Latest news with #Prius
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota's New Car Lineup Is Growing Faster Than Anyone Predicted
A few years back, Toyota promised to electrify every model in its lineup—hybrid or fully electric—by the end of 2025, and it's right on track. That bet is paying off big time: about 80 percent of Toyota and Lexus sales are already electrified, thanks to staples like the Prius and Camry. Now, Toyota expects its U.S. EV sales to double by 2030, rolling out a wave of new electric models to match the demand. It's a huge turnaround from just a few years ago when some execs thought the electric craze was overblown. Toyota's hybrid sales are really taking off, boosted by a sleek new look for the Prius and a fully electrified Camry lineup. The RAV4 is next in line to join the hybrid club with its upcoming model refresh. But when it comes to full EVs, Toyota's still playing catch-up—they only sold about 30,000 in the U.S. last year, way behind their usual numbers for gas-powered cars. Still, the company is betting big on EVs, expecting U.S. sales to double in the next five years as the electric market heats up. For context, EVs made up around 1.3 million vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2024, showing there's plenty of room for growth. To meet rising demand, Toyota and Lexus plan to roll out seven fully electric models in the U.S. by 2027. Right now, you can find the Toyota bZ SUV—recently renamed—and its cousin, the Lexus RZ SUV, both here to stay. In the next year, Toyota will add the bZ Woodland and the newly unveiled C-HR EV to the lineup. Looking ahead to 2027, expect an all-electric version of the sleek Lexus ES, plus two brand-new EVs built right here in the U.S. Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant will handle one of the still-under-wraps EV models, while another will roll off the line in Princeton, Indiana. Meanwhile, their battery facility in Liberty, North Carolina, is gearing up to produce up to 300,000 all-electric vehicle batteries—but that number includes batteries for hybrids and plug-in hybrids, too. In a Bloomberg interview, Toyota's senior VP Cooper Ericksen said: "We'll sell a little bit more every year and grow with the market. But we have to think about how many Canada will use, how many the U.S. will use, and we can then export to other global destinations." So, those two new EVs made in the U.S. could also find their way overseas. Source: Bloomberg via Automotive News, CarBuzz
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota's New Car Lineup Is Growing Faster Than Anyone Predicted
A few years back, Toyota promised to electrify every model in its lineup—hybrid or fully electric—by the end of 2025, and it's right on track. That bet is paying off big time: about 80 percent of Toyota and Lexus sales are already electrified, thanks to staples like the Prius and Camry. Now, Toyota expects its U.S. EV sales to double by 2030, rolling out a wave of new electric models to match the demand. It's a huge turnaround from just a few years ago when some execs thought the electric craze was overblown. Toyota's hybrid sales are really taking off, boosted by a sleek new look for the Prius and a fully electrified Camry lineup. The RAV4 is next in line to join the hybrid club with its upcoming model refresh. But when it comes to full EVs, Toyota's still playing catch-up—they only sold about 30,000 in the U.S. last year, way behind their usual numbers for gas-powered cars. Still, the company is betting big on EVs, expecting U.S. sales to double in the next five years as the electric market heats up. For context, EVs made up around 1.3 million vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2024, showing there's plenty of room for growth. To meet rising demand, Toyota and Lexus plan to roll out seven fully electric models in the U.S. by 2027. Right now, you can find the Toyota bZ SUV—recently renamed—and its cousin, the Lexus RZ SUV, both here to stay. In the next year, Toyota will add the bZ Woodland and the newly unveiled C-HR EV to the lineup. Looking ahead to 2027, expect an all-electric version of the sleek Lexus ES, plus two brand-new EVs built right here in the U.S. Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant will handle one of the still-under-wraps EV models, while another will roll off the line in Princeton, Indiana. Meanwhile, their battery facility in Liberty, North Carolina, is gearing up to produce up to 300,000 all-electric vehicle batteries—but that number includes batteries for hybrids and plug-in hybrids, too. In a Bloomberg interview, Toyota's senior VP Cooper Ericksen said: "We'll sell a little bit more every year and grow with the market. But we have to think about how many Canada will use, how many the U.S. will use, and we can then export to other global destinations." So, those two new EVs made in the U.S. could also find their way overseas. Source: Bloomberg via Automotive News, CarBuzz
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
New Yorker who tried using yellow Prius as a fake taxi sued by NYC to be taken off the streets — for good
He's a real fake hack. A former New York City cabbie whose license was suspended more than a decade ago has been posing as a taxi driver — using his little yellow Toyota, The Post has learned. The city Taxi and Limousine Commission is now fighting to permanently seize George Caraballo's compact 2013 Prius due to his repeated violations, public records show. In the last six months, Caraballo has been dinged twice by the city for posing as an official yellow medallion driver, according to a civil forfeiture lawsuit filed by the TLC on Thursday. In fact, Caraballo's second violation came only two weeks after the hack driver pleaded guilty to the first, the Manhattan Supreme Court filing states. A TLC inspector first watched him drive his yellow hybrid hatchback to pick up a hailing passenger in Manhattan for a $26 ride in November, the suit states. Unfortunately for Caraballo, his fare was dwarfed by the $1,500 violation issued to him that night for 'operating for hire a vehicle that is not licensed by TLC.' Just 15 days after he copped to that first violation at a March administrative hearing, the counterfeit cabman was at it again, the suit states. 3 The TLC is accusing a man of using a yellow Toyota Prius similar to the one pictured, as a fake taxi so frequently that they're suing to take possession of the car. New York Post On April 8, Caraballo picked up a group of four people in front of the iconic New Yorker Hotel near Penn Station for an $18 fare — under the watchful eye of a TLC inspector, the suit alleges. The knockoff taxi was immediately seized by the TLC, the suit states. During his second stint before the city Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Caraballo again pleaded guilty. But an attorney for the TLC argued that the commission should retain Caraballo's car while the city pursues its civil forfeiture case against him to permanently take possession of the bogus cab, records show. Caraballo apparently pulled the same stunt with a different car in 2020, 'evidence of the respondent's flagrant disregard for the rules,' the TLC lawyer said — calling the fake taxi driver a 'danger to the public.' His representative, Joseph Scifo — a non-lawyer who has been repping livery drivers in administrative court for over 40 years — argued that the Prius is set up as a yellow cab because it operates legitimately as a taxi in Rockland County. Hearing officer Patricia Cardoso found that the TLC had failed to show that keeping Caraballo's ride was 'necessary to protect the public,' and ordered that he get the vehicle back after paying a $2,000 fine — which he has since done, a TLC rep said Friday. The spokesperson said that Caraballo once had a license, which was suspended in 2013. Despite the car being released for now, Caraballo could still stand to lose it as the TLC's case progresses. 3 TLC inspectors say they saw Caraballo pick up fares at least twice in his yellow Toyota Prius since November. Bloomberg via Getty Images Since he posed as a fake taxi 'on two separate occasions within 36 months, and the subject vehicle was used in the commission of both offenses,' the TLC argued in its suit, the Prius is 'subject to forfeiture.' The summons lists a Rockland County address for Caraballo on his driver's license, about 40 miles north from Manhattan, but shows that a Yorkville apartment is listed on his vehicle registration. 3 The fake cabbie's yellow Prius – similar to the one pictured above – is apparently used legitimately as a cab in Rockland County. New York Post When The Post knocked on the city address on Friday, a shirtless man who confirmed his name was George Caraballo said 'You got the wrong person.' 'I've never driven a cab before — I'm a retired guy,' the supposedly bogus Caraballo said, adding that he's never owned a Toyota Prius. Despite his protestations, the curious Caraballo inquired about the nature of the lawsuit and civil forfeiture. Scifo told The Post he wasn't sure whether that man was his client, or if the real Caraballo lives at the Rockland County — but had some advice, nonetheless. 'There's a lot of guys who are in the practice of bringing in cars from outside the city to earn extra money,' he said. 'Stop. You will be fined. You are breaking the law.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Multiple people injured in carjacking spree across Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Multiple people were injured in a carjacking spree across Nashville Thursday night. Officers were first called to a parking lot in the 2400 block of Charlotte Pike around 10:45 p.m. A driver called for help after a man not wearing a shirt approached his Tesla, opened the door and told him to get out. He then punched the victim in the head multiple times, dragged him from the vehicle and tried to drive away. Teen killed in street racing crash on Anderson Road in Antioch The Tesla was linked to the victim's phone so the suspect could not drive away with the phone outside the vehicle. The suspect got out and chased the victim around the parking lot before turning to an occupied Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius told officers the man opened the driver's side door, punched him in the head, pulled him from the vehicle and drove away. The Prius was later located on 30th Avenue South. Officers were then called to the McDonald's on West End Avenue for a carjacking attempt. That victim said he was sitting in his Prius when the man opened the door, assaulted him and tried to take his vehicle. He was unsuccessful and ran away. ⏩ The suspect was then located on 21st Avenue South and taken into custody. All victims identified him as the man who attacked them. All victims wish to press charges. The suspect refused to identify himself and had no identification so he was booked into the Metro jail as John Doe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Houston crime: Suspect sought after deadly shooting, carjacking on Southwest Freeway
The Brief A search is underway for a suspect involved in a deadly shooting and carjacking in Houston. Officials said it all started in the 11700 block of Southwest Freeway following a minor crash. HOUSTON - Houston police are searching for a suspect following a deadly shooting and carjacking on the Southwest Freeway on Thursday evening. What we know Houston police said they were called out to the 11700 block of Southwest Freeway in reference to two different incidents. The first was a minor crash between a Prius and a Dodge Charger. Officials said after the crash, the driver of the Charger took off on foot and ran down the service road toward south Wilcrest. At some point, officials said, the driver confronted someone in a Hyundai, fired several shots at the Hyundai, striking the driver. The driver then drove under the freeway, around to the Shell station across the freeway, and struck a pole there. Authorities stated a 911 call about a male was reported. The driver was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Officials said, the suspect, who was unable to carjack the first vehicle, approached a second vehicle, a gray Audi, and was able to carjack that male. Police said the male got out of the car and is safe. Houston police stated they are attempting to locate the Audi. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male. If you have any information about this incident or where the gray Audi is, you're asked to contact the Houston Police Department or Houston Crime Stoppers. What we don't know Authorities did not provide any information as far as a license plate for the gray Audi. The victim involved in the attempted carjacking has not been identified. It's unclear why the driver of the Dodge Charger took off on foot. The Source Information provided by the Houston Police Department.
