World Premiere of 2023 Prius Prime in Japan

"The review was triggered in part by the realisation by some Toyota engineers and executives that Toyota was losing the factory cost war to Tesla on EVs, the sources said."
https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-10-24/exclusive-toyota-scrambles-for-ev-reboot-with-eye-on-tesla

"What the engineers found were innovative manufacturing techniques that led one unnamed insider to call the Model Y "a work of art." The Model Y's "giga-press" manufacturing technique reduces the main body of the car to two large sections, and the battery pack acts as part of the vehicle's structure. Toyota's e-TNGA platform on the other hand, requires many more stamped pieces. One Toyota source told AN that Tesla's approach resulted in a vehicle that was 220 pounds lighter with hundreds of fewer parts. Additionally, Toyota's battery packs are installed separately and thus limited in size.

All that translates to, in consumer-facing parlance, less range and the lack of features such as a frunk. Some of these restrictions come from the fact that the e-TNGA platform was originally developed for gasoline and hybrid cars in 2015."
Toyota rethinks long-term EV strategy, calls Tesla Y a 'work of art,' report says

"Manufacturing new-age cars isn’t a cakewalk — and it’s part of the reason scaling up has proven difficult. While it may seem like making EVs is an extension of ICE vehicles, it isn’t. In theory, EVs have far fewer components, so they should be simpler to produce. The reality is, the body architecture is unlike that of traditional ones, as is its assembly. EVs need a whole new set of electronics and wiring, while the parts require different modes of handling and storage, and are made using other machines. In some cases, it makes more sense for automakers to mothball a plant instead of converting it."
Toyota’s New EV Plan Is a Big Reality Check - Bloomberg

As to car safety.
1.9 Million Toyota RAV4 SUVs Investigated for Battery Fire Risk
It ain't a traction pack the trouble.

 

About time.

 

It is almost March 15 in Japan. Anyone has found any Japanese Prius Prime production-vehicle videos yet? We have seen so much of the XSE/XSE Premium trims but none of the SE trim. Therefore, I would especially like to see the Japanese trim (equivalent of the SE trim in the US) with the 17" wheels (aka much better, much more fuel- and range-efficient wheels ). Does it come with matte bumpers and the same or different wheel covers as on the Prius?