Prime Selling Well Despite Continued Limited Supply

I've only seen one Bolt, but they're selling pretty well.

Smart just announced that they are killing their gas engine cars and making EV smarts. WHY?? It's smarter than the gas engine one, but look at the crappy sales numbers!

 

sounds like toyota. they have a strange sense of

 

smart is too small for this country.

 

I also received the same mailer - still not ready to buy!

 

when they send me a pic of the new hatch with the lowered floor, i'll be there the next day with a cashier's check.

 

The PiP had a shot if it weren't geographically restrained. While it could overtake the Volt, I don't see the Prime reaching the initial 30k for the first year. Either way, the important question is if its sales will continue to grow, or is this just an artifact of pent up demand that will fade in time?

Many of the major North Eastern states are part of CARB, and ZEV accounting extends beyond California's borders.

Is that North America only or globally?

I think smart did better in the NA when it was just in Canada, and they got a couple of engine and transmission choices, including a diesel. Limiting the choices on US expansion might have made sense for accounting, but it cut out part of the niche market the fortwo needed.

 

These are only the US sales numbers.

 

I meant the decision to go electric only. Are they cancelling the ICE in Europe? Diesel's in general might not have long there.

 

They will be calling next then at your door. There is no escape. You must be Primed.

 

May the PRIME be with you!!
Hey I feel like I married a fishwife!
I'm driving my Prime in heavy traffic having some fun getting a little speed up, when I came up very quickly behind another vehicle and my Prime yelled at me brake brake brake! in a big red screen with with lots of beeping! Nag, nag, nag. But still cool 'cause it is looking out for me!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The Primes are still sitting at the dealer by me, but the sale is over, so they're only taking $250 off.

 

"In 2013, Governor Brown helped organize governors from seven other U.S. states to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding, and subsequently develop the Multi-State ZEV Action Plan, to reach
a target of 3.3 million ZEVs in these jurisdictions by 2025."
https://www.gov.ca.gov/docs/2016_ZEV_Action_Plan.pdf
The official ZEV program page.
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program
And the state coalition site.
https://www.zevstates.us/

I don't know the specifics, but I thought a portion ZEV countable cars sold in other CARB or ZEV states can could towards the California requirements. Glancing at those sites, there doesn't seem to be an actual quota for ZEV cars outside California.

Another factor to keep in mind is that CARB states and major markets tend to overlap. Whether ZEV credits, local incentives, and/or simply a good place to sell a car, there are places new cars just get shipped to first. Cars are huge consumer items. Logistically, they simply can't be held at a local shipping depot or dealer until one gets to every corner of the country before offering sale.

Toyota was only planning on making 60k globally the first year, with 30k for the US. Low production numbers mean it will take longer for the model to reach all areas. They sell ten times more of the Corolla and the Camry in the US than they expected to sell of the Prime.

 

i read that mfg.'s can satisfy their carb requirements by selling in any of the carb states. no one state needs to be fulfilled.

 

The incentives are likely just better in California.
It is also closer to Japan.

 

I was shopping for other *EVs a couple of months ago and found very attractive lease deals in CA and the Northeast but was shot down by the dealerships because I did not maintain residency in the state where the dealership was located.

 

Smart is only stopping sale of gas engined cars in the US, not Europe. It makes since because the gas Smart only gets 33/39 EPA MPG and it's the size of a big golf cart. I just built my own Smart ForTwo EV and it STARTS at $25k. You can't even get a touchscreen radio as an option, only a small radio and regular cruise control is a $300 option. Not to mention you die if you're in an accident. Why not get a Prius C top of the line for that money?

 

Because the Prime + is cheaper !

 

Or two Chevy Sparks.

I'd personally take a fortwo over a Spark if the prices were close, but smart stopped offering the bare bones, radio is an option, models.

With longer range, or moving closer to work, I'd also take the ED. I'd only have to clean half as much junk out of the garage as for any other plug in.