Meet the US Spec, All-new, 5th Gen, 2023 Toyota Prius Hybrid

People at Priuschat are having their ordered cars disappear into a quality control freight hold once they arrive at the port. No real explanation of what exactly that is. Making a repair, adding accessories, error in paper work, labor shortage at the port, dog found an interesting smell, who knows. End result is deliveries being delayed.

 

Delay the shipment ? Sure ! That way they can find a customer who will pay more !

 

There are a couple at Priuschat that have taken delivery of a new 2023. But others are running into delays.

 

There seems to be low inventory for Massachusetts. 4 within 20 miles, 22 within 50. Feels low for what should be one of the most popular hybrids in a "green" state.

Edit: within that 50 mile search (of BEV and hybrids/plug-ins),...

Ioniq 5 has the highest count at 166. "plenty" of Accord Hybrid (60), RAV4 Hybrid (58), CR-V Hybrid (50), then starts trailing off with RAV4 Prime (43), Highlander Hybrid (41),...

Edit2: thinking another way... availability at this point in time may be inversely proportional to the popularity of these vehicles. they won't stay on the lot very long.

 

MSRP. I don't know if it's possible here.
Illinois is definitely not a green state anyway.
Many BEV's and PHEVs arent sold here.

 

In and around NYC, available inventory at Toyota and Honda dealers is still very sparse - with lots of asphalt visible where cars used to be parked. Dealers are selling cars, but far fewer than they used to, and they're still marking each up to a ridiculous asking. Dealers here are selling mostly used cars - off lease models - for about the MSRP of new cars. I haven't seen a new Prius on the road yet, and I don't expect to see one before Fall or later.

Toyota made a short-sighted decision to allocate the available chips to the more profitable Lexus models instead of the Joe Punchclock "LE" and "XLE" editions of the RAV4 and Corolla Cross and other in-demand models. The result is that Toyota dealers do not have anywhere near the foot traffic of other brands that have cars to sell. People don't want to spend $38k on a three year old RAV4 with 25k on the clock. Or a three year old CRV for about the same asking price. They get annoyed and go somewhere else.

Toyota could build more cars if they really wanted to. But they have already released statements that they'd like the ATP of new vehicles sold to be around $50k. The only way to get them that high is to create an artificial shortage.

These days, I see more Hyundai and Kia hybrids than Toyota or Honda equivalents. Lots of late model Elantras and Tucsons seen on local highways have the chrome "hybrid" badge on the hatch. And lots of little hatchback hybrid Ioniqs running around here, too.
And I see more than a couple of Chevy Bolts out on the highways and secondary roads.

Fun fact - east of NYC, one local dealer is offering close to $8k off sticker on a new Ioniq 5. They're sitting on a virtual mountain of them and they're trying to sweeten the deal to move em out. Even with all that cash on the frunk, they're still not selling.

 

Golly , do you think Toyota would actually do dat?

 

It's too bad multiple awards don't always translate to better sales (Ioniq 5). Let's hope the Ioniq 6 does better (another award winner), but it is a sedan so possibly less interest by Americans already.

 

When you see row after row of Ram/Jeep/Buick/Ford-Lincoln/Chevrolet (trucks) overflowing into adjacent lots, you have to think somebody figured out where to buy chips.
Either Toyota has completely lost their formula, or they have iron-clad no-compete contracts with current vendors and can't buy chips from other suppliers that have a bunch ready to ship. ...Or they're just building the big-ticket models to make silly profits per unit rather than going for any sort of sales records.

 

Question: Does ATP mean Average Top Price? They didn’t have to do that just for me. Toyota lost me 45 years ago, even when their cars were 10 TIMES less pricey.

PS…..Oh, I just found out that ATP means Average Transaction Price. I like Average Top Price better, tho ALL the prices are over My Top Price.

 

There is a 'days on lot' metric out there. Not sure if it is available for individual models though.

The Prius only started shipping, but Toyota is only planning on sending 30k to 40k to the US, even less of the Prime. For its popularity, the sales volume points to supply constraint.

 

Who dat down dare?

 

Follow up. Apparently there was recall, and cars were waiting for the fixed part.

 

Can't wait !

 

A car wash! Oh, goody, goody. As Edwin says, “Can’t wait !”.​