Fuel economy is the No. 1 purchase reason for the Prius, so it's safe to say that rising fuel prices are putting a spotlight on hybrid vehicles. However, it's difficult to conclude that high fuel prices are directly responsible for Prius sales, because there was strong demand and waiting lists well before the rise in gas prices. But awareness of the benefits of hybrids has dramatically increased.
Can you get a Prius?
Toyota's initial production estimates for the Prius for the 2004 calendar year were 36,000 vehicles for the U.S. That number was increased to 47,000 vehicles shortly after the Prius went on sale. The Prius plant and component sources are at maximum capacity, and we regret that waiting lists at dealerships can be several months or longer. The current backorder remains about 22,000 and we're working with the factory in Japan to see if the U.S. can receive more allocation of vehicles.
Are dealers charging a premium over MSRP for the Prius?
Reports of significant markups over MSRP are isolated and not typical. Although the Prius is in high demand, and some buyers are willing to offer more to get faster delivery, our dealers have been respectful of their customers. The MSRP for the Prius runs from the low $20,000s to about $26,000. Our information indicates that the average transaction price for a Prius is about $24,000. In a survey on Yahoo, 7 percent of the owners reported paying more than MSRP and 68 percent paid no more than MSRP. Additionally, only 2 percent of the customers calling Toyota regarding the Prius reported complained about dealer mark ups of the car.
Is Toyota making money on the Prius?
Toyota is in business to make money and this generation Prius will be profitable sooner than the last generation Prius. Economies of scale, especially with the unanticipated volume of the new Prius, will make that happen even earlier than initially projected.
Is there a recycling plan in place for nickel-metal hydride batteries?
Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 "bounty" for each battery.
Source: Toyota Motors, Press Release
