Toyota to make Prius hybrid in Thailand

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Toyota to make Prius hybrid in Thailand 
Bangkok Post: 15 Oct 2010
Toyota to make Prius model in Thailand

Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) has confirmed that it will soon produce the latest model of the Prius hybrid in Thailand, the second petrol-electric car made in the kingdom following the hybrid version of the Camry sedan.

In addition to meeting domestic demand, the Prius will be exported to meet rising demand in Asian markets.

The local subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp confirmed the Prius hybrid would debut next month in the Thai market.

TMT president Kyoichi Tanada will announce the details of the Thai-built Prius at a soft launch on Oct 21.

Toyota launched the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid car, in 1997. Batteries and engines will be supplied from Japan to the factory in Thailand.

Thailand will be the third country to make the Prius hybrid after Japan and China.

The world's largest automaker has sold 1 million hybrids in Japan and 1.68 million abroad since the 1997 launch.

Nine Toyota hybrid car models and three hybrid commercial vehicles are sold in Japan, while eight hybrid models are sold overseas.

Last year, Toyota recalled 400,000 Prius units and other hybrid vehicles to repair a flaw in the braking system. However, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association reports the car remains popular.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/201458/toyota-to-make-prius-model-in-thailand
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The Toyota connection

The people at Lexus don't want you to associate the CT200h with the Toyota Prius.

CT200h and Prius shares same basic components.

But in reality, the two cars share the same 1.8-litre petrol engine (as used in the Corolla), CVT automatic transmission, electric motors, nickel metal-hydride battery and front-wheel drive format. However, the CT200h boast an extra power unit for the three-mode driving system.

The platform of the two isn't totally the same. The CT200h sits on a 100mm shorter wheelbase and uses double wishbones in place of the Prius's (and Corolla's) torsion beam rear suspension. This is designed to give the CT200h a more dynamic character.

In essence, the CT200h and Prius are C-segment hatchbacks - just that one belongs to a premium brand and has to be imported in fully built-up form at some B2-2.5m. The Thai-built Prius is due at the end of the year, and most likely it will be more than B1m cheaper than the CT200h.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autoreview/201474/the-toyota-connection

[Admin]

Currently the New Toyota Camry Hybrid, Automatic ECVT  cost:

1,599,000 baht*
1,659,000 baht**
1,779,000 baht***

So the Toyota Prius will be cheaper.. 
http://www.toyota.co.th/en/models/camry/camry_hybrid/home_en.html

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Thai-made Prius to be priced at B1.3m 
Bangkok Post: 22 Oct 2010
Thai-made Prius to be priced at B1.3m

Prius hybrid cars made in Thailand are expected to cost 1.3 million baht, according to Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT).

The figure reflects a 10% excise tax rate on petrol-electric vehicles, down from the existing 30%, while imported hybrid parts will be duty-free.

TMT president Kyoichi Tanada announced the expected price yesterday after confirming the third-generation Prius would be assembled at the Gateway plant in Chachoengsao next month.

Thailand is the third country after Japan and China to produce the Prius.

"The Prius is slated for production here because Thai consumers are more accepting of new technology than other countries in the region," said Mr Tanada.

In addition, he said, the attractive tax privileges offered by the government made hybrid vehicles affordable, and such incentives were not available in other countries in the region.

The Prius, equipped with an 1800cc gasoline engine, will debut in the Thai market on Nov 16 and will be featured at the Motor Expo in December.

TMT aimed to sell 700 to 1,000 units of the car per month, said Mr Tanada.

TMT already makes a Camry hybrid locally and has sold 10,000 units so far.

Senior vice-president Vutigorn Suriyachantananont said Toyota launched the Camry hybrid with prices based on the expected zero duty rate for hybrid parts, even though the rates did not formally take effect until this week.

He said Toyota had absorbed costs of about 238 million baht on Camry units sold before the tariffs were waived, based on taxes of 23,814 baht per car.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/202658/thai-made-prius-to-be-priced-at-b1-3m

[Admin]

Toyota Prius gets warm Thai response 
Bangkok Post: 17 Nov 2010
Prius gets warm response

Toyota Motor Thailand has already taken orders for 1,000 locally built Prius hybrid cars before their official launch yesterday.Retail prices of the third generation of the 1.8-litre petrol-electric Prius were announced yesterday at 1.19 million baht for the standard version and 1.26 million for the top model.

The Japanese automaker aims to take customer orders for 700 to 1,000 units per month and is expected to sell 3,000 units at the Thailand International Motor Expo, starting early next month.

The first deliveries to customers who have placed orders will begin next month.

Thailand was the first country in Asia outside Japan to manufacture a hybrid car, the Toyota Camry hybrid.

The Prius is to be produced at the Gateway plant in Chachoengsao at an output of 1,000 units per month with key hybrid components imported from Japan without duty.

The excise tax on hybrid models is 10%, down from the standard rate of 30%, to promote the production of vehicles powered with alternative fuels.

"Toyota so far has no plan to export the Prius hybrid as it will initially focus on the domestic market," said TMT president Kyoichi Tanada at a ceremony to unveil the new model.

Senior vice-president Wichien Emprasertsuk said the prices for the Prius hybrid would not affect the Altis compact and Camry saloon as the Prius was a new segment with different customers.

The Prius hybrid is expected to attract individual customers who are concerned about the environment and also corporate customers who want to promote an image of environment-friendliness.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/marketing/206769/prius-gets-warm-response