Is Toyota Listening?

Can someone explain to me why Toyota doesn’t sell a hybrid Sienna minivan in the U.S.? Toyota’s sales were down 16 percent in 2008, down 37 percent in December alone. Over 18,000 people recently signed a Union of Concerned Scientist petition to Toyota asking them to bring a hybrid minivan to the U.S. Toyota sells a hybrid Sienna minivan in Thailand and Japan and has been talking about bringing it here for years but has not. Perhaps now is the time to introduce a vehicle that is available in other countries and that tens of thousands of people in the U.S. want.

I have friends who are concerned about the poor 16-18 mpg fuel economy of their Toyota Siennas or Honda Odysseys. They’d like to buy a minivan that gets double the fuel efficiency, around 35 mpg, and they don’t want SUVs because of the worse gas mileage, dirtier tailpipe emissions and lower safety ratings.

There are web chat rooms for parents who want hybrid minivans. Here are a few comments at a hybrid cars minivan discussion site.
•    “What we want is a minivan with good gas mileage - anything less than 40 mpg is really unacceptable - and cleaner or no exhaust. I just need enough power to be able to pull out safely into traffic and get up hills. Is anybody listening?”
•    “I WANT A HYBRID MINIVAN THAT SEATS 6+!!! AND I DON'T CARE HOW "POWERFUL" IT IS! I JUST WANT IT TO GET ME FROM HERE TO THERE SAFELY!!! LISTEN TO ME!!! I HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT HERE AND I AM NOT SPENDING IT! GIVE ME THE CAR I WANT TO BUY!!!!”
•    “Yes, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is rated for 7 peeps, but the 3rd row should be reserved for folks you don't like.”

If you are a parent who needs to haul around the Cub Scout troop or soccer team from time to time, and want a better mileage vehicle that seats several people, here are a few options for you to voice your opinion.

•    Join the “Let’s Bring Hybrid Minivans to the Suburbs” campaign
•    Call Toyota at (800) 331-4331
•    Call Honda at (800) 999-1009

Why do you think car manufacturers are not selling hybrid minivans in the US? Share your opinion here.