was targeting 500 sales per month, but has already received close to 9,000 orders.

Toyota, which produced 2,000 units of the HS 250h in July, in now looking to nearly triple production of the dedicated hybrid Lexus model by October. Officials said that employees has been working overtime to keep up with the demand of the HS 250h.

The 2010 Lexus HS 250h gets an EPA-estimated ratings of 35 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway for a combined 35 mpg on regular 87-octane gasoline. Prices start at $34,200 for the standard model and $36,970 for the Premium model.

Source: egmCarTech

In U.S. hybrid battle, Insight starts slowly while Prius gains steam

It's a good thing the redesigned Honda Insight is surpassing sales expectations in Japan, because its debut in the United States has been a disappointment.

Despite a major advertising campaign and the Insight's $2,000 price advantage over the redesigned Toyota Prius, U.S. consumers are not embracing Honda's new hybrid.

"Both are great cars [but] Prius is greenspeak for 'hybrid,'" said David Wilson, president of Wilson Automotive Group in Orange, Calif., which has both Honda and Toyota franchises.

Honda had hoped to sell 90,000 Insights a year in the United States, but the sour economy forced a revision at the time of the hybrid's March launch, to 60,000 units. So far Honda is off that pace, with only 7,524 sales through June. By contrast, Toyota sold 55,751 Priuses from January 1 through June.

TNS Compete, a marketing consulting firm in Boston, says it tracked 70,700 Prius shoppers in June and found that about 13,000 bought a Prius. Lincoln Merrihew, TNS' managing director, described the 18 percent conversion rate as healthy.

By contrast, TNS reported that about 40,000 Insight shoppers in June bought only 2,079 vehicles, a conversion rate of about 5 percent. Merrihew called that a typical ratio for a new-vehicle launch.

Wilson said: "Prius is also the most visually hybrid-looking of the two. If you are trying to make that environmentally conscious statement, Prius will be your first choice."

Another multiline dealer with Honda and Toyota stores said: "There is no cross-shop between Prius and Insight. Prius buyers come in on the Prius and buy a Prius. Honda buyers come in on Insight, find it a bit small and move to a Civic Hybrid. It will take time for Insight to catch up with the level of awareness and purchase intention that Prius has built up over several years."

Still, the dealer said, at least one of his Honda stores is "selling every Insight they get and needing more. I think relatively low gas prices and the low level of awareness are the biggest issues for Insight right now."

While the Insight is struggling to find its footing in the United States, its Japanese launch has gone well. The original Japanese sales target was 60,000 a year. But Koichi Kondo, an executive vice president at Honda Motor, said the Insight is on pace to reach 100,000 sales in the fiscal year that ends next March 31. Honda sold 36,457 Insights in Japan from its February 6 launch through June.

The third-generation Toyota Prius hit the Japanese market on May 18. Toyota sold 21,200 Priuses in June in Japan.

Honda Motor spokeswoman Yasuko Matsuura said the company is not deliberately holding back exports of the Japan-made Insight. She blamed disappointing U.S. demand on overall market conditions, not competition with the Prius.

Sage Marie, a spokesman for American Honda Motor, said it is too early to call the Insight a hit or a flop in the United States.

"We're still building awareness," Marie said. "We're just a few months into a launch of an all-new product. We still want to sell 90,000 Insights. Are we going to do this the first year? Probably not."

Source: Automotive News via The Car Tech blog

Toyota reports battery bottleneck is preventing desired production Prius hybrid

A battery bottleneck is hurting efforts to boost output of the Prius to meet booming demand for the hybrid, and the problem will likely persist into next year, according to a senior Toyota official.

"The new Prius model has been excessively popular, inconveniencing some of our customers, and the factories are working overtime at full capacity," Takahiko Ijichi, Toyota senior managing director, said Tuesday at the company's quarterly earnings announcement.

"Unfortunately, the batteries are not catching up with demand. Production of the batteries needs to be increased in order for our production to go up."

Toyota has an annual Prius capacity of 500,000 cars. Panasonic EV Energy Co., which makes the nickel-metal hydride batteries for the gasoline-electric hybrid car, can't churn out more than that right now, Ijichi said.

The third-generation Prius hybrid is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy year for the world's biggest automaker. The car is facing months-long waiting lists at dealerships and is easily outselling Honda's rival Insight hybrid in Europe and the United States.

The success of the Prius in Japan is one reason Toyota says it will post its first domestic sales increase in five years.

"The new Prius model is selling quite well," Ijichi said.

Profitable Prius

Last summer, Toyota said it would build the Prius at its Tupelo, Mississippi, factory in late 2010, scrubbing a plan to make the next-generation Highlander crossover there. But amid record losses, Toyota put the plant's opening on indefinite hold.

Ijichi said Toyota won't invest to expand Prius production until it is assured of an adequate battery supply.

Battery production will increase - but gradually. Panasonic EV Energy plans to boost capacity in stages to about 1 million batteries by the summer of 2010, Ijichi said.

Despite cutthroat pricing to compete with the Insight, the Prius still enjoys healthy margins, Ijichi said. That's because production costs fell 30 percent from the previous generation of the hybrid.

Said Ijichi: "In terms of the Toyota lineup, I'd say it's probably in the mid-level of profit."

Source: Green Car Advisor

Lexus HS Hybrid pulls in 1,500 preorders in Japan

The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. has received about 1,500 preorders for its Lexus HS hybrid car in Japan, roughly three times more than the firm’s monthly sales target.

Meanwhile, Toyota’s new Prius hybrid, released in May, has been selling extremely well. The car is so popular, in fact, that delivery now takes eight months after placing an order. Given this, some eager customers may switch their existing orders to the Lexus HS.

About 90% of orders for the Lexus RX, released in April, are for hybrid models, highlighting the surging popularity of such green vehicles.

In the US, hybrid versions of the Lexus RX represented 7.2% of all RX models in June. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h will be available in the US later this summer.

Source: Green Car Congress

Toyota, Honda slash production as car demand falls

Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., Japan’s two largest carmakers, reduced production last month as rising unemployment in the U.S. has hammered car sales.

Toyota’s output dropped 39 percent to 442,621 vehicles in May from a year earlier, the company said in an e-mailed release today. The decline is the company’s 10th straight. Honda, the country’s second-biggest carmaker, cut global production by 38 percent to 195,085 units, it said. Nissan’s global output fell 27 percent.

Japanese automakers slashed production in North America last month to reduce inventories as overall sales in the U.S. plunged 34 percent. Sliding demand in the U.S. has led Nissan Motor Co. to cut 20,000 jobs this fiscal year and pushed General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC into bankruptcy.

“Recovery will come only after the U.S. returns to health because Japanese carmakers rely on that market,” said Masatoshi Nishimoto, an analyst at CSM Worldwide in Tokyo.

CSM predicts sales in the U.S. will fall to 9.7 million units this year from 13.2 million a year ago and then rise to 11 million in 2010. The jobless rate in the world’s largest economy jumped to 9.4 percent in May, the highest in more than 25 years.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said June 18 that domestic sales are lagging behind its forecast for the fiscal year, already expected to be the worst in three decades. The group predicts Japan industrywide sales will drop 8.5 percent to 4.3 million in the year ending March.

Toyota’s production in Japan fell 42 percent to 192,637 in May and exports dropped 51 percent, the company said. That doesn’t include its Hino and Daihatsu units.

Honda built 52,663 vehicles domestically, down 43 percent, the company said. Its exports slumped by 65 percent to 18,156 vehicles. Total production at Nissan fell to 201,340 vehicles, while domestic output fell 36 percent and exports fell 56 percent, it said in a statement.

Honda rose 3.3 percent to 2,650 yen as of 1:45 p.m. on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Toyota gained 2.5 percent to 3,710 yen. Nissan rose 3.5 percent to 590 yen.

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Toyota Slashing Costs

The automaker is slashing costs by at least 800 billion yen this year as it expects global sales to plummet by 1.07 million vehicles to 6.5 million units this fiscal year.

Toyoda said today he hopes to cut beyond that target calling the goal “only a starting line.” He added that his salary will be reduced by 30 percent for one year and board members will also return part of their salaries.

Toyota is likely to begin cutting costs in Japan first, analysts said. Toyoda may slash the automaker’s domestic capacity and workforce by at least 10 percent, reducing its 20 platforms and 70 model types by 10 percent and consolidating its rural dealer network in Japan, according to Koji Endo, an analyst at Credit Suisse Securities (Japan) Ltd.

Prius

Toyota, which introduced a new version of its Prius hybrid on May 18, is reviewing its product line up to focus on regional offerings, Toyoda said.

Toyota will form a market research, planning and advertising unit that will report to Toyoda. The unit, which will merge existing departments, will be formed in January.

Toyota said it has now booked 200,000 domestic orders for the new Prius gasoline-electric hybrid.

The company had set a sales target of 10,000 units a month in Japan. The tally includes 80,000 orders placed before the car went on sale.

The third-generation Prius was Japan’s bestselling car last month, surpassing Honda Motor Co.’s Insight. Hybrid sales have surged on the introduction of new models and government incentives.

Source: Bloomberg

Honda Insight tops the charts in Europe

Honda has today announced that its new Insight hybrid vehicle has sold more than any other hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle in Europe*.

The figures obtained from Jato Dynamics show that in its first full month of sales the Insight proved to be the most popular petrol-electric hybrid vehicle on the market. This achievement follows on from the success of the Insight in Japan where in April it was the first hybrid ever to be the number one selling passenger car.

The hybrid sector and alternative fuels sector, which features any passenger car not powered by petrol or diesel is set to grow further in the near future. At the same time the market will begin to segment, dividing the sector into a multitude of different types of cars - just like the traditional car market. In the future Honda will produce a hybrid version of the Jazz and a production car based on the CR-Z Concept, giving the consumer a wider choice of Honda hybrid models.

Third place in the table went to Honda's Civic Hybrid, which like the Insight is also a fuel efficient, low emission, full-parallel hybrid. Both cars can run on the electric motor alone in some medium to high speed conditions, giving near silent running and fuel efficiency benefits.

The Insight is currently being introduced across Europe, joining the Civic Hybrid in Honda's petrol-electric range. Honda Motor Europe, Senior Vice President, Ken Keir is delighted that the Insight has been so well received, commenting: "We introduced Europe to hybrids almost 10 years ago when we put the original Insight on sale. The Insight was the first hybrid to be sold in Europe and this sector is set to continue to expand and diversify."


* Data covers EU27 (except Malta), EFTA, plus Turkey, Russia and Israel.

Source: Honda European Media newsroom

Honda’s hybrid Insight may miss U.S. sales forecast

Honda Motor Co.’s Insight hybrid may fall 33 percent short of its U.S. sales goal as cheap fuel, the economic slump and competition from Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius undermine demand for the model.

First-year Sales of Honda’s gasoline-electric Insight, which debuted at U.S. dealerships in late March, may be between 50,000 and 60,000 units, John Mendel, the company’s U.S. executive vice president, said in a June 11 interview at Honda’s U.S. headquarters in Torrance. “I don’t think we’ll get to 90,000,” he said.

Gasoline prices in the U.S. have fallen 35 percent over the past year, eroding demand for fuel-efficient cars, even as the overall market has plunged 37 percent due to the recession. Toyota has cut the base price of the Prius by $1,000 to compete with the Insight

“Sales of hybrids have a strong correlation to gasoline prices, especially in the U.S. and Toyota’s Prius has had more customers in the past, so it’s a tough competition for Honda,” said Koji Endo, an analyst at Credit Suisse　Securities (Japan） Ltd.

The lower-than-expected demand in the U.S. contrasts with sales of the car in Japan where fuel prices are 78 percent higher than in the U.S. The Insight was the top-selling car in Japan in April and was overtaken by the Prius last month.

Honda fell 2 percent to 2,780 yen as of 1:44 p.m. in Tokyo. The shares have gained 46 percent so far this year.

Gas Prices

Retail prices for gasoline in Japan are $4.69 a gallon, the Tokyo-based Oil Information Center said on its Web site on June 10. By comparison, U.S. consumers paid an average of $2.64 for a gallon of gasoline on June 12, 35 percent less than a year ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The Insight, rated by the U.S. as getting 41 miles per gallon in city and highway driving, is priced from $19,800 to $23,100. By comparison, Toyota’s 2010 Prius, which averages 50 mpg, sells for between $22,000 and $31,770.

Hybrid sales in the U.S. fell 38 percent through May to 100,337 units, just ahead of the market’s overall 37 percent drop, based on data compiled by Bloomberg News. Slack demand for fuel-saving models led General Motors Corp. to announce June 11 that it’s discontinuing the hybrid version of its Malibu sedan.

Toyota aims to sell 180,000 units of its new Prius in the car’s first 12 months, matching the model’s U.S. volume record reached in 2007. Prius sales this year through May fell 46 percent.

Demand for Insight should pick up later in the year as the recession eases and fuel prices increase, Mendel said.

U.S. dealer inventory of Japan-built Insights is “good” given current market conditions and sales could be as high as 4,000 units this month, up from 2,098 in May, he said.

Source: Bloomberg

Hybrids in Japan grabbed 12% new vehicle market share in May

Hybrids represented 12% of new light-duty vehicle sales—excluding minicars—in Japan in May, according to figures from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

With a total of 21,601 units sold, this was the first time that the monthly new vehicle share of hybrids topped 10%. By comparison, in the US hybrids represented 2.8% of new vehicle sales for the month, with 25,693 units reported sold.

Toyota’s Prius topped the May sales rankings with 10,915 units. Honda’s Insight hybrid came in third with sales of 8,183 units.

After staying at around 4% since last year, the domestic market share of hybrid vehicles began rising gradually following the launch of the Insight in February. The introduction of eco-vehicle tax breaks in April and the release of the new-generation Prius in May further lifted the market share. With back orders already exceeding 130,000 units, sales of the new Prius should remain high for some time.

The number of minicars in the top 10 overall sellers fell to four in May from five in April. This likely occurred because the eco-vehicle tax breaks nudged buyers toward compact cars that qualify for the incentive program.

Source: Green Car Congress

Insight becomes first hybrid vehicle to rank as best-selling vehicle in Japan (インサイトがハイブリッド車として初めて登録車販売台数の第1位を獲得)

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that Insight ranked as the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations* in Japan for the month of April 2009, with sales of 10,481 units (source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association). It is the first time in history for a hybrid model to be the industry's best selling vehicle in Japan for any monthly sales period.

Fit was the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations in Japan for calendar year 2008 and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Fit was also the industry's best-selling car for the month of March 2009, for the fourth consecutive month since December 2008, until it was displaced by Insight to become the industry's second best-selling car in April 2009, with sales of 9,443 units. It is the first time Honda has occupied the industry's top two best-selling car positions.

Since its introduction on February 6, 2009, the all-new Insight has been very well received by a wide range of customers due to its excellent environmental performance, easy-to-use packaging, light and comfortable driving and affordable pricing.

* excluding mini-vehicles - under 660cc

Insight sales in Japan (source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association)
Sales of Insight was announced February 5, 2009, and began February 6, 2009

Sales Results (since sales start)		Monthly ranking among new vehicle registrations in Japan
February 2009 Sales Result	4,906 units	10th
March 2009 Sales Result	4,088 units	21st
April 2009 Sales Result	10,481 units	1st

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Text in Japanese

「インサイト」の2009年4月度の販売台数が10,481台（自販連調べ）となり、登録車販売において第1位となった。ハイブリッド車が登録車の月間販 売台数で第1位となったのは初めてである。また、インサイトは2009年1月〜4月の累計販売台数でもハイブリッド車として第1位となった。

　2008年、2008年度で登録車販売台数第1位を獲得し、2008年12月から2009年3月まで4ヵ月連続で登録車販売台数第1位を維持してきた「フィット」は、9,443台で第2位となった。Honda車が登録車販売台数の1位と2位を独占するのは初めてとなる。

　また、低燃費運転を楽しんでいただくことを目的として、全国を走るインサイトのカーナビで記録された情報をもとに1日ごとの平均燃費^※1を競う「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」の最高燃費ランキングの登録ユーザー^※2が1,000名を超えた。この最高燃費ランキングは、「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」の会員向けホームページで提供しており、Hondaのホームページ^※3上でも一般に公開している。

　2009年2月6日に発売した新型インサイトは、優れた環境性能、使い勝手の良いパッケージング、軽快で気持ちの良い走り、189万円^※4からというお求めやすい価格、低燃費運転を支援するエコアシスト（エコロジカル・ドライブ・アシスト・システム）などにより、幅広い層のお客様にご好評をいただいている。

※1		ドライブ単位の平均燃費をもとに計算している。1ドライブ単位の平均燃費は、エンジンを掛けてから切るまでとし、エンジンを切ったときにカーナビに自動的に登録される
※2		「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」会員で、任意で「ランキング」にエントリーしているインサイトユーザー
※3		http://www.honda.co.jp/INSIGHT/ranking/
※4		Gタイプ 全国メーカー希望小売価格（消費税込み）

◆インサイト販売台数の推移（国内・自販連調べ）
	2009年2月5日発表、6日発売 発売後の販売台数 登録車販売台数 月間ランキング 2月度販売台数 4,906台 10位 3月度販売台数 4,088台 21位 4月度販売台数 10,481台 1位

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Source: Honda Media Web

Honda Insight off to a flying start in UK

Honda's all-new Insight hybrid is off to good start in Britain, but the fact that the Insight is a newer model than the Prius has to be considered. The third-gen Prius will be arriving on British shores in July 2009.

"With only a few days remaining in its first month of sales, the Honda Insight is outselling its competitors in the hybrid market.

Since the affordable hybrid car went on sale on 4 April, 229 Insights have been sold in the UK, ahead of its nearest rival the Toyota Prius (198 units). Together with Civic Hybrid (79 units), Honda (UK) has sold 308 hybrid family cars this month, despite April being known as one of the quietest months in the sales calendar.

“The Insight is proving a hit with cost-savvy consumers looking for a cleaner car that’s more affordable,” said John Kingston, Honda (UK)’s Environment and Government Affairs Manager. “More and more people want a car that makes sound financial sense, especially in the current economic climate and the Insight offers numerous running cost savings such as reduced road tax of £15 per year and great fuel economy.”

Insight customers will also benefit from high residual values of 44 per cent and exemption from the London Congestion Charge. Company car drivers and businesses can take advantage of the same benefits plus low benefit-in-kind tax, reduced national insurance payments and increased write down allowance.

Honda expects to sell around 7,000 Insights in the UK this year. The annual global sales target is approximately 200,000 units. The Insight 1.3-litre IMA SE costs £15,490 on-the-road."

Source: Honda UK media website

Honda, Toyota earning profits on hybrids

The Nikkei reports that Toyota and Honda are both making estimated profits of about ¥300,000 (about US$3,100) each on every hybrid they sell, similar to what they make on small, gasoline-engined vehicles.

If Honda sells 200,000 Insight hybrids worldwide in the first year of its release, the company would generate sales of more than 350 billion yen [US$3.6 billion]. Since it estimates a gross profit margin of more than 15% on the car—priced at under 2 million yen&mash;its gross profit on Insight sales is projected to hit around 60 billion yen [US$622 million] in the first year, or around 300,000 yen per unit.

The gross profit earned on the Insight is still low when factoring in the large R&D costs involved in its development. However, the profit margin on its hybrid operations has risen to the level where Honda can count on it to generate the fourth-largest revenue stream behind its luxury, midsize and small car operations.

The Nikkei report said that Toyota appears to have earned gross profits of around ¥100 billion yen (US$1 billion) on its sales of second-generation Prius hybrids last year. Toyota’s gross profit margin on the sales of the next-generation 2010 Prius are projected to be in the single digits in the first year.

Source: Green Car Congress

ライン 三菱益子社長「EV事業は13年ごろに収益体質に」

三菱自動車工業の益子修社長は26日の決算発表の席上、今年7月に発売する電気自動車（EV）『i MiEV』の採算性について年産「3万台規模がめどになる」との見方を示した。

そのうえで「2013年くらいには3万台レベルにもっていきたい」と語った。i MiEVは7月から国内の法人向けを主体に発売、今年度末までに一部海外も含み1400台の販売を計画している。

今秋からは香港、英国にも投入、2010年度には左ハンドル車も設定して欧州などでの販売を強化したい考えだ。ただ、生産立ち上がりから1年間の生産は2000台にとどまる。11年度には1万5000台レベルに引き上げ、黒字転換へ着実な販売拡大を目指していく。

ソース: Response

Japan considering subsidies for hybrids and EVs

The Nikkei reports that the government of Japan is considering subsidies of up to ¥300,000 (US$2,992) for buyers of hybrids, electric vehicles, and certain gasoline- and diesel-engined cars that met emissions requirements.

Those who buy minicars meeting the criteria would receive 100,000 yen in subsidies, with the amount increasing to 200,000 yen for those purchasing larger qualifying vehicles. Furthermore, people who are upgrading to green new cars from cars that are at least 13 years old would receive an additional 100,000 yen or so in subsidies. The government is looking to introduce the new subsidies before summer and keep them until the end of fiscal 2009.

This latest effort to shore up demand for environmentally friendly cars comes as tax breaks on such vehicles took effect Wednesday. The automobile acquisition and weight taxes are waived for these cars, enabling a person buying a 2 million yen [US$20,000) hybrid weighing 1.3 tons to save 150,000 yen (US$1,496).

Source: Nikkei via Green Car Congress

The slide continues - Prius sales down 55% in March

The Prius sales slide continued in March as sales were down 55% compared to March 2008. According to Toyota's sales figures, the Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted March sales of 8,924 units. While this is 55% lower than March 2008's 20,635 sales, it is important to note that it is an increase of about 1,700 over February's sales. However, if you keep looking at the numbers you'll quickly see that in 2008, sales doubled between February and March.

You can blame the economy, but you also have to blame gas prices. Last March, the average price for a gallon of gas was $3.29. This March, the average price was $2.05.

Source: PriusChat

Honda Insight sells 569 units in first week of US sales

The Honda 2010 Insight hybrid, which made its sales debut in the US in limited quantities on 24 March, posted sales of 569 units through the end of the month.

The Insight, which carries an EPA rating of 40/43/41 city/highway/combined miles per gallon, has an MSRP of $19,800, excluding tax, license, registration, destination charges and options.

Sales of the Insight in Japan, which began in February, have been brisk, and have helped the automaker weather the slump there. Last week, Honda said that it had received orders for 21,000 Insights in Japan. To keep up with the strong demand, the company’s Suzuka factory in Mie Prefecture has been producing 600 Insights a day. Honda is now dedicating 40% of the factory’s capacity to making the hybrid vehicles.

Source: Green Car Congress

Toyota's U.S. sales of hybrids have topped the 1 million mark

Toyota, which was closing in on this major hybrid milestone last time we looked, said this morning that combined U.S. sales of its Toyota and Lexus hybrids now has topped the one-million mark.

Most of those sales can be chalked up to the segment's volume leader the Toyota Prius, which became the world's first modern gas-electric hybrid when it was launched in Japan in 1997.

Toyota brought the Prius to the US early in 2000 an since has added five other hybrids to its fleet.

"One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology," Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, said in a statement released this morning.

Combined Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales account for more than 75 percent of the market in the U.S. Honda and Ford Motor Co. hybrids account for most of the rest.

Globally, Toyota is adding 10 new hybrid models over the next three years and expects to be selling one million gas-electric cars and SUVs a year by early next decade.

Source: Green Car Advisor

新型「インサイト」受注状況について (All-new Honda Insight: JDM sales report)

2009年3月10日

　2月6日（金）に発売された新型「インサイト」の発売後約1ヵ月での累計受注台数は、3月9日（月）までで月間販売計画5,000台の3倍以上の約1万8,000台と、順調な立ち上がりとなった。
　また、2月度の登録台数は4,906台で、登録車の車名別では第10位、ハイブリッド車としては第1位となった。





■購入ポイント・購入層

＜購入ポイント＞
	・	1.3L i-VTECエンジンと軽量・小型なIMA（インテグレーテッド・モーター・アシスト）を組み合わせたハイブリッドシステムによる優れた燃費性能（JC08モード走行で26.0km／L、10・15モード走行で30km／L）※1
	・	空力性能の追求により鍛え抜かれた走りの形を実現した先進のエクステリアデザイン
	・	ひと目でわかるハイブリッド専用モデルであること
	・	ハイブリッド車としてこれまでの常識をくつがえす189万円※2からというお求めやすい価格設定
	※1 G、Lタイプ
	※2 Gタイプ 全国メーカー希望小売価格（消費税込み）
＜購入層＞
	40歳代～50歳代のファミリーや、30歳代の独身層、20歳代～30歳代の既婚層を中心に、老若男女を問わず幅広い層のお客様より支持されている。

Honda車ユーザー	新規ユーザー（他社含む）
50％	50％

■タイプ別 構成比

G	L	LS
40％	40％	20％

■主なメーカーオプション装着率（標準設定含む）

オプション名称	比率
プロジェクタータイプ ディスチャージヘッドライト＜HID＞（オートライトコントロール機構付）	76％
Honda HDDインターナビシステム（ECO情報表示機能付）＜リアカメラ＋ETC車載器付＞	70％
コンフォートビューパッケージ （ウォッシャー付間欠リアワイパー＜リバース連動＞＋親水／ヒーテッドドアミラー＋フロントドア撥水ガラス）	35％
Hondaスマートキーシステム（電動式テールゲートオープナー付）	30％

■カラー構成比

	・	スペクトラムホワイト・パール（新色）	27％		・	アラバスターシルバー・メタリック	22％
	・	ポリッシュドメタル・メタリック	21％		・	クリスタルブラック・パール	12％
	・	ブリリアントスカイ・メタリック	7％		・	プレミアムディープバイオレット・パール	6％
	・	ミラノレッド	5％

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Text in English

March 10, 2009

Since the introduction of the new Insight on Feb 6th:

･ Total orders in 1 month: 18000, more than 3 times the monthly target of 5000 units (60k/year).
･ Total deliveries in February: 4906, making it the 10th best selling car for the month, (earlier post) and the best selling hybrid for that period.

Main selling points:
･ Excellent fuel economy (hybrid system that combines 1.3L i-VTEC engine, lightness, and small IMA). Fuel cost performance: 30km/L in JC08 cycle
･ Exterior design with shape pursuing aerodynamic performance
･ Identifiable as hybrid vehicle
･ Affordable pricing from 1.89 million yen

Buyers' profile
People with family in their 40's - 50's, single in their 30's and married people in their 20's - 30's (without any particular distinction between man, woman, or social status)

Honda car user	New user
50%	50%

Orders by grade

G	L	LS
40%	40%	20%

The main manufacturer options

Optional name	Ratio
HID	76%
Honda HDD Navi system (with ECO information display function) <>	70%
Comfort view package (intermittent washer applying rear wiper + reception desk door water-repellent glass)	35%
Honda smart key system (with electric tail gate opener)	30%

Most popular colours:
･ Spectrum white pearl (new color) 27%
･ Alabaster silver metallic 22%
･ Polished metal metallic 21%
･ Crystal black pearl 12%
･ Brilliant sky metallic 7%
･ Premium deep violet pearl 6%
･ Milano red 5%
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ソース: ホンダのWebサイト

Honda's Insight breaks into top-10 sales ranking list in Feb

Honda Motor Co’s Insight hybrid hatchback, which made a showroom debut on Feb 6, made the top-ten sales ranking list for February with monthly sales of 4,906 units, an industry body said Thursday. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association attributed the five-door, gasoline-electric hybrid’s entry into the list to its high fuel economy and affordable sticker price.

The main customer bases of the Insight were middle-aged and senior drivers as well as people with families, it said. In contrast, the Prius hybrid hatchback of Toyota Motor Corp fell to 12th from January’s fifth place with sales of 4,524 units, down 22.2%, according to data released by the association. The base grade model of the Insight retails for 1,890,000 yen, compared with 2,331,000 yen for the base grade model of the Prius.

Suzuki Motor Corp’s WagonR minicar retained first place for the third straight month in Japan’s new car sales ranking for February, with 21,614 units, up 3% from a year earlier, data released by industry bodies showed Thursday. Daihatsu’s Move minicar came second, selling 20,699 units, up 12.2%, according to the data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association.

Low-priced, fuel efficient minivehicles with engines of up to 660 cc took six of the top 10 spots. The remaining four spots also went to relatively affordable cars that provide good mileage.

Sales of imported motor vehicles in Japan, including Japanese cars built abroad, dived 33.9% in February from a year before to 12,350 units amid the harsh economic landscape, an industry body said Thursday.

The number represented the 10th consecutive monthly fall, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said.

Source: Japan Today

現行 プリウス がオーダーストップ、6月に販売再開へ

トヨタ『プリウス』のオーダー受付けは、今週末をめどに終了することが、複数のトヨタ系ディーラーの話から明らかになった。一部ではすでにオーダーストップしている店舗もあるといい、オーダー受付け終了後は、各ディーラーに残る在庫ぶんの販売で対応するという。

また、エンジンがひと回り大きくなる新型『プリウス』の発売後、車内装備などを簡素化した現行プリウスを併売するという話については、「現行型プリウスの販売は6月ごろから再開、価格は210万円前後ではないか」と話す関係者もいる。

現行プリウスの購入を検討しているユーザーにとっては、その後の在庫車販売時期を逃してしまうと6月の“併売プリウス”の発売を待つことになるが、「法人 などから大量受注したりすれば、併売プリウスの納期は7月や8月になる可能性がある」と別のディーラー関係者は話していた。

いっぽう、売れ行きが好調な新型ホンダ『インサイト』は、都内ホンダ系ディーラーの一部では「納期は5月の連休明けの可能性もある」と話すスタッフもいる。

現行プリウスのオーダーを検討中のユーザーにとっては今週末が最後のチャンスか!?　インサイトとプリウスのどちらかで悩むユーザーは納期も大いに気になるところだ。

ソース: Response

Honda reaches 300,000 units in cumulative global sales of hybrid vehicles (Hondaハイブリッド車が世界累計販売30万台を達成)

TOKYO, Japan, February 18, 2009 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that global sales of Honda hybrid vehicles passed the 300,000-unit mark on a cumulative basis at the end of January 2009, since the introduction of the first-generation Insight in November 1999.

Honda is now selling its hybrid models in approximately 40 countries around the world including the key markets of Japan, North America and Europe.

Honda began sales in Japan February 6, 2009, of the all-new Insight hybrid vehicle, a five-door hatchback model featuring a lightweight, compact hybrid system that achieves exceptional fuel economy at an affordable price. Sales of the all-new Insight is scheduled to begin in Europe and North America in March and April, respectively. Honda set annual sales targets of approximately 60,000 units in Japan, more than 30,000 units in Europe and approximately 100,000 units in North America. The annual global sales target is approximately 200,000 units.

Honda will further enhance its hybrid model lineup with the introduction of the all-new sporty hybrid vehicle, based on the CR-Z design concept model, in 2010, in the effort to achieve full-scale market penetration of hybrid vehicles.

Honda Hybrid Sales by Model/Region (as of the end of January 2009)

Model	Region	Start of Sales	Cumulative Unit Sales
Insight	Japan	Nov. 1999	2,340
	North America	Dec. 1999	14,288
	Europe	Mar. 2000	392
	Total		17,020
Civic Hybrid	Japan	Dec. 2001	22,899
	North America	Mar. 2002	191,493
	Europe	May. 2003	34,757
	Asia/Oceania	Feb. 2004	5,514
	China	Nov. 2007	280
	Others	May. 2006	306
	Total		255,249
Accord Hybrid	North America	Dec. 2004	28,471
	Total		28,471
Total Unit Sales of Honda Hybrid Models			300,740

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Text in Japanese

　Hondaのハイブリッド車の世界累計販売台数が、1999年11月に初代インサイトの日本での販売開始以来、2009年1月末で30万台を超えた。

　Hondaは、日米欧を中心に、世界で延べ約40ヵ国でハイブリッド車を販売している。

■Hondaハイブリッド車 モデル別／地域別販売実績（2009年1月末時点）

車名	地域	販売開始時期	累計販売台数
インサイト	日本	1999年 11月	2,340
	北米	1999年 12月	14,288
	欧州	2000年　3月	392
	合計		17,020
シビック ハイブリッド	日本	2001年 12月	22,899
	北米	2002年　3月	191,493
	欧州	2003年　5月	34,757
	アジア・大洋州	2004年　2月	5,514
	中国	2007年 11月	280
	その他	2006年　5月	306
	合計		255,249
アコード ハイブリッド	北米	2004年 12月	28,471
	合計		28,471
Hondaハイブリッド車合計			300,740

　Hondaは、お求めやすい価格で、軽量・小型なハイブリッドシステムを搭載し、優れた燃費性能を実現した5ドアハッチバックの新型「インサイ ト」を日本で2009年2月6日より販売開始。欧州では3月、北米では4月より順次販売を開始する。日本では年間約6万台、欧州では年間約3万台以上、北 米では年間約10万台を販売目標とし、世界販売台数約20万台を予定している。

　今後もHondaは、デザインコンセプトモデル「CR-Z」をベースとした新型のスポーツタイプハイブリッドを2010年中に投入するなど、ハイブリッド車のラインアップを強化し、ハイブリッド車の本格普及を目指す。
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Source: Honda Media Website