Prius vs Model S: What Your Electric Car Says About You

[Mother Muckraker]

Full Story:
http://blog.gravity.com/category/technology/

-They really like technology, with a strong emphasis on Apple, Facebook, Twitter, and Bioengineering.
-Among their favorite media are The Atlantic and the New York Times. They are closely following matters related to international security and right-wing politics (not necessarily because they agree with them).
-Perhaps unsurprisingly, they are keenly interested in Eco-friendly subject matters and Social Change.

-1.2 times more likely to enjoy physical exercise
-2.5 times more likely to like Yoga
-1.3 times more likely to be interested in McDonald’s
-9.1 times more likely to dig Tyler Perry
-13.6 times more likely to love Apple
-Slightly less likely to be interested NASCAR, Football, and Waffles (their Sundays must be so empty)
-6.3 times more likely to be concerned about Sustainability
-Just as likely to enjoy Ninjas as everybody else

-Environmentalism is not a substantial area of interest in the Tesla Model S Interest Graph. This may indicate that Tesla interest is driven by the technological or aspirational aspects of the brand rather than it’s environmental benefits. This is supported by the fact that, while the Tesla audience is 8.5 times more likely to be interested in fuel efficiency than the general population, Prius fans are 4x more likely to be interested than the Tesla folks (34x general population).
-Business and finance were dominant categories of interest. Interest rates, economics, the economy of Saudi Arabia, and bubbles, both real estate and economic, were high on the list.
-They are thirsty. Maker’s Mark, breweries, and Jim Beam are Tesla aficionado favorites.
-They like things that go. private transportation, Ferraris, and motorcycles were of high interest.
-Their lifestyle interests are a mixed bag. While family topped the category, Tesla fans do exhibit abnormally high levels of interest in cannabis, erotic dance, strip clubs, and Lululemon. It is unclear from the data available whether the Model S/”big night out” relationship is causal or simply correlated.

-2.5 times more likely to be wired on coffee
-90% more likely to be interested in social issues
-5.2 times more likely to be interested in cannabis
-4.1 times more likely to like magazines
-41.8 times more likely to be interested in SpaceX
-3.8 times more likely to like Evernote
-10.7 times more likely to dig Marissa Mayer
-96 times more likely to be concerned about traffic congestion

[PoliticAverse]

1. What does reading an article about what your possessions say about you say about you? n/t

[onehandle]

2. Tesla is American. Toyota, not so much. nt

[frazzled]

4. Tesla base price of $62,400; Prius base price of $23,780

Plus, most Prii are built in the US. (We bought ours in 2006, and it happened to have been built in Japan; since we have family in Japan, we did not see this as a downside.)

[Mother Muckraker]

6. Prius made in Japan

The Prius was supposed to be built at the Mississippi plant, but Toyota backed out. It was more profitable to union bust their NUMMI plant and move Corolla production to Mississippi so Toyota can keep an extra $250 million per year by paying workers 1/2 the pay.

We were trying to get Toyota to produce the Prius in the U.S. to no avail. They were more interested in lowering wages.

[frazzled]

7. You're right (my bad), but wrong on compensation costs

There are other Toyotas manufactured in the US, but not the Prius.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Tupelo, Mississippi – Toyota Corolla The facility will be named "Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc."[6]
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., (TMMK) is located in Georgetown. Engine manufacture - 2GR-FE and 2AR-FE. Vehicle manufacture and assembly - Camry, Hybrid Camry, Avalon and Venza.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, Inc (TMMTX) is located in San Antonio. Vehicle manufacture and assembly - Tundra & Tacoma.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Inc. (TMMI) is located halfway between Princeton and Fort Branch. Vehicle manufacture and assembly - Sequoia, Sienna & Highlander.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL), is located in Huntsville. Engine manufacture 1GR-FE, 1UR-FE and 3UR-FE. Engines mostly for TMMTX and some TMMI.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV), is located in Buffalo. Engine manufacture 2GR-FE, 2ZR-FE and 1AR-FE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toyota_manufacturing_facilities#United_States

That said, I don't think labor costs were the issue. As this chart at the link shows, labor costs in Japan are equivalent (if not slightly higher) than in the US; we're not talking Mexico (6.48) or even Brazil (11.65):

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ichcc.pdf

Canada 36.56
Italy 36.17
Japan 35.71
United States 35.53

[Mother Muckraker]

9. $500,000,000 per yr payroll at NUMMI cut in 1/2 with union busting operation

Toyota had $39 billion in Cash when they announced the NUMMI shutdown. NUMMI also ran the lowest defect rate of all Toyota and Lexus plants worldwide. We even achieved a 0 "DPV" defect rate during an audit which was thought to be impossible.

Toyota wanted to lower wages across N. America, but the only thing standing in the way was their only union plant, NUMMI which had a union contract and a $500milion payroll/yr. Although Toyota could afford to pay their employees, their top shareholders (mostly banking institutions) wanted ever increasing profits. You can either increase sales or lower wages to increase profits. Toyota choose to lower wages.

Toyota closed NUMMI with a series of huge lies about why they were closing NUMMI. The biggest lie was the "GM pullout" which somehow caused a financial strain. Keep in mind Toyota had $39 billion, but our attention was misdirected by the union busting crowd. They started a protest against the union which led to a "riot" which was shown all over YouTube. This "riot video" framed everyone as "thugs" who deserved to be shut down.

We did not produce GM cars and the Vibe is still a Toyota product which GM does get to keep all the profits. GM production did not amount to much at NUMMI. Even after GM pulled out, we still produced Corollas working overtime AND Saturdays til shutdown. The "GM pullout" was nothing more than a red herring.

It's simple. When you pay people less, you get to keep more of the revenue coming in.

All Corolla and Tacoma production has been moved to Mississippi and Texas where workers are non-union and paid about 1/2 of what NUMMI union workers were paid. After 3 years, Toyota gets to pocket an extra $750,000,000.

No, Toyota probably had no real plans to build the Prius in the U.S. The Mississippi plant was built specifically for Corolla production after they shut down NUMMI. Whatever their claims are lies and misdirection. The union busting of NUMMI was planned years in advance.

2010 Newsletter:
http://mothermuckraker.blogspot.com/2010/03/whats-real-reason-for-closing-nummi.html

[frazzled]

3. 9.1 times more likely to be interested in Tyler Perry?

Really?

I guess I'm down with that. Even though I've owned a Prius going on eight years and have never actually seen a Tyler Perry film. At least I know who he is. Go Tyler Perry!

[Politicalboi]

5. They forgot on the Tesla

-10.9 times more likely you're a pyromaniac.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Prius Drivers

Here's to the folks to drive a hybrid and use more total energy than regular drivers:

[frylock]

10. i like Maker's Mark, breweries, and motorcycles too..

it may be time to sell the Element.