GM Prius Rumors Won't Die. Or Not?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Bloomberg is reporting that GM CEO Fritz Henderson will meet with Toyota President Akio Toyoda this August, and that a GM rebadge of the Prius could be on the agenda. “Two people familiar with the plan” confirm the Prius angle, and with the death of the Pontiac Vibe, GM certainly has to figure out what it will do with its NUMMI capacity which it shares with Toyota. “Having a stronger line-up is an urgent matter for GM,” says Yoshihiro Okumura of Chiba-gin Asset Management Co. “Demand will continue to shift to small cars.” But neither automaker will even confirm that plans for an executive meeting of the minds is on the table. Moreover, as Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics points out, “Toyota is not normally in the practice of giving away the crown jewels.” On the other hand, GM has recently canceled its only hybrid car, the Malibu Hybrid, and the sale of Saturn to Penske will further cut into its hybrid offerings.

UPDATE: Our Frank Williams points out a GM press release that just hit the wires which says “As part of its long-term viability plan, General Motors has decided that its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyota will not be a part of the ‘New GM.’” The plot thickens.


Speaking of Saturn and Penske, early rumors have the new Saturn selling Renault products (built by its Korean partner Samsung). Trading Markets has a press release denying a tie-up between Renault and China’s Great Wall Auto, that (in theory) would have created a joint venture in Venezuela. If the deal goes through, it will be with Great Wall’s Venezuelan dealer, so it doesn’t sound like this would have created a product opportunity for the Penske World Auto Market. Still, doesn’t a Venezuelan-built Dacia Logan (Rebadged as a Penske-Chavez?) sound like fun?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Rod Panhard Rod Panhard on Jun 29, 2009

    This isn't that odd. How many years was a NUMMI-built Chevy Nova, which was really a Corolla, sold at Chevy stores? And that was when Corollas were a hot item. Toyota is looking at their situation and recognizes they can lower costs even further on their hybrid technology by selling more of them. And since GM's got a gun to their heads to sell more of products that they don't have, then it makes sense for everyone. I don't see anything strange about it at all. ... except that GM's got nothing more than the Cruze to sell, someday.

  • RedStapler RedStapler on Jun 29, 2009

    A Chevy Prius is within the realm of possibility. Toyota already licenses their hybrid tech to Nissan with the Altima hybrid. Anyone who remotely follows cars knows that a Nova, Prizm and Vibe are just reskinned 'yotas.

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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