Is this a reasonable wait time?

Reasonable? No.
Realistic? Pretty much.

 

Reborn...

 

Production has only just started, and Toyota is planning for about 35k sales in the US. Considering there are orders for the 2022 that didn't get filled before its production halted, dealers probably already have a waiting list to go through without Corolla level shipments coming in.

 

I haven’t been keeping up, but why such a long wait? How does that affect dealer inventory?

 

I’ve been waitlisted for a new Prius since April. I’m expecting it will be April again before I get the call for my 2023. So, that estimate unfortunately seems about right.

 

Based on location, I imagine there is a strong interest in the car.

I wouldn't expect any actual cars in the US until Febaury or March.

 

probably, since it will be at least 3 or 4 months before they start arriving. if it is a refundable deposit, you can buy one off a lot if any show up sooner.
don't hesitate to call as many dealers as possible. due to allocations, some may have shorter wait times.

 

While there may be legitimate reasons for these continued excessive delays for new vehicles from nearly all the automakers, IMO it’s no more reasonable than allowing their dealerships to get away with tacking on ridiculous “market adjustment” markups, and the current price gouging that continues in the used car market. Eventually these practices are going to come back to bite some of these dealerships in the tailpipe, and I’m looking forward to it.

This generation of Prius is poised to have a broader appeal than it’s had in quite some time, but most of those potential first time buyers aren’t going to wait 12 months to get one. So if the demand proves to be there, Toyota needs to meet that demand and get these on the lots.

 

toyota has stated that they aren't expecting much the same. a bit higher than 2022 prius.

so are they deliberately going to make less than demand, or is it just another covid thing?

 

Prius sales have been in decline. Toyota hopes the new model will turn that around, but building to a hope could be very costly. The supply situation could also mean not building other models to build more Prii.

 

Yes, I’ve read they expect to move about 35,000, but I’m also reading overwhelmingly positive comments about the new design and performance improvements online, and the vast majority seem to be coming from non-Prius owners. I guess the upside of keeping projections low is they can only go up from there. I think these will definitely do better than last year’s models if they’re actually on the lots and ready to be driven home.

 

Fair enough, but right now I think we’re also looking at an increasing number of unhappy car buyers who are tired of getting ripped off by greedy dealerships.

 

so will they try to make more, or same ol' same ol'

 

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens