Has Toyota fallen out of love with the Prius?

How were petrol prices over that same period?
I know in the US prices were very high around 2008.

I think the idea you mentioned, being at the tail end of the model, also plays a role.

I don't believe most people are waiting, as the competition has been closing the gap. So rather than wait another year they are moving on.

By the way, very nice that the PiP is available for you. In most of the state's it still isn't.

 

i'm not sure 'golden goose' is the proper term for the prius. they probably like the rep, but i doubt it's a drop in the bucket in profits. they proxy make more on tundra alone.

 

exactly. and i would rephrase the question, 'has the public fallen out of love with the prius'?

 

i think there's a new model coming, they don't like to rush products to market like gm, they'd rather get it right the first time. they're sitting by the sea with they're favorite beverage enjoying the view and making money hand over fist. why worry?

 

The graph seems to indicate some trends which are:

Affects from the fluctuating cost of petrol?
Acceptance of new technology
Saturation of Prius within the smaller population in the UK
Local incentives?

I bet when the Gen Four comes out, along with higher petrol costs we see a uptick in purchases, with a subsequent decline after a few years as non-hybrids become far more competitive both with mileage and initial cost.

 

I had someone in parts refer to it as their "flagship vehicle". When we bought, 4 years back, their lot was littered with prius. Recently there, I saw one c in the showroom, and one v out on the back lot, with plastic sheeting still on.

This topic is sure to raise some consternation here, lol.

 

Diesel is king

The battery is a big concern, probably why you got the battery extension. Small test market to see if the sales improve with improved warranty to ease shoppers on battery replacements

 

I would be interested in the fuel efficiency of diesel vehicles. Have they gained appreciably on the Prius?
Here in the USA diesels are required to have extra pollution controls which lower their efficiency. If that is not the case that gap may have closed, lowering sales.

Part of it though, I would definately attribute to this generation getting "long in the tooth".

Update: Nevermind, you answered my question

 

Toyota has many children.

In the US, fuel efficient cars are effectively subsidized by CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) credits. Each fuel efficient car that Toyota sells here makes it possible to sell thirstier high profit margin light vehicles (like SUV's and pickup trucks).

Hybrids are probably harder to move here lately with gasoline prices diving with the price of crude. I saw $2.86 per gallon on the way home yesterday.

Every market is different and Toyota's motivations any given year are probably difficult to gauge.

 

unquestionably.

 

Don't know about over there, but on this side of the pond the darn things are actually speciating! We've still got daddy hatchback of course, but now it has funny looking offspring - the station wagon Prius, the bobtail Prius, and the plug-in. Pesky things are everywhere, you actually need to look before you cross the street!

 

Counter-intuitive, but I was wondering if the lower gasoline prices (assuming the down trend continues) would give Prius more EU buyers, because now gasoline taxes are so high it makes diesel cheaper, but I guess diesel also going down in price?

 

Best not to conflate 'Prius' with Toyota hybrid.
And the relationship between what Toyota wants to sell and public ends up buying is flimsy and mostly one-way at best.

 

It is inevitable, and rational, for Prius sales to drop when gas prices drop.

Buyers that are inclined can turn to vehicles with more power or sex appeal, if that is what they want, with lesser financial penalties.

But I think the car companies have to keep an eye on the longer term, and I am not sure they can afford to be without a fuel efficient lineup. And it takes a while to develop gas efficient models, I'm sure.

I can see Toyota and its hybrid competitors extending the life cycle of a generation a bit in the face of slower sales, but petroleum is a wasting asset, and an interest in greater fuel efficiency is a permanent concern.

Gasoline prices will inevitably rebound. The world's population grows, and the appetite for personal transportation follows suit.