Just more hybrid car hype

Sure, GM and Nissan, hybrid cars are nothing but hype.

Of course, the first sales month of the first quarter in 2005 seems to say something a little different.

GM and Ford continue to lose marketshare and Toyota continues to gain it.

Why?

A story in the New York Times claims it's Toyota's new products, particularly the Scion and the Prius.

Apparently the hype around the Toyota Prius continues to make money, even though hybrid cars are essentially a waste of time and money if you ask J.D. Power, GM or Nissan.

It's amazing; however, how that hype has propelled Toyota into the role of undisputed leader in the automotive world (GM is bigger, but not as profitable). Somebody better remind Toyota how they are wasting their time and money on this hybrid thing.

While production costs have slowed Toyota profit, most of that innovation and investment is helping Toyota ramp up to world domination in the near future. And if the Prius is any sign of things to come, the American automotive world is going to get slapped into reality when the Lexus RX400h hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid hit the market.

Both the Lexus and Highlander hybrids will, like the Honda Accord hybrid, actually perform significantly better than their conventional cousins.

But, then again, I'm sure this hybrid "hype" won't have any affect on Toyota's U.S. marketshare this year.

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