Hybrid Prius Debuts as Rental Available by the Day or the Week

--The Hot Hybrid Car That Has a "Wait List" of 21,000 Buyers Across the U.S.

    Several Toyota Prius' will be on display as Thrifty Car Rental
    receives the first shipment for its rental fleet in Seattle --
    becoming one of the few auto rental centers on the West Coast to
    spotlight the popular gas-electric hybrids.

    What:  Popular hybrid Prius now available "for rent" at Thrifty 
           Car Rental. Media may "test drive" the cars as available.  
           Thrifty customers will also be viewing and testing the 
           cars.
                     
    When:  Thursday, April 29, 1l:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    Where: Thrifty Car Rental, downtown Seattle location
           101 Alaskan Way (Pier 48)

    Why:   The partial delivery (part of an original order placed in 
           August of 2003) is a "surprise," since Toyota is having 
           difficulty satisfying the nationwide demand for the 
           five-seat, gas-electric hybrid. 

    Notable:

    --  "We had nearly given up hope, but Toyota came through," said
        Sandy Sidell, sales and marketing director for Thrifty Car
        Rental locations in Seattle and Portland. "Given the demand,
        they could have charged a premium for these cars, but they
        didn't." The original order was for over 50 cars.

    --  Sidell expects that the newly delivered Prius models will
        attract customers who are curious about the media attention
        and those who are seeking to "test drive" the vehicles for a
        day or longer before making the decision to purchase.