Toyota continues to do well as an automobile company, in part because the company is innovative and invests in research and development. The company is now investing in plug-in hybrids, for example. These cars run on electricity for about 40 miles and they emit much less pollution. Most commutes are less than 40 miles, so you’d charge the car overnight and be good to go. If you’re going longer distances, the gas engine takes over. Clark thinks this idea has enormous promise. Toyota will have about 20 different plug-in models on the market in the future.

---

In other car news, sale of mid-size SUVs are down drastically, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dodge Durango sales are down 40 percent; Ford Explorer sales are down 30 percent; GMC Envoy is down 23 percent and Jeep Grand Cherokee is down 18 percent. More people are buying “car-based” SUVs because they get much better fuel economy. Maybe we’re finally getting it.