Pricing announced April 10-19 I believe

So maybe they will announce "pricing release date" as Earth Day at the press conference and then not actually announce pricing till the 22nd. I am okay with that, though I was REALLY hoping for the 15th.

 

I think it's going to take more then a (good) bottle of wine. Maybe we can pool together our resources !

 

Earth Day makes the most sense from a marketing standpoint, good day to tie the #1 Hybrid to. It's a little later than I thought, didn't realise Earth Day was this month! It's within Toyota's traditional pricing anouncements of a few weeks before we see them on dealer lots. Looking forward to some (Insight) killer news!!

 

OK another practical consideration. Ordering vs buying what will be shipped first.

In the Toyota system of ordering, a store can put in 'preferences' on combinations of models and colors. This is essentially what is done with an 'ordered' vehicle. However none of the stores know exactly what group of vehicles will be allocated to it until that formal allocation is issued to it. There is also a pecking order within each region as to which stores get first crack at the vehicles. Those that sell more and keep high CSI scores advance to the front of the line.

In addition as many herein will attest, each region can decide how to order the vehicles for its dealers. This is controlled regionally not by Torrance. There's likely to be more SRP's in Florida than Maine I'd estimate.

This is true for all vehicles, btw. It's especially true for vehicles made in Japan because these are built in advance ( like right now ), shipped to the port, put on a ship and sent here. In the beginning before the public speaks its mind the Prius Team ( amiright? ) has to prespecify several months of production based on data gathered herein and from other marketing sources.

Thus I'd estimate that for all the arrivals through July/August the plants have their build schedule already in place.
How many 1223's? 1225's?
How many silver, blue, sand?
How many SRP?
These decisions are probably already made for the first 3 months of arrivals here. After the buy-rate between models / colors / packages begins to be known better then the ordering can be rationalized somewhat better.

Even the stores don't have the ability to 'preference' anything at this time with or without prices. The internal Toyota intranet, Dealer Daily, doesn't accept orders yet. Normally the allocations are issued just after the 15th and end of the month. At that time the stores are alerted to what new vehicles will be coming their way in 30-45 days.

So.... on about the 17th of April the stores around the nation may ( emphasis ) begin to see the new 2010 models showing up as allocated units. Even if prices aren't known until the 22nd the stores may be in a position to know which and how many vehicles it will receive in the 5/15-30 time frame. Prices are then plugged in after the announcement.

If the next allocation around 4-17 doesn't show the 2010's then likely the vehicles won't show on the inventories until early May - with prices. But as noted above what the stores get initially is based on prior marketing and good guesses.

As we saw last summer and all through 2004 and 2005 specific desires are often limited by logistics and production decisions that had to be made 3-4 months prior to the arrival of the vehicle in the US.

One word: PATIENCE

[EDIT] Update 4-6, today: It is possible now for stores to begin preferencing ( ordering ) the 2010's in Dealer Daily. It's not a guarantee but the ordering is open.

 

UH OH!!!

is that the CAT running loose!!

 

Of course, though you know it's not polite to make fun of your boss on the internet!!!

Honestly Wayne, I think Doug has officially crossed over to the PC darkside. He doesn't show up for meetings anymore, never responds to emails, his phone goes straight to VM--we just can't pry him away from PC. He's so busy teasing you all about pricing that he forgot he actually has a vehicle to launch.

J/K of course, but really, pricing will be here before you know it and so will your cars!

Erica

 

No it can't. They will all sell. The most popular color for the 2004 was Silver. Because about half the cars MADE were silver. It said NOTHING about buyer preference. When you can't order what you want, you buy the closest compromise. My Driftwood would be a Seaside if I got to choose. And more than likely, I wouldn't have forked over the extra for NAV to get the HIDs (2004 had HIDs on only 2 models). With the waits as long as 6 months, I went for the compromise rather than waiting an unknown amount of time for my preferred 'options'.

 

Hmmmm... someone seems to know A LOT about what we do (I wonder why...) It's pretty close the to truth actually. We work arm in arm with the regions to do our best to get the right product to the right places. It's not science for sure, but we do our best until the "market speaks".

And Deadphish, I echo your one word!

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

TY. Before 'retiring' to sell Toyota's, for 25 yrs I was a direct and indirect supplier to all the auto makers here. Our development time was 3-7 yrs with schedules of material for the lines down to the hour at the stamping plants.

 

I attended the rollout in San Francisco recently and I really like the new design, especially the 'econ, and power' modes. However, I was disappointed there are no plans for a plug in model so I'll just hang onto my 2004 until plug ins arrive. It appears the latest packages will be just that...pre-determined packages. I look forward to the day I can do a feature by feature order. I learned my lesson when ordering the 'loaded' 2004 model. No more high end stereo (it sucks and the AM is useless, completely useless) and no more NAV system. That's the feature I like most, but to be required to pay for updates on a feature which costs what? $1000 is a little hard to swallow. Next car I will buy a portable nav system and no stereo and have one installed after market...I paid dearly for these features through Toyota and while the car was worth the cost these add on features were not. I ordered my 2004 in August of 2003 and it took almost 5 months to arrive. That is, I ordered my car sight unseen and untest driven. I was not dissapointed in the engineering of the car and drive system, tho besides the failed stereo system, costly nav system, and 'those' seats, I feel I made a good decision based on blind faith. Let's get on with the plug in model, Toyota!

 

Hey Doug !!! You have been awful quiet. Are you resting up before CRAZY time gets here??

 

Well it's the 15th and I am not hearing anything! How about another hint Doug. Give a dog a bone!!!!!! :->

 

Fred, you took the words right out of my mouth!! hehe
I was on here just in case 15th was right. guess we are 22nd then. I already called my dealer and made an appt so I can order my car that night!!! So excited!!!:cheer2: Now if I just had patience for ONE MORE WEEK!
~Lauren

 

The Green Living Show is Toronto’s largest consumer show dedicated ...
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and if you peek under the "cover":

Take a spin in the latest hybrid vehicles at the Green Living Test-Drive

and I just got my special invite from Toyota ...but it is all a secret - SHHHH (I guess it is OK to post it here as no one will know)

It will be announced there and then!

 

Me too!!! I put my order in last Saturday but my salesperson told me I could change my order if I wanted and there would be no problem. I'm hoping I do change my order because that means the price is lower than I thought and I can afford more goodies!

 

Hi Fred,

Changing your order from buying one to two is a change ...perhaps that is what Toyota means by (allowable) change!

 

Hi Gabe, Wish I could afford two. Maybe Toyota will have a BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF sale! FRED