Featured Toyota President Says 'Silent Majority' Not Convinced on EV-Only Future

EV's could work for a suprisingly large group of people. They might have to make some sacrifices, but it could be for a greater good. In reality there's a lot of things we could do for a greater good. The thing is no one wants to put forth their own effort. That's the mentality, people would rather waste fuel sitting in their car with the AC on surfing the web than to be out getting exersize or planting a garden or something similar.

 

My personal favorite is the individual who lets someone off at the door of the grocery and pulls into the no parking zone next to the entrance - idling their vehicle while sitting in it smoking waiting for the individual they just let off to finish their shopping.

 

You are not wrong. As I work the grocery registers much of the day, no more than 15 feet from me, is a constant and revolving number of "Fire Zone - No Parking - $500 Fine" offenders parking their land yachts and idling for up to a half hour. Some of them might be waiting for a physically challenged individual, but most of them are just, well...

That said, and very occasionally, we get an outstanding red '60's Mustang or a 23-window perfectly restored Samba VW microbus, or somesuch parking in front illegally instead. Now, I should be looking at my customer and current transaction in real-time (and I do), but in those fleeting moments in between, are exciting enough to peer sideways for a moment and smile.

OK, that was really off-topic. Bringing it back - Toyoda (the guy) needs to get out once in a while and see what is really going on outside his own factories. Love my 2023 Model Y. Charging both my Y and my Prime as I type.

 

apparently, he believes the world ends at the borders of japan

 

More likely thinking of the factories within its borders.

 

Lest everyone forgets, Toyota's president loves fuel "choices" - because tons & tons of electric cars now being in production means more competition between different manufacturers - which often results in prices coming down lower. That does not bode well for his favorite science project, the hydrogen Mirai. At least he's not running those ridiculous ads anymore about plugins are only for people that have hours to waste.

........ or that Toyota hybrids are self charging. perhaps if Toyota had saved that advertising money and hydrogen R&D and put it into electric cars they would be in the lead rather than lagging behind .


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hydrogen money likely from taxpayers

 

just like battery, space and most other non product producing ventures are.
think bout tax breaks for enterprise and you've got the prefect storm of big gov

 

I would have expected corrupt DeJoy to have ordered hydrogen postal trucks.

Bob Wilson

 

from where? goin postal

 

hydrogen rifles

 

These discussions often devolve to this. Lots of things that we use every day and take for granted were subsidized by the government in the early days. Not everything the government subsidies needs to pan out. Plus the hydrogen story isn't fully written yet.

 

Agreed on gov subsidies, but i think they should show at least a probable path to success before investing our money

 

Physics and chemistry are hard task masters.

Bob Wilson

 

While we need green hydrogen, the story for it and personal cars is probably over.

Fuel cells will improve and costs drop over time, but improvement to the cars does not address the issues facing refueling. Mainly that it is very expensive to install and maintain.

 

yeah, that was the time to buy a Tesla. Grr I really wish they were on my radar when the price was normal. Probably will dip down again now that rhe stock is crashing and interest rates are up. My 23 prius will still be a nice looking car ;D

 

Unlikely for a price drop for the reasons you listed.
Tesla has very little debt, so interest rates to harm them directly, and they have plenty of cash on hand, so the low stock price doesn't pose a problem.

However, you may see them lower some options so buyers can take advantage of the IRA subsidies.

 

I am expecting to see a $54,490 Tesla Model Y any day now. I paid almost $10K more than that for the basic plain white MYLR5.

If they do that, and they really must do it or drop the Q1 sales into the toilet, those buyers will realize a Y in the mid $40's when state sales tax is removed for the difference between 2022 and 2023 prices.

 

I disagree that if they don’t price a Y under 55k, their sales will drop “into the toilet”. Half of Tesla’s sales are not affected by the USA subsidies, one way or the other.
The subsidies are also income limited, so some percentage of buyers wouldn’t get the rebate anyway.

I would expect sales to increase with a sub 55k Model Y. However, even without, sales will still increase, just not as much.

 

Bob Wilson