Not Right - Prius Prices Way Cheaper in Japan

Cars meant for the Japanese auto market are built differently because its much more expensive to own and operate a car there than it does in the US. The MSRP of the Prius there is reflective of the differences of the Prius in Japan vs. US.

 

The price difference is not that big honestly considering it’s a Japanese brand and made in Japan.
Tesla model 3 starts at roughly $34K USD in China and $47K before tax here in the US.

 

Fewer regulations to adhere to, I suspect, and no trans-Pacific shipping on a boat to get it here......and then on a truck to the east coast.

It is so nice to have a new member........who brings a new subject to obsess over to the table.

 

The US dollar value is at a strong/high point now. That increases to price of all imported goods.

Historically, cars sold in Canada had a higher price tag than the ones sold in the US. The dollar's value has flipped that with the Prius.

 

Can't accuse US of doing that markup thing. When someone else does it that's just Not Right.

Or which would you rather own, a honda or toyota car built in japan or a honda, toyota built in the US of A

 

For the ignorant:

Cost of Driving in Japan: Taxes, Tolls, Parking, Car Inspection

Yeah, Toyota has to make concessions when selling a normal sized car to the masses in Japan. That's why Japan gets all the funky and cool looking K-cars and we in the US get normal looking cars.

Their regulations are stricter than California's.

 

Hmm, all models seem to come with the larger display in Japan.

トヨタ 見積りシミュレーション | トヨタ自動車WEBサイト

 

Sure. But more often it just is what it IS.......and debating it accomplishes......NOTHING.

 

Wait......what ??
When a currency is "strong" it takes fewer of them to buy the same goods.
Your claim seems backwards to me.

 

take a vacation in japan, buy one and ship it over. that's what we used to do with mercedes. the savings would pay for a nice euro vaca.

 

The exchange rate makes it cheaper in Japan. At today's rate ($1=¥129) the least expensive trim price would be $21317. It would have been about $27000 with the rate a couple years ago ($1= ¥103).

 

You realize there's domestic EVs/PHEVs that don't suffer the same import fees, right? And they also come with rebates.

I also wouldn't call it "Toyota jacking up prices". Toyota created a brand new car that added a ton of power and features, and that's not free. You could always wait a few years for used prices.

 

They also come with an HDMI option in Japan. Can use to display audio and video on the display. Only audio is output while driving.

 

Prius Prime prices in Japan have been released.
https://creative311.com/?p=150422&page=2

Price in Japan is ¥4,600,000 which equates to about $35,500. Z grade (somewhat equivalent to SE but not really) version and loading it up with a Pano roof, Digital mirror and drive recorder, digital key, other dealer options (¥60,665), and taxes (¥135,500), the total price comes to ¥5,098,655 ($39,355). Their example Prius PHEV came in Platinum White Pearl Mica and Mature red interior. Those options won't be available on our SE and we won't get those colors.

 

The title of the article you linked says, "even before it is out, the projected delivery of the order is likely to be longer than 1 year." If it takes more than 1 year to get it delivered to Japanese customers who have already placed an order now... I wonder what the waiting period would be for the US buyers???

 

Honestly I'd expect it to be about the same +16 days for the boat to do its thing

 

The only difference is that US buyers can not "order" directly from Toyota. I may be wrong, but my understanding is that in Japan almost all new cars are custom ordered through dealers and directly from Toyota.

 

Import and domestic differences brother