First Gen 5 2023 Toyota Prius cars show up at the dealers!

This maybe a new batch this week before the Libra Leader coming next week.

 

It looks like the delivery is speeding up, shorten from 2 weeks to a week per vessel.

NEW CENTURY 1 is the next one after Libra Leader. Just depatured from Toyohashi today and its ETA is May 5.

 

Crap. Mine just switched from build phase to transit phase today. Now I have to get off my butt and get my cars ready for trade. Both need to get detailed, need to touch up the paint a bit on one and take it in for a last oil & filter change, the other needs a door lock actuator and backup camera replaced(I've had the parts for over 6 months), and I have to find the second keyfob for both.

(It still hasn't cracked 50F/10C reliably here, so working outside/in the garage hasn't exactly been a priority for me.)

 

And I've seen conflicting information on the topic, so could anyone who is certain chime in on the following terms:

Build phase: I've heard this means build as in on the assembly line in Japan, and I've heard it means the car is at the US port getting the port options installed.

Transit phase: I've heard this means everything from being on the car ferry in the middle of the Pacific, to being on a truck somewhere in the US, and everything in between. I've also heard that transit phase with no date means the car is in between ports or at a port facility, while transit phase with a delivery date range means the car has cleared the port facility and is on a delivery truck.

Can anyone clear up the confusion? I'm just trying to get an idea if I'm 1-3 weeks away from delivery, or 1-3 months. Just so I know how to prioritize my next few weeks(do I need to focus on getting my vehicles ready for trade, or can I focus on other projects first).

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

Picked up my XLE last weekend at Longo Toyota. It was exactly one year to the day from when I got on the list for a 2022. Since my 2022 hadn't come by the time they announced the Gen 5, I switched to the new one. I got the call from the dealer last week that they had a car matching my preferences on the lot...apparently somebody else passed on it.

 

From Toyota-Tracker.com:


“Allocation: Toyota's vehicle allocation system is a process used to distribute vehicles from the factory to dealerships. The system takes into account various factors such as dealer inventory levels, consumer demand, and production schedules. The goal of the system is to ensure that the right vehicles are delivered to the right dealerships at the right time, in order to meet consumer demand and optimize sales. The allocation process is typically managed by a team at Toyota's headquarters and is based on a combination of computer algorithms and human input. The system is also flexible, it will adjust the distribution of vehicles to meet the changing market conditions.

Freight: After the vehicle has been built, it enters the freight stage. During this stage, the vehicle is shipped to the dealership where the vehicle was allocated. Toyota uses a variety of shipping methods, including boats and trains, to transport vehicles to dealerships. The shipping process is carefully planned and executed to ensure that vehicles are delivered to dealerships in a timely and efficient manner.

Ground: Once the vehicle reaches the dealership, it enters the ground stage. This means that the vehicle is now on the ground, either on a truck or already at the dealership's lot. At this stage, the vehicle is ready for final inspection and preparation before it is delivered to the customer. The dealership will thoroughly inspect the vehicle to ensure that it meets Toyota's high standards for quality and customer satisfaction. Once the inspection is complete, the vehicle will be cleaned, fueled, and made ready for delivery to the customer.”

I think it takes about two weeks for it to go from Japan to US port once it is built. Then it probably spends another two weeks there for processing (unless you are unlucky like me and it’s placed on a QC hold, hah) and then about another week or two before it’s at the dealer depending on distance from port, from what I’ve heard?

 

Thank you for posting this. I put a call into Longo yesterday to ask how they are handling removing add ons like door guards etc.

 

My salesperson told me our cars arrive in Vancouver, are shipped across country by train, then delivered by truck.

 

See, this is the problem.

Toyota-Tracker's Allocation/Freight categories match up with Toyota's Build/Transit categories. My car had been in both Allocation and Build on the respective sites until today, where it shifted to both Freight/Transit.

If Toyota-Tracker's descriptions are correct, my car just left the factory in Japan to load onto a ro-ro and won't be at my dealer for a month or two.

If Gokhan's info is correct, my car just cleared the US port facility and was loaded onto a truck and should be at my dealership in 1-3 weeks.

These are mutually exclusive situations.

 

Okay, I've got complete confirmation.

Allocation(Toyota-Tracker)/Build Phase(Toyota Search Inventory): Begins with the car on the assembly line and ends with the car being checked in at the port facility.
Freight-no delivery date assigned(TT)/Transit Phase-no delivery date assigned(TSI): Begins with the car being checked in at the port facility, ends with the car leaving the port facility on a train/truck.
Freight-w/estimated delivery date(TT)/Transit Phase-w/estimated delivery date: Car is on a delivery train/trailer on its way to a dealership

My Prius:
March 30: started assembly in Japan
April 4: showed up on Toyota's search inventory as build phase
April 6: I put a deposit down
April 7: ro-ro departed Japan
April 22: ro-ro arrived in port
April 26: status changed from build phase to transit phase
May 1: car will begin port processing

 

If those new listings are listed as build phase, they aren't from Chesapeake Highway. The CH cars are the ones that just shifted from build to transit(mine is one of them).

The ones that just appeared on the inventory site are probably on Libra Leader.