Toyota to resume Japanese production of Prius, Lexus Hybrids Monday

Prius production will resume at the company’s Tsutsumi plant, while the Lexus CT 200h and HS 250h will once again begin production at Toyota Motor Kyushu.

The announcement today comes one week after resuming production of replacement parts and three days after reopening some of its plants which produce parts for overseas fabrication, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on March 11.

They plan to assess their parts supply while considering the restart of other plants in Japan.

Meanwhile, in the U.S.
TMC announced yesterday the Toyota Prius has inspired an unprecedented, live and interactive event which will attempt to set as many Universal Record Database (URDB) world records as possible in and around the vehicle. The event will take place on March 30 and 31, 2011 at toyotapriusprojects.com for two 10-hour record-setting webcasts.

Four Prius hybrids – including the Prius Plug-in Hybrid and the versatile Prius v – along with a dedicated team of record-setting experts will attempt what has never been done before. The public is also invited to tweet and engage in their own record-breaking ideas. The ultimate Prius Records goal is to set 200 records in two 10-hour days.

"Toyota Prius Records gives us the opportunity to engage our incredibly loyal Prius owners and enthusiasts in a highly unique way," said Bob Zeinstra, national manager, advertising and strategic planning for Toyota. "The live streaming, record-breaking approach leverages interactive technology and provides a great catalyst for community participation."

URDB World Records has the philosophy, "everyone can be the world's best something." The URDB.org site has an inclusive approach to record-setting that is inventive and also fun. URDB hosts will officiate over the records as they are attempted live for the online audience.

What sort of records are they trying to set?

How about the largest mural ever created during a 3-hour Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle charge.

Or maybe the most pool noodles stuffed inside the cargo area of a Prius v.

Better yet, the farthest launch of a gumdrop by the windshield wiper of a Prius.

Enquiring minds simply must know the answers to these earth-shaking possibilities.

For a further taste, check out toyotapriusprojects.com/#/010.

Toyota Prius owners, enthusiasts and anyone with a record-breaking vision can participate in the live action by tweeting @Toyota using #PriusRecords, as well as posting their own challenge recommendations to toyotapriusprojects.com. Surprise guests will also be onsite at the Prius Records event to contribute their own record-setting ideas.

After the records have been set, video of each will go live on a dedicated Toyota channel on the URDB site. The community at large is then invited to break these records by uploading videos of their own record-setting attempts to the URDB World Records website for recognition and major bragging rights.

Tune in to toyotapriusprojects.com on March 30 and 31 to see the spectacle unfold.