Why the Prius remains a flagship

The Toyota Prius, the flagship of the Toyota concern, has added to the company's recent troubles as Toyota is preparing to recall its new Prius hybrid in Japan and markets all over the world today. More than 300,000 Prius cars have been sold worldwide. There have been dozens of complaints from drivers in Japan and the US who say they have problems with the braking system.

The Prius was Japan's top-selling car in 2009 and arguably the world's most important model of the year, seeing that we are moving towards an era of low-emission vehicles. Would Toyota's recall now keep you from buying a low-emissions car?

The problem, after all, is said to result from an interference with the accelerator pedal with the floor mat, which has nothing to do with the car's fuel performance. It can't be ignored, though, that this adds to a longer list of troubles within Toyota. As credibility shrinks, so might the desire to drive around in a Prius, environmentally friendly as it may be, especially as other car makers are moving quickly to fill the widening gap in the market.

It seems easy to condemn a car manufacturer for making decision we shy away from, even though really we should be asking ourselves whether it is so condemnable to take on leadership in a new field and get things wrong during the learning process.

And don't forget that not only the type of car but also the kind of driving you do influences the amount of greenhouse gas emissions you put into the atmosphere while behind the wheel. If you want to stay away from the Prius for a while, at least drive your own car slowly and thoughtfully, and leave it at home whenever you can. Make a habit of walking to the supermarket as a type of exercise. And take the train instead of the car more often.

I am personally a big fan of Toyota. Mine has never caused me trouble and I know it will be with me for many years to come. Most of all because of its fuel efficiency. And I am happy to see Toyota showing the guts to keep coming up with newer, environmentally friendly Prius models to help save our planet, even though at this stage they might still need some polishing.