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Design negative impact on CA Jan-Jun 2019 sales?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Marine Ray, Sep 15, 2019.

  1. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    To me, this comment does not make sense. I know beauty is objective but do not think Prime sales have dropped in CA in first half of 2019 due to latest design - "Plug-in hybrids, which can run on battery power for a few dozen miles before having to switch to internal combustion, plummeted 28.5%, to 35,500 vehicles — in part, analysts have said, because consumers recoiled from the latest design of the plug-in hybrid leader, the Toyota Prius Prime."
    Electric vehicle sales rise in California. It's mostly due to Tesla - The San Diego Union-Tribune
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why would a hunday buyer care what a prime looks like?
     
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I bought one in April, so I helped the numbers :).

    I do see a ton of Tesla’s though;).

    Definitely more EV’s this year than previous ones(y).
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    'carmakers are selling ev's at a loss'? how do they stay in business, volume?

    USE

    looking at the authors other articles, it would appear he's just another shill for big oil

    THE

    maybe no volts has had a sales effect?

    MULTI-QUOTE

    where can you get cali sales numbers?

    FUNCTION
     
    #4 bisco, Sep 15, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2019
  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    There was still inventory in March at the local dealer;).

    Almost bought one at severely discounted pricing:).

    But the wife will NEVER own a GM product :love:.
     
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  6. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    Prime design has been around since 2017. Doesn't make sense that adversity to the Prime design effected Ca sales of PHEVs in first half of 2019.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly. if anyone can find cali volt sales for first half of 18 vs 19, i think we'll have the answer.

    plus, as john1701 always says, prime inventory has been limited due to mid cycle refresh
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    The Cali sales numbers come from CNCDA.org (California New Car Dealers Assoc) and they are published quarterly. But we do not get model-specific numbers, just PHEV and BEV. Model-specific state sales data comes from pay sources and is not usually public, so we are lucky when we get it.

    The mere fact that we are getting an article like this, is evidence that the CNCDA.org has just released the 2nd Quarter Cali numbers, and here it is:

    https://www.cncda.org/wp-content/uploads/Cal-Covering-2Q-19.pdf

    I used to publish these numbers here almost every quarter, but I have found the mid-year numbers often change by year end, so year end trend is the most meaningful.

    I have not been following closely lately, but Model-3 intro and phase-out of Federal credits for Tesla has boosted sales. Also in Cali they revamped the free HOV rules, so if you want to stay in free HOV you have to buy newer plug-in, so that is forcing some sales.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Sep 15, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2019
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  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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  10. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    My feeling is that sales are down because:
    1 - There are many new and exciting EV's coming out in 2020
    2 - This is a "biggie" for me .... only 25 EV miles.
    I like the looks of the Prime. If I could get a Prius that looks like the Prime .... I'd forgo the cost for 25 miles
     
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  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Agree on the Prius vs. Prime looks.
    With incentives, a Prime could be less than a Prius. I just think I'd end up wishing for the lost cargo space back.
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Everybody waiting, to see what Toyota pulls outa the hat in 2022?

    Do see a lot of Teslas here. And Wranglers, lol.
     
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  13. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I agree with @Trollbait that the author's blaming of hearsay (non public data) about slower Ca. Prime sales on design is premature. Also people wanting CarPlay and AWD are getting bigger and the next year Prius I guess has those things.

    I say wait til year end and tell me if Prime sales are still lower. Mid year review is not so helpful I have found. Year end CNCDA numbers come out a little after 15-Feb-2020 so I am sleeping til then.:sleep:
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    incentives have been much lower, i forget when the 5k rebate ended
     
  15. smyles

    smyles Active Member

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    Prime provides a tremendous value as a commuter appliance to move your precious body from A to B within its EV range; since most folks want more than just that - or, to be more accurate, they think they need more than that,- a Prius in general isn't on their list, let alone a Prime.
     
  16. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    This is why I ignore most "auto analysts". Its a little bit of data mixed into a sea of biased speculation.

    The simplest answer is that vehicle sales data are often noisy so looking at short term (anything less than a year) trends are more akin to imagining shapes in clouds. If sales trend upwards or downwards for several years in a row, then its likely a real trend.
     
    #16 noonm, Sep 16, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2019
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  17. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    I think the author is referring to the Z-shaped taillights of the non-plug-in Prius, which turned off some people, not the Prius Prime, which has entirely different taillights; so, there is a lot of ignorance on his part.

    I really like the design of the Prius Prime. My 2020 Prius Prime XLE Classic Silver Metallic is turning heads when I drive. It beats the Tesla Model 3 in looks.
     
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  18. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    Although my son works at the Gigafactory and I think the model 3 is a better car all around than the Prime, the model 3 looks like a mouse without ears.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  19. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Ha, that's exactly what it looks like!

    Regarding which one being better, these are the Consumer Reports ratings:

    2019 Prius Prime: 78/74 (overall/road test)
    2019 Model 3: 65/82 (overall/road test)

    So, Prius Prime did better in overall ratings.

    Moreover, Tesla has this false advertising about being the safest car in the world. In reality the airbags fail to deploy; automatic emergency braking doesn't work in high speeds, and the car can steer into obstacles in the Autopilot mode. They have received a cease and desist about the false advertising but they keep doing it.

    Tesla airbags don't deploy in high-speed crash

    Tesla automatic emergency braking fails stress test

    Tesla in Autopilot mode mistakes center-divider markings for traffic lane in high-speed crash
     
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    which is selling better?