Dealers must be needing to make room for the 2020 Primes.

Looks like nada in my market. Possibly because there is plenty of room here, just three units in inventory in this region.

 

“The Prime is now eligible for $2,500 in cashback, a 500% increase from last month's paltry $500.”

I feel like they don’t know that manufacturer cash incentives are region-specific

 

They do, but wrote for only one region:

"Worth Knowing: These are regional offers available in Southern California. Toyota incentives vary by region, ..."

 

No dealer will stock Primes in Illinois, and with a $1,000 per year plug-in registration penalty, no one will be willing to buy one.

EDIT: It has been pointed out that PHEV's are not facing this insane $1,000 reg. fee.

 

... proposed. Not a done deal yet, I will be surprised if it actually passes.

But you should speak up about it to your legislative critters.

 

Another article mentioned that PHEV's would not be part of that $1,000, but would be raised from $98 to $148 like other cars. Yes, it is proposed for now. I wonder what is really behind this sickening hike in EV tax though.

 

You do know this isn't a dealers decision.... The region is the one who brings vehicles in, then based on an allocation system, it goes to a dealer. So if there are no Primes, it's because quite frankly they aren't bringing them in. Spending most of my days at a dealership, I can firsthand tell you that Prius' in general are nothing more than bird crap collectors right now....

 

We've known about Toyota's intent to transition Prius to a plug-only offering for an entire decade.

Back with the gen-2 prototype, it demonstrated battery technology was simply not there yet. Even though the system could deliver 100 km/h (62 mph), the return simply wasn't realistic. Capacity was too low and cost was too high.

The gen-3 offering was the first to actually be offered as a choice to consumers. Toyota intentionally limited it to very select markets though, knowing it would be best to stay as a real-world data-collection vehicle rather than something for the masses. That's why there was no reason for high-volume production yet. After all, it was rolled out mid-cycle.

Prius Prime (the gen-4 plug-in model) is the first with potential for the masses; however, Toyota kept it limited too. The goal was to get feedback about what it would take to drop most of the regular Prius models so the plug could be favored instead. That's why quantity & scope was limited... until this mid-cycle update.

Notice how we have no information whatsoever about how the 2020 battery-pack fits? What are the odds that Toyota didn't allow their engineers to indulge. Restacking the pack for a cell arrangement capable of fitting better while at the same time squeaking out a little bit more profit was quite realistic.

Key to that success though was to invest heavily in the rest of the fleet in the meantime. Getting Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and Highlander all upgraded was an essential part of the bigger equation. Allowing non-plug Prius choice to be reduced to AWD and Limited Edition models pave the way for Prime. You want a regular hybrid, just choose one of the others instead.

You'd think those plans would be obvious. Turns out, that's not the case. Most people only have a basic understanding of micro economics and have no idea what macro economics even is. So, we have to deal with a lot of incorrect assumptions and even more rhetoric about Toyota intentions.

Keep in mind, dealers are Toyota's true customer, not consumers. When you start to see that picture, it becomes easier to understand the relationship regions & country have on supply & demand. This is why there was a burndown of 2018 inventory and 2019 inventory was so limited. In fact, some of us recognized that pattern and stated there would be a mid-cycle upgrade this year with potential for a very short 2019 offering. After all, late Spring rollout for mid-cycle is nothing new. That's how I got my 2012 Prius PHV.

Being able to compete directly against other vehicles on the showroom floor is a massive undertaking. Don't fall for any claims that don't take that essential component to successful business into account. We aren't dealing with an "EV market" only. That terrible early-adopter perspective has proven a grave mistake... quite literally, since Volt is now dead. For a plug-in hybrid to sell in high-volume without any dependency on subsidies, it must appeal to the casual shopper. Prime's design with heavy attention to low MSRP wasn't easy for Toyota to achieve.

Watch how interest is stirred for the 2020 Prime. Expect that paradigm-shift intent to finally get noticed.

 

Not selling, just sitting on the lot and requiring washes to get rid of the accumulated splats?

He is in a region that still has cheap gas, still in the $2.xx range, not $3+ or 4+/gallon.

 

Around here, if you just watch the vehicles rolling by for a few minutes, it's a monotonous parade of CUV, SUV, truck, MiniVan, the occasional sedan or hatchback, often older though.

COMMENTARY: Time to hit the brakes — Canada tops the charts for poor fuel economy - National | Globalnews.ca

 

Our state's terrible financial condition has the lawmakers looking everywhere to raise revenue (not like it's anything new).

State Fiscal Rankings | Mercatus Center (we're dead last)

Institute of Government & Public Affairs

Are you a dealer? If you are, how are Supra allocations being handled?

The US is #2, and not by much. The F150 is the best-selling vehicle in the country. In fact, the top 3 are all trucks, followed by two SUVs. When I hear people complain about climate change these days, I want to be all "you're part of the damn problem".

Of note: I really really like the media transparency here how opinion articles are so clearly marked as such.

 

Oh just wait until mid-summer, they'll offer $3000 or more. They did this clearing out the 2017 Primes at end of 2017 and beginning of 2018.

 

Same here. And fitting, literally. Depending on where my wife parks in the driveway, and if she gets first dibs, my Prime will be under the trees with those red berries in them, and where the birds like to sit. So my Prime really does become a bird crap car, and not to mention the falling blossoms and the berries themselves a month later - and they stain the paint and black plastic too. Same at work if I don't get my desired spot. Bird crap. It happens, and they won't cover it.

 

Topic drift, but anyway: in one spot we park, we noticed bird crap on the side mirrors, and/or down the doors directly below. Thinking the birds like to sit on the mirrors, look at their reflections. Folding the mirrors in helps some. Could be just one breed doing this, not sure.

 

'paradigm shift with 2020 model' @#10

i will be watching closely, and bookmarking this page.