Hybrid Camrys

In the announcement regarding Toyota's plans to build hybrid Camrys in the US, there was buried the following little amazing fact.

Toyota sold 11,345 Prius vehicles in April alone, Mr. Press said. "That's more than the entire Mercury car line; the Prius outsold...Volvo and Jag cars combined, just to give you a point of reference," he said. Sales of Mercury cars totaled 10,371 vehicles in April, while Volvo and Jaguar sold 6,686 and 2,870 cars, respectively, during the month.

One car in Toyota's lineup, a single little hybrid, outsold the entire Mercury line or, in other terms, the entire Volvo and Jag (incidentally Ford-owned lines) lines combined. The Lexus SUV hybrid and the Camry hybrids will be off the charts sellers. One need look no further for the reason for GM and Ford junk status in every sense of the word.

I am able to laugh at the nimrod who counseled me (berated and argued with me is more accurate) back in '83 not to buy one of those new sedans. It was the company's first shot at a mid-size sedan and this putz was certain it was going to be problem packed. I still bought the new Camry and have owned Toyotas ever since. (I bought my first one in '76.) No comments are needed on the wedding 'present' '81 Chevette, which was unloaded ASAP.

Further comment: Right there in the last paragraph is the whole GM vs. Toyota struggle. In the early 80's Toyota was coming out with a 20+ year best selling model and GM was foisting the Chevette on a 'til then, loyal GM-buying public. I have never owned American since that POS (figure it out for yourself, given the context) Chevette and can't even imagine considering one today when I think about what models to even have on my potential buying list.