Toyota Suspends Prius Fleet Sales in US

Tempus · 11-03-2005, 09:06 AM

Toyota Forced to Suspend Prius Fleet Sales in US

November 1, 2005

Toyota suspends Prius fleet sales in U.S. due to consumer demand

Torrance, California – Toyota Motor Sales has temporarily suspended sales of its 2006 Prius gasoline/electric hybrid to government and rental fleets in the U.S., and is cancelling existing fleet order agreements, due to low inventories and an anticipated surge in retail consumer demand.

The company is advising that availability will remain limited for commercial fleet buyers and that delivery times may be in excess of six months. The recent passage of the U.S. Federal Highway Bill, which permits retail tax credits and HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane eligibility for hybrid vehicles, has prompted the company to expect an increase in retail demand. Toyota will restore fleet availability once production volumes are sufficient to meet both retail and fleet order demand.

kaida · 11-03-2005, 09:16 AM

Tempus, thanks for the update. Hopefully this will help address the waiting times for us little guys. Not to take an alternate spin on your topic, because it is of value, but I'm going to use it as an opportunity to vent; hey Toyota, thanks for the news, but UGH, how about an official announcement that official pricing, tech specs and the like have been released for the US, and 06 production has begun.

LaughingMan · 11-03-2005, 10:44 AM

Hm. That's not good.

metamatic · 11-03-2005, 10:59 AM

I'm wondering if this isn't a response to the unfair tax break legislation. If Toyota can only sell X number of Prius before consumers stop getting the tax break, presumably they want to make sure as many of those cars as possible are actually bought by consumers.

(Hey, a white Prius just drove past my window...)

LaughingMan · 11-03-2005, 11:01 AM

I don't see how this will help at all in that regard... 60000 is 60000 no matter how you delay it.

The explanation probably is that they are simply not at the manufacturing capacity to meet demand, which stinks.

Kiloran · 11-03-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaughingMan@Nov 3 2005, 12:01 PM
I don't see how this will help at all in that regard... 60000 is 60000 no matter how you delay it.

[snapback]149896[/snapback]

Not a delay. They're suspending fleet sales, presumably to help more individual customers like you and me get the tax credit.

I don't know if the energy bill excludes fleet sales. I doubt it does.
If that's the case, and Toyota did not suspend fleet sales, fewer individual consumers would be eligible for the credit because a chunk of the 60k would be used up by fleet sales.

LaughingMan · 11-03-2005, 11:12 AM

Oh i see. I didn't read it close enough.

.

Alright, I take it back. Maybe this'll be good news for those of us in line.

micheal · 11-03-2005, 11:19 AM

If that is the reasoning behind the suspending, kudos to Toyota to try and help out more consumers after the suspect tax breaks.

Frank Hudon · 11-03-2005, 11:28 AM

I would guess that this is from pressure from the dealers because of demand. Not some magic bullet that Toyota has come up with. There is a lot of pressure from dealers who can't get product to sell and that leads to PO'd customers and poor corporate relations between the dealers association and Toyota. Fleet sales can wait fill the customer pipeline first.

06prius · 11-03-2005, 12:18 PM

As someone looking to buy an 06 in the spring, I take this as good news since it can only help the supply side for the consumer. I am selfish in that I would prefer to not have to wait months for my car. I anticipate demand will be strong. I am also hoping that gas prices stay lower since people have very short memories and may not think they need this car with the gas prices low.

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11-03-2005, 09:06 AM	#1
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Toyota Forced to Suspend Prius Fleet Sales in US November 1, 2005 Toyota suspends Prius fleet sales in U.S. due to consumer demand Torrance, California – Toyota Motor Sales has temporarily suspended sales of its 2006 Prius gasoline/electric hybrid to government and rental fleets in the U.S., and is cancelling existing fleet order agreements, due to low inventories and an anticipated surge in retail consumer demand. The company is advising that availability will remain limited for commercial fleet buyers and that delivery times may be in excess of six months. The recent passage of the U.S. Federal Highway Bill, which permits retail tax credits and HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane eligibility for hybrid vehicles, has prompted the company to expect an increase in retail demand. Toyota will restore fleet availability once production volumes are sufficient to meet both retail and fleet order demand.

11-03-2005, 09:16 AM	#2
kaida Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Tempus, thanks for the update. Hopefully this will help address the waiting times for us little guys. Not to take an alternate spin on your topic, because it is of value, but I'm going to use it as an opportunity to vent; hey Toyota, thanks for the news, but UGH, how about an official announcement that official pricing, tech specs and the like have been released for the US, and 06 production has begun.

11-03-2005, 10:44 AM	#3
LaughingMan Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marlborough, MA Posts: 1,387 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hm. That's not good.

11-03-2005, 10:59 AM	#4
metamatic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm wondering if this isn't a response to the unfair tax break legislation. If Toyota can only sell X number of Prius before consumers stop getting the tax break, presumably they want to make sure as many of those cars as possible are actually bought by consumers. (Hey, a white Prius just drove past my window...)

11-03-2005, 11:01 AM	#5
LaughingMan Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marlborough, MA Posts: 1,387 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I don't see how this will help at all in that regard... 60000 is 60000 no matter how you delay it. The explanation probably is that they are simply not at the manufacturing capacity to meet demand, which stinks.

11-03-2005, 11:12 AM	#7
LaughingMan Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marlborough, MA Posts: 1,387 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Oh i see. I didn't read it close enough. . Alright, I take it back. Maybe this'll be good news for those of us in line.

11-03-2005, 11:19 AM	#8
micheal I feel pretty, oh so pretty. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 842 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If that is the reasoning behind the suspending, kudos to Toyota to try and help out more consumers after the suspect tax breaks.

11-03-2005, 11:28 AM	#9
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I would guess that this is from pressure from the dealers because of demand. Not some magic bullet that Toyota has come up with. There is a lot of pressure from dealers who can't get product to sell and that leads to PO'd customers and poor corporate relations between the dealers association and Toyota. Fleet sales can wait fill the customer pipeline first.

11-03-2005, 12:18 PM	#10
06prius Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NH Posts: 59 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	As someone looking to buy an 06 in the spring, I take this as good news since it can only help the supply side for the consumer. I am selfish in that I would prefer to not have to wait months for my car. I anticipate demand will be strong. I am also hoping that gas prices stay lower since people have very short memories and may not think they need this car with the gas prices low.