Why is the Prime so much more expensive than the Prius in EU???

I wonder if they're loss-leading the Prime in the US to get TZEV credits in those states that offer them - it's a common strategy. As I understand, they get somewhere around 0.75 of a credit, which is worth $3750 a car (the fine for not meeting a ZEV obligation being $5000 per credit that a manufacturer is short).

ZEV credits were such a huge deal to GM that they refused to sell the Chevy Spark EV outside of ZEV states (to the point that they'd fine a dealer that allowed such a car to go to a non-ZEV-state resident) - I wouldn't be surprised if they were losing nearly the $12,500 per car that they got in ZEV credits for it. And, there's the rumors that GM loses $9,000 per Bolt... but they instead make $11,000 if they sell it in a ZEV state, because they get $20,000 in credits.

 

Where I live, with initiatives it comes just under 30k EUR, just 1k EUR over similarly equipped normal Prius.

In UK there is also a price cut of £3,200:
Toyota Prius Plug-in UK prices lowered | Autocar

I thought price cut will be all over EU, if it's not official, just ask the dealer about it.

 

I would have to say I doubt Toyota is selling the car at a loss even for the credits given their statement that it will be a 50 state vehicle. If it were only going to special states then sure I could buy that but to sell a car in all states at the same price and lose in 40% of the states since they aren't ZEV states would make no sense. I could see a very tiny margin on them though in the US to try to push them into a crowded market. And yes it is getting crowded. You have the Niro, Ioniq, CMax, Fusion, Accord (at least once in a while ), i3 REx, Pacifica...the list goes on for plug-in hybrids that are either available or announced.

As to Europe, the Prius isn't the leader there and so they may not come in aggressive. The Outlander was the best selling PHEV last time I had checked for Europe, we can't even get it in the states.

 

I wonder how many they're actually selling outside of ZEV states, though - sending a token car to the corn every now and then means they get to call it a "50 state car", and therefore not get hit with the "compliance car" label by the EV enthusiast community... while still effectively having a compliance car. (And, that cargo area packaging is very, very much compliancey.)

 

Maybe an interesting question would be: what is price difference in Japan?
I am still confused if there are patent issues with Li batts possibly requiring royalty fees depending on country.

 

Only 3K not 4K. Plug-Ins get 3K, BEVs get 4K ... And even there only half of it comes from the state and the other half - in a way - from Toyota. But yes, the prices are indeed a "bit" higher here ...

 

$21,557
$23,422
$28,357 Prime Base
(Converting to US$)