TOKYO — On the eve of the New York auto show, as Toyota is preparing to introduce the Lexus GS 450 — its fourth hybrid — the company said it plans to sell a combined 62,000 units of its two new hybrid SUVs worldwide this year.
Unveiling the new Harrier and Kluger hybrid sport-utility vehicles in Tokyo Tuesday, Toyota said it anticipates monthly sales of 500 vehicles in Japan for each model. The Harrier is called the Lexus RX 400h in most overseas markets, including the U.S. The Kluger is sold overseas as the Highlander.
While most manufacturers are just getting off the ground with hybrids, Toyota has an aggressive strategy to sell 300,000 hybrids annually by 2006. Eventually, it said it hopes to boost annual hybrid sales to 1 million.
Most of the company's hybrid sales are likely to come from the U.S. market, where it has taken at least 11,000 presale orders before the April launch of the RX 400h despite a $4,753 premium over the conventional version of the vehicle.
Toyota began its hybrid onslaught with the entry-level Prius.
What this means to you: Tree huggers take note: SUVs are not going to simply roll over and play dead. But they will play hybrid, which pleases everyone — especially Toyota shareholders.
Unveiling the new Harrier and Kluger hybrid sport-utility vehicles in Tokyo Tuesday, Toyota said it anticipates monthly sales of 500 vehicles in Japan for each model. The Harrier is called the Lexus RX 400h in most overseas markets, including the U.S. The Kluger is sold overseas as the Highlander.
While most manufacturers are just getting off the ground with hybrids, Toyota has an aggressive strategy to sell 300,000 hybrids annually by 2006. Eventually, it said it hopes to boost annual hybrid sales to 1 million.
Most of the company's hybrid sales are likely to come from the U.S. market, where it has taken at least 11,000 presale orders before the April launch of the RX 400h despite a $4,753 premium over the conventional version of the vehicle.
Toyota began its hybrid onslaught with the entry-level Prius.
What this means to you: Tree huggers take note: SUVs are not going to simply roll over and play dead. But they will play hybrid, which pleases everyone — especially Toyota shareholders.
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