Can't Keep Up With The Demand

AP (10.21.05):

"Japan's biggest automaker is scrambling to keep up with the growing demand for hybrids, especially in North America, where soaring oil prices — now double from several years ago — are suddenly making hybrids an attractive cost-saving alternative." Toyota Scrambling to Produce Hybrids

Ford is selling one hybrid right now (Ford Escape), has another coming to market next year (Mercury Mariner), and keeps talking about "a hybrid version of Ford’s midsize sedan coming down the road." Both the Escape and Mariner are SUVs. Ford also been complaining it's "having trouble getting hybrid parts because of Toyota's desire for auto parts." The parts Ford needs come from Aisin Seiki Co., a Japanese supplier. "The [The Wall Street Journal] quoted Mary Ann Wright, head of Ford's hybrid program, as saying Toyota was trying to squeeze the component supply...." Coincidentally, Toyota owns 23% of Aisin Seiki. Toyota Executive Vice President Kazuo Okamoto had this to say: "'I don't know what other carmakers are saying. If they want parts, why don't they place their orders?'" Ahhhh! Don't you just love the smell of the free-market economy in the morning? "Toyota's success in hybrids comes at a time when its profits are booming and its market share is growing around the world." "In contrast, U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors are in deep trouble. On Monday, GM said it lost $1.6 billion in the third quarter. Three days later, Ford reported a third-quarter loss of $284 million."