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Every year, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry hands out prizes for products it regards as the pinnacle of energy-efficiency and eco-friendliness. This year, Toyota’s Prius was chosen as the recipient of the grand prize.
Last Monday, Toyota said “enryo shimasu” (no thanks) to the Ministry, and refused to accept the governmental honors, an industry ministry official disclosed today to the Nikkei [sub].
Toyota notified the ministry on Monday that it would like to decline the award due to ”various reasons.”
Any guesses what those reasons may have been?
17 Comments on “Toyota Refuses Eco-Award For Prius...”
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My guess: a renewed sense of modesty?
No, the person who came to collect the award, accelerated really quickly, sped out of control and hit a tree.
No, the prize was for a Prius… sadly it was the brakes that failed and hit the tree.
I think it was a noble thing to do given the current circumstances.
Appropriate, yes, but “noble”? I’ll have to think about that one.
They fudged the published fuel ratings and they think that someone is about to go public with the news?
They don’t come up with those. The EPA (or the equivalent in whatever country you’re in) does its test and Toyota is legally required to report that number. If the test doesn’t match typical driving patterns and gives unrealistic results, you’re still stuck with them.
The EPA sort of fixed its test in 2008, so those numbers aren’t too bad. Japan’s test cycle is a disaster though. When the rumors said that the 2010 Prius would get 90mpg, they were talking about 90mpg on the Japanese test – it’s that unrealistic.
” They don’t come up with those. The EPA (or the equivalent in whatever country you’re in) does its test and Toyota is legally required to report that number.”
Not exactly. The EPA writes the test rules, but the automakers generally do their own actual testing based on those rules.
John – the manufacturer does the initial testing, but the EPA will eventually test most models to confirm it is correct. There is no reason to fake the tests because eventually the EPA will get around to your vehicle and confirm they are incorrect.
BTW, the most recent road and track did a comparison between the Prius, Fiesta, and TDI for mpg in 6 or 7 different tests. The Prius almost always beat the EPA rating… while handily thrashing the TDI and Fiesta, BTW.
Obama got it instead?
In my old age it’s somewhat comforting to know that the long American tradition of concocting political conspiracy still lives, facts be damned.
I suspect Toyota, and its US SE dealers, may prudently be trying to keep a low profile until the smoke clears. It makes perfect business sense.
Toyota’s refusal to accept the award is foolish. Their recall problems have nothing to do with the Prius’ economy and alleged eco-friendliness.
Now they just look politically correct, which I, for one, am tired of. Self-flagellation and humility are not the same thing.
They would’ve been soundly bashed for accepting it as well. Given the circumstances it’s probably better that they declined even if it’s deserved.
The reason? Toyota has lost its mind.
As it should be. If they accepted the award after all the recalls, brake failures, accelerator issues and such they would have been bashed to tears for taking it. The fact that the previous gen Prius didn’t live up anywhere near it’s 61 MPG city rating certainly doesn’t help matters either.
If driven the way the test wanted you to drive it, yeah, it did meet the rating. In fact, ecoweenies routinuely beat that by driving like grandma after taking some valium. If you drive it like most people do, no, it doesn’t. In any case, the test was created by the Federal government, not Toyota.
Well, would we be talking about it right now if they accepted the award?