693 PiP sales Feb '13 in US, what's up?

Why don't they open up PiP sales to the whole country?

 

For those who want to get the HOV sticker already got their PIP, so no more buyers in CA.

 

I believe my closest Plug-In dealer is over 200 miles away.

 

^ That's a part of the story. Perhaps a fairly large part. Early adopters and the Eco Chic have already bought theirs. There's also a lag between Christmas sales slumps and the TAX-O-RAMA buying that start to happen in March/April.
I suspect that when Sandy checks start rolling in on the right coast, and a few more gas price spikes happen then sales will creep back up.
You have to remember....It's a $32,000 Prius.

I actually crunched numbers on two left over '12s before the latest gas price spike drove their prices back above $30,000 and it wasn't even close to making sense...and I'm almost the perfect PHEV customer since I live 10 miles from work and I can legally charge there.
It's a good car (like all of the G3's) but there are too few 'good PHEV' customers. Don't get me wrong.....more people could be driving them than are currently doing so...but there are still many apartment dwellers, hyper-commuters, and people (like me) who just don't like to kick over 35K for a car every other year.....or even at all.

Average new car prices are above 30K now, but that number is being supported by insanely low interest rates and the fact that my cat could probably qualify for a new car loan. That average is rising at 2x inflation (depending on how 'you' define 'inflation')

SO...
There are a lot of moving parts to this question but I still think that the folks in Aichi will sell all of the Pips that they bring over here.

 

can it be the goldilocks theory? the Pip's battery is too small and the leaf's is too big... while the volt's is just right. the PiP has a narrow market, ie, eco minded set that wants 5-seater+cargo space, without a long commute (or wants HOV sticker). as long as the overall Prius line remains dominant, i don't think Toyota is that concerned.

 

I'm sure that nobody's worried about the battery being too big in the Leaf. It's range anxiety, pure and simple.

 

Without the incentives AND a great deal from the dealership I would have never bought my PIP. In fact, I would not have bought it knowing I would only get $4,000 in incentives instead of the $10,000 I thought I was going to get (I forgot the PIP doesn't qualify for max incentives like the Volt does). Had I remembered before signing the paperwork I would have walked and bought a Volt instead. $even $34k is too damn much for the PIP Advanced IMO.

 

Ditto. Never would have bought the PIP without the incentives. The EV range is too low to justify the MSRP. My wife calls the EV aspect a "toy" and she is right. She's got her eye on the Accord hybrid and won't even consider the plug-in version (unless of course Honda comes out with some ridiculous deal like Toyota had to do for the PIP).

 

Yup, only reason I got the PiP was the regular equipped Prius was only 1000 less than the PiP after rebates and tax incentive. EV range is too limited. 30 EV miles would have been the sweet spot for me.

 

My PIP may be cheaper than model 2 after rebate and tax. Toyota really need to make EV distance 30-40 to make the PIP shining.... Hope we can upgrade the battery in the future..

 

As ETC said, there are a lot of moving parts.
I think a significant part is Toyota has not yet officially rolled out the PiP to most states. It isn't officially rolled out to MN yet, but I have heard of one dealer that is selling them.

As others have said, lack of EV range is part of it. Many of the people who want the EV experience, want more than 13 miles of range.

I suspect another issue is simply a normal seasonal slump in EV sales this time of year (or heck, any cars).

Give it a couple of months, I am sure the numbers will improve.

 

I'm waiting for about 50km range on EV
When are they going to incorporate Lithium-Air batteries? I hope it will be before 2020.

 

I went to the dealership, actually 3 of them, ready to buy one and trade in my 06 and none had any or were willing to import into the state. Nothing they can do if Toyota won't give the midwest any. Since then I have re-evaluated and will keep my 2006 Prius and just add a Tesla S or X to the family.

 

Now that I have a taste of EV driving, I want a slightly bigger battery in my PHV, I could live with a slight increase in the height of the cargo floor, like the prototype I don't have a need though, it's just a want LOL

 

Most people's concern over range anxiety is just that.
Before you click the link below, take a guess at how many people commute 50+ miles one way as a percent in the worse commute areas of the country

Bay Area tops new 'mega-commuter' Census list defining the worst trips to work - SiliconValley.com

Mike

 

I understand that everyone "wants" a plug in that goes farther than the current PIP. But would you pay $5000 more if it went 25 miles per charge and had almost no trunk space? Would you pay $10K more for 40 miles if you only got enough trunk space to put two grocery bags and the cable?

Or would you pay $12K more if you got 40 miles, a longer car (more trunk) and only 40 mpg on gas?

Of course, each person has his/her own cutoff point, but Toyota had to pick "one" for the launch.

To me, however you run the numbers, it is questionable if you make up the price difference for the PIP without the federal rebates. But when you start adding more and more battery size, weight, capacity (even with more rebates) the payoff is less and less on each incremental kwh and dollar spent.

(For the above I'm not considering the extra benefits of reducing oil imports, smog reduction, GHG, carpool stickers, possible free work charging, etc.)

 

i really wanted a plug in prius and got one. i doubt there are a ton of people in the country/world who want to plug in their car. life is complicated enough, and gas is relatively cheap. gm has done a lot to improve volt sales, but they are no great shakes and probably won't continue either, once the market is saturated. having prior gm experience, i never expected volt to hold up mechanically. congrats to them so far, but i'm still a skeptic. once burned, twice shy.

 

It's too expensive.
People want some of the Advanced features but aren't willing to pay for them all.
Toyota has massive discounts but not in CA.
Not enough people buy cars out of state yet so are assuming they can't get the best deals.
Not enough people buy cars out of state yet so are waiting until they can buy in-state.
It's a better Prius, but it's still a Prius.
Many people will look at the small range and not understand the benefit's greater than 10EV miles per day.
People who haven't experienced EV don't understand the feeling.
People who have experienced EV want more of the feeling.
People are waiting for the price to drop.
People would prefer to buy Merkin.
Potential buyers are saving up for a Model S or waiting for a 2013 Leaf. :-D