Gone - no more PRIUS in Australia

Any reason given? Was it something Australia did to make it not cost effective for Toyota to import them anymore? Or just Toyota scaling back on their own? What's the politics/economics of this decision?

 

No more Priuses at ALL or no more NEW Priuses?

 

First UK and now AU. Is this temporary pullback due to a production issue or a permanent thing?

 

Sad, Toyota seems to make some bad business-decisions lately.

They still sell the Prime here in Norway. But no electric cars available yet.

And forget Hydrogen - only 3 stations in the whole country....

 

Makes one wonder .... if USA will be next. Maybe that's why there's no Gen 5 yet?
.

 

the people have spoken, no big loss. same here too. keep buying bigger guzzlers, then complain about prices and government.

 

The Prius isn't selling in Australia.
I couldn't quickly find a yearly list of sales.
Still, I would bet that the Prius sales where crashing well before Covid - just like in the USA, and most other counties.

It comes down to being smart about the business in each country.
Toyota isn't perfect. No company, nor person is.
However, Toyota is very good when it comes to the business side of things.


From:
Toyota Prius discontinued in Australia
==========
Toyota Prius retired: Pioneering hybrid removed from sale in Australia
After a 21-year stint in Australia, the Toyota Prius is no more
11 May 2022

Toyota to discontinue Prius locally after 21 years

First examples landed in 2001
Over 20,000 Prius sales recorded since its Australian launch

Toyota has announced its ground-breaking Prius hybrid vehicle is set to depart Australia after a 21-year run.
Launched internationally in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and introduced locally in October 2001, the Prius notched up 20,847 units sold in Australia across its four generations. In addition, its Prius C hatch and Prius V people-mover bumped the figure up to 35,947, although both were killed off in the past two years due to low sales.

Thanks to the Prius kick-starting Toyota's hybrid obsession, halfway through last year the manufacturer reached a milestone of 200,000 overall hybrid sales in Australia, going on to record 65,491 hybrids sold last year alone – accounting for all bar 4975 such vehicles sold in the segment and setting a new brand record.

Year-to-date, just 26 examples of the model have been sold and just 77 units were shifted last year. Less than a year ago, Toyota Australia said the model would live on and it had no intention of dropping the nameplate, although its position has been swayed by poor sales.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, said the Prius's legacy would live on across the manufacturer's other hybrid models.

"When we launched the Prius in October 2001, it was difficult to predict the enormous impact that Toyota hybrids would eventually have on the Australian automotive landscape," said Hanley.
"In 2001, we sold just a handful of Prius cars, taking until mid-2018 to reach 100,000 Toyota hybrid-electric vehicle sales and surpassing the 200,000 sales mark in 2021.

"The Prius blazed a trail by offering Australian motorists a more efficient and low-emissions motoring experience – traits that have resonated with buyers more and more over time.

"In fact, hybrid-electric vehicle technology, in terms of market acceptance, was not an overnight success. It has taken more than twenty years, but it still forms an important part of Toyota's electrification strategy.

"It recognises practicality, performance and affordability whilst reducing the CO2 footprint of our vehicles. It enables Australian customers to have access to a technology that plays an important role in not leaving anyone behind, as we forge a future towards carbon neutral mobility.

"Last year Toyota sold more than 60,000 hybrid-electric vehicles and we expect that 2022 will continue Toyota's strong leadership in the sales of electrified vehicles. We look forward to continuing the Prius legacy through our broad range of powerful and efficient hybrid-electric offerings."

Toyota plans to continue selling hybrid cars in the future despite the emerging popularity of electric vehicles, however the manufacturer is also heavily investing in EVs and hydrogen fuel-cell technology to ensure it has a stake in each.
The current line-up of Toyota's hybrid vehicles in Australia includes the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Kluger, C-HR, Yaris and Yaris Cross.
==========



Imho, to me, the above is obvious.
However, despite mainly being in research, I got my start working on products in a very competitive open markets.
I done just about everything, including pushing a new product idea to the point, where it was approved in a major company. The product was successful. And, of course, the company was sold/merged soon afterwards. Not because of the new product that I pushed, that product was maybe 1% of the sales in a very large company.
So, for me at that time, on to the next company, and semi-startup. Again, the challenge was to be profitable, and successful, in an open very competitive markets, that anyone (with financial backing) could get into.

It's easy to "Monday Morning Quarterback".
When there are dozens, hundreds, thousands of people who work at the company, and the end of that company could/would have dramatic effect on them, I wonder how many people would be able to make the tough, and correct business decisions.
Or, if they could define "the perfect product" for that year, and next, and next...

Sounds easy, right?
A number of the companies I worked for no longer exist. All of those people had to find new jobs, maybe new careers.

 

As one of our own continues to drone on ..... 'know your audience'
.

 

Yep; it's a very competitive car market in Australia and probably the correct business decision for Toyota. There are many alternatives available to them that aren't available here.

@alanclarkeau; What do you think about this: Ford Maverick Australia: Is Ford's Latest Dual-Cab Ute Coming to Oz?

 

What are good hybrid alternatives there that we don't get in the USA? Just curious.

 

I was all geared up to buy when 4th gen came out; then I saw it...

 

Too sporty looking for you?

 

Too "something". Outside and in.

 

Sad news for prius believers
Looking at the prius family Canadian car sales
Year-to -date is 1629 units and last year total was 6075 units . Demography of Australia is ruffly 25 milion and Canada 38 million
It looks like a painfull financial decision.

 

I believe that Toyota made the mistake of cannibalizing their own sales by trying to meet lower price points of their competition. They have all these hybrids: Yaris, Yaris-Cross, Corolla, Corolla-Cross and even the Camry comes in at a lower price point than a bottom of the line Prius. The Camry is a bit roomier and you take a small mpg hit; but you save a bundle; if your not looking for all the gadgets in a Prius.

Toyota Hybrid: Price, Release Dates & Upcoming Toyota Hybrid Cars in Australia | CarsGuide

They also have access to the cheap Chinese & India cars including Peugeot and Renault that probably won't pass NHTSA regulations here. Subaru's are very popular over there; because of their go anywhere drive-train.

 

....... or some say weird
.

 

Ironically, that was one of the (minor) reasons we bought our 2022!
But as an old Peter Paul and Mary song went “it’s the difference of opinions that make horse races”.

 

the original prius crowd has retired. toyota has unsuccessfully tried to attract a younger audience, not only to prius, but corolla and camry as well.

when covid shortages are over, and govmint successfully tamps down gas prices, it will be business as usual in america