Except possibly for the Prius, don't expect any deals or deep discounts if you are interested in (or shopping for) a Toyota Hybrid. Demand is currently exceeding supply, and dealerships are having trouble keeping them in stock.

What's interesting, however, is that it is the Prius that seems to be suffering the most, as its former demand has apparently shifted to the Corolla and RAV-4 Hybrids. Prius sales are down sharply, and dealers may be willing to discount them. While it's nice saving money on gas, there are many issues with the Prius, though, that I don't think I would want (or could live with) as a Daily-Driver.

Also, it's not surprising that the RAV-4 hybrid sales are so high....the public seems addicted to the gas version, so why not the hybrid?

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/toyo...r-models-stock


December 5, 2019 3:00 PM, EST

Toyota Having Trouble Keeping Hybrid Car Models in Stock

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is shown at the AutoMobility L.A. auto show Nov. 21, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)[Stay on top of transportation news: [url=https://influence.ttnews.com/lp/sitelink-newsletter-incontent/]Get TTNews in your inbox.]

Toyota Motor Corp. has a problem with selling its hybrids — it can’t get enough of them.


“The only thing holding us back on hybrids is capacity,” Bob Carter, Toyota’s North American executive vice president for sales, told reporters Dec. 5 at an event in Detroit. “We can’t make enough Corolla and RAV4 hybrids.”



Carter

While many of its competitors are walking away from hybrids and plowing billions into battery-powered cars, the Japanese automaker has seen demand surge for its 14 gasoline-electric models. Toyota’s hybrids accounted for 13% of total Toyota and Lexus brand sales in the U.S. last month and made up nearly a quarter of the volume for its top seller, the RAV4 compact SUV.

Toyota could easily sell twice the number of hybrid RAV4 models, but can’t source enough electric batteries for the popular vehicle, Carter said. It currently has an 11-day supply of them in stock, compared to more than 20 days’ supply of gasoline-powered versions, he said.

Carter said the RAV4 hybrid’s appeal has as much to do with features like sporty styling, extra torque and all-wheel drive as it does with its combined 40 miles per gallon fuel economy — 10 mpg above the gas-only model.

Toyota plans to shift production of the RAV4 hybrid from Canada to a plant in Kentucky early next year, and also add a plug-in hybrid option from next summer to be imported from Japan. But that growing demand for hybrid versions of the RAV4, Corolla and other Toyota vehicles has come at the expense of its most famous hybrid, the Prius, sales of which are down 21% so far this year.

 

For the past few years that I've been following these threads, I've seen lots of commentary about how idiotic Toyota/Lexus is by not jumping into EV's with both feet, like the others.

A recent article in the WSJ looked at how many automakers are taking a gigantic leap of faith that buyers will flock to their new EVs over the next few years. But gasoline is cheap and China, the biggest EV market, is falling back on its heels.

So by instead pushing hybrids, has Toyota been crazy? Crazy like a fox, I suspect.

 

Many buyers cannot have a pure BEV simply because of a lack of an adequate charging-outlet. Since the gas engine does the recharging when needed, hybrids, of course, give some of the benefits of a pure EV without the need for plug-ins, although plug-in hybrids are sometimes available. A plug-in hybrid, if charged every night and only used for local commuting for a few miles each way, will function much like a pure electric, except for a certain minimum amount the gas engine has to run just to stay in operating condition, keeping the parts lubed and the fluids warm.

 

The first ToMoCo hybrids were a bit rough around the edges but still better than other offerings. Today they are extremely smooth, and robust with PSD. The LS600hL powertrain while a little lacking on power by today's standard for what it is, is a gem and amazingly quiet but forceful experience. The latest hybrids are getting a little bump in power which is nice, while still improving on their economy. Very curious how the new RAV4 PHEV will perform.

 

I visited my local Toyota dealership yesterday to test drive the RAV4 hybrid to see all the hype. The saleman told me that they sold 3-4 RAV4 hybrids a single day. A SINGLE DAY. I saw in the back lot of the dealership that they have lots of excess RAV4s more than sedans combined.

Happy Toyotathon everyone?

 

My local Toyota is predominately stocked with RAV4's and Tacoma's, more than any other Toyota model as well

 

Not at all surprised. Hybrids have exploded for Toyota.

 

Interesting - wonder if folks are looking more to transition from an ICE vehicle to a hybrid...then eventually take the full EV plunge once the price comes down? Definitely no fully electric cars in the same price range as a Rav4 hybrid or Corolla hybrid.

 

We’re on our second Hybrid, both Highlanders. My wife refuses to look at anything else. We love it. I feel like there are no real compromises. Easy to drive, strong, low maintenance, reliable and fuel efficient.

My folks are on their first hybrid with their recently acquired RAV4 Hybrid. They absolutely love it.

Had Lexus offered the GS450h with a full size trunk and a realistic price I would have happily bought one of those over my GS350.

 

maybe tesla's success has spurred more people to consider an 'electrified' if not full ev vehicle... plus toyota FINALLY has done 2 things... 1) brought hybrid drivetrain to more mainstream models without space compromises including the corolla and rav4, 2) lowered the price premium for hybrids over non-hybrid versions.

the 'look at me' hybrid, the prius is suffering because if you want to shout "i'm green" you get an EV now... a prius just says you're blind or have horrible taste.

 

..........or a schoolmarm LOL

 

This is exactly the case.

 

They have more because they sell more, it is not excess stock.

Numbers Carter is throwing around - 11 days and 20 days on lot before getting sold means that RAV4 is in tight supply despite selling 45k units last month.... For instance Camry is likely in 60+ days on lot, supply.

 

I think for Toyota, hybrids might be halfway to EVs, since they have all of the system in, just need a lot bigger battery.

But for consumer, there is quite s substantial difference. Plug or no plug is really a huge difference in how you use the vehicles.

With self charging hybrids (lol) you get a lot of cost benefits and some of the novelty factor, but usage is completely different and I think people who are happy with EV "lifestyle" will never even consider a hybrid.

Here in Europe, most of the Toyotas are hybrids, and they will likely sell 650k hybrids this year in Europe alone, where Toyota is foreign and relatively smaller manufacturer with a record 5.4% market share. Best selling cars like Corolla will sell only in hybrid form in many Western European countries from 2020.

Reason they can do it now is because they can offer them finally at reasonable price and still be most profitable manufacturer in the world. That price is not cheap BTW, it is considerably more expensive than petrol version but now close to what diesels cost.

For instance RAV4 price in the USA seems subsidized to meet average mpg goals, in Europe difference is 4k after taxes and nobody buys petrol version but Russians. Probably over 95% hybrid in Western Europe despite that 4k price difference and record sales for RAV4 despite high price in general.

 

My two local Toyota dealers have plenty of hybrids in stock. May be a regional thing, or perhaps Toyota is giving SoCal dealers more because they sell more (?).
That's scary for the Prius- a model that was just redesigned for 2019 to fix the botched styling.