Two huge problems with domestic oil: cost, and actual yield.

Unless price per barrel stays HIGH, good luck in convincing oil companies to drill here domestically.

While there are claims of huge reserves here in US, even the best projected yearly output will likely never satisfy all of domestic consumption.

Lastly, unless US have trade laws that does not allow export of US oil, then domestic prices will still reflect the world prices. Since more and more cars will be sold in China, demand will likely still outpace supply down the road.

(yes Hybrid owners they are if you take into consideration the enviornmental issues with batteries)

Oh, right, only hybrid cars use NiMH batteries?

As a matter of fact, hybrids use of batteries is BETTER than other usage because there is a bounty on the batteries, which ensure that the batteries will NOT go into landfills, and that it is properly recycled.

Lead acid batteries are not very good for the environment either, except over 97% of all lead acid batteries are recycled, thanks to the active recycling program.

wonder if has remote control...

Sometimes I really hate the comment system here... lost another post...

It's hard to tell if we are really achieve a lower state of equilibrium or the market is just pulling back due to fear.

Because the automotive industry is not flexible like say Proctor and Gamble, two or three years of slow sales can wreck the system to a point of no return. Any recovery today will likely take a decade as it is. The stimuli today is intend to keep the industry alive, but not necessary to support old sales figures (ie pumping out more cars than the market actually needs).

Quoting Constitution is convenient, but again over simplification.

If you own a home and take tax deductions, then you're just about as guilty as any NeoCons.

Wow, that's it. That's the indirect insult I got, that I did not use the "reply" button?

@Tim:

I'm sorry to say, but people who tend to have the same belief as you are far less "eloquent" than you'd like to portray yourself.

The "conservatives" love to oversimplify things by using catch-phrases and then when you are losing an argument, you just slap a label like "liberalism" and think that you've won the argument. Yes, "eloquent" indeed.

The biggest irony of all? When it's not the GOP in power, then it's those evil politicians and stupid "progressives" but when GOP are in, then big government by the GOP is A-OKAY.

Go talk to any "conservatives" representing the states that relies on auto industry and see if ANY of them are against bailouts. They may play tricks with words, but giving tax cuts to businesses so that they can employ workers is still Big Government.

Tim, maybe you should "look it up" on what it means to be a conservative.

Is it a PR stunt? I think the answer is a bit more complex.

First: Should we be skeptical that the report from Japan is false?

There are poor reporting but it is rare that someone will go so far is to make up news about a Toyota plant running overtime. There are just too many sources to verify such claims. If a reporter wants to lie about Prius sales, then quoting that Toyota and Panasonic are running overtime is not the way to do it.

Second: If one US dealership has Prius in stock, does that mean that the waiting list in Japan is a lie?

Er, I guess some people don't know how it works in the auto industry.

Just because Prius is made in Japan doesn't mean that 100% of the vehicles made there has to be allocated for domestic sales ONLY.

It does NOT matter if the plant makes 10,000 units a month and Japan has a waiting list for 20,000 units and US has a waiting list for 10 units. US division of Toyota has dips on "X" number of Prius, especially since this is the first batch that is rolling off the assembly line. Just to be clear, ALL the Prius made today are all spoken for... by the dealership! Those 10 2010 models at the LA dealership is what they asked for, and they get it, regardless of how many people are waiting for the car in Japan or US.

If US has a glut of 2010 models, then in a few months, the Prius plant would adjust and divert numbers to hot markets, like Japan. All this is very common for first year release of a hot car.

Third: Is it still a PR stunt?

Now it is possible that the shortage in Japan is artificial. THAT would be a valid arguement that this is a hyped-up story. But just because a US dealership has 10 new 2010 Prius does NOT mean that it is *impossible* that Japan has a shortage of the new Prius.

Moo.

woooooooo