Toyota Prius units might be limited in U.S. due to the high demand in Japan

The third generation 2010 Toyota Prius became an instant sensation in Japan when it went on sale last week, resulting in a delay in the hybrid’s availability in the markets of the US. There were 80,000 advance orders for the 2010 Toyota Prius in Japan alone.

The initial goal of Toyota was to sell about 100,000 units of the third generation Prius in Japan for the whole year, but with the target almost reached in just a week of sales the carmaker is now thinking of setting aside more units for Japan and sacrificing its international markets. So, although Toyota has planned to allocated models for the US it is about to review its sales plan and reallocated the production plan due to the strong demand for the Prius in Japan. Now the Japanese car maker is expecting to sell about half a million units of the new generation Prius annually around the world with half of them being sent to the US.
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pageman - 5/26/2009 5:02:41 PM

-2 Boost

The Honda what??? The Prius is the standard for green vehicles. This shows the world that Toyota is second to none with their 3rd gen Hybrid Synergy Drive.
Not good news for North American dealers. This was evident for dealers for years. Again, US & Cdn dealers will find their allocations dwindle to minimal orders allotted. This battery issue must be rectified. Especially is GM is going to use a Toyota Hybrid system.
Be interesting to see how this all unfolds over the next sales 1/4.

Jordanski - 5/26/2009 5:35:30 PM

+2 Boost

Why don't they just build this in their brand new Woodstock plant... they're only building RAVs there. I think it would have been a very smart move.

pageman - 5/26/2009 8:18:22 PM

+1 Boost

dont forget that lexus is also built in Woodstock as well.

Jordanski - 5/27/2009 12:36:26 AM

+2 Boost

Nope, there's two plants up here. One in Woodstock, and one in Cambridge; their both about 40 minutes away from each other.

DinamoR - 5/26/2009 5:40:53 PM

-1 Boost

3rd gen prius is awesome looking. toyota really got it right with this one

Joe_Limon - 5/26/2009 5:43:19 PM

+1 Boost

Cause they increased the size of the sack bulge therefore making it more manly?

Jordanski - 5/26/2009 5:50:27 PM

-1 Boost

Joe Lemon, so you're trying to tell me the Volt and/or Insight look better? I'm not the biggest fan of the second-gen Prius design, but this one... damn! Toyota's finally stepping up their game.

Joe_Limon - 5/26/2009 5:55:55 PM

-1 Boost

Why would you buy a volt or insight? they are all ugly cars. This one looks like a prius mated with a camry. Neither car was breath taking to begin with so you just came out with more of the same.

DinamoR - 5/26/2009 6:36:54 PM

0 Boost

haha whatever you say joe lemon. Prius is a great looking car and the whole world agrees.

g2ok - 5/26/2009 6:12:20 PM

+2 Boost

Any car that generates buzz is a good thing for the industry. Maybe they will open that plant now and a few people can get some decent manufacturing jobs.

TexLandRover - 5/26/2009 6:42:33 PM

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Toyota could be building this in other locations. Didn't they pull the plug on building Prius in either Mississippi or Alabama? Point is they are "intentionally" building it in limited quantities to boost the price, bottomline. Once the surge in demand is over in about 4 to 5 months, watch the price come down. If gas stays around $2 dollars, they will be hard pressed to get anybody to drop $30K (fully loaded) on this vehicle.

pageman - 5/26/2009 8:22:48 PM

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I do agree with the production to be moved or increase to a Canadian factory. Woodstock would be a good choice. Lexus would utilize this as well. I am sure that they are taking measures to maximize profit and numbers but at what cost. Why sell 200k units when 120k units will destroy Honda Insight sales. It's like winning a baseball games. Your up 16-2, why run up the score any more?

Jordanski - 5/26/2009 9:28:47 PM

+2 Boost

Why run the score up any more? Because you can benefit from it. If Toyota manufactured the new Prius in Woodstock, it would dramatically cut down on manufacturing and shipping costs. I'm sure it wouldn't take much time to retool the factory since it's been in operation for less than one year.

investor27 - 5/26/2009 9:44:08 PM

+1 Boost

This is just marketing ploy by Toyota, and it's similar to the marketing ploy of the Nintendo Wii (which is always out of stock around Christmas time for the first 3 years). One would think that Nintendo would have solved their production line problems after the first year of debut when they had a clearer idea of what the global demand was. But Nintendo purposely kept the allocations small, and thereby was able to charge the full MSRP price three years running.

Now Toyota is trying to take a page out of the Nintendo advertising and marketing book. I disagree with the above statement that the US dealerships will be the losers. I believe they will be the winners by marking up the Prius III over the MSRP by citing the high demand that will be artificially created by the limiting allocations to the US.

I sincerely hope this misleading marketing ploy will backfire on Toyota by allowing Honda to sell more of their new, cheaper hybrid (the Honda Insight).

If there is indeed a battery production problem, how come we haven't heard this from Honda and their hybrid Honda Insight?

XYZZ - 5/27/2009 7:34:59 AM

+2 Boost

why all the second guessing of toyota's motives and plans?

can't you guys read plain english? they simply got OVERWHELMED by the unanticipated DEMAND in japan!

80,000 orders in just one week just HAS TO BE overwhelming. especially when only 100,000 were expected to sell for the WHOLE YEAR.

_43LE - 5/27/2009 9:53:36 AM

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You must realize by now that this site is full of Toyota haters. Almost any news about Toyota will try be be spun negatively by them.

pnsb24a - 6/2/2009 2:20:15 PM

+1 Boost

Boy I am panicing already