The Plug-in Prius: Waiting is the Hardest Part for Dealers and Customers

There’s a lot of excitement these days among our customers and dealers about plug-in hybrid vehicles. Earlier this week, Toyota’s Global President, Katsuaki Watanabe, announced that we are moving up our timetable from 2010 to early 2009 to deliver test Prius plug-in hybrids to commercial fleet customers in the United States and other parts of the world.

A lot of people can’t wait to try them, so it’s understandable that one of our dealers created some confusion recently by taking deposits on future Prius plug-in hybrids.

Although we hope some day to sell plug-in hybrids to retail customers, the only thing we have announced is that we will place several hundred plug-in Prius vehicles in commercial fleets by the end of next year.

As much as we want to speed the latest hybrid technology to the public, we have vowed as a company to not release new systems until they are reliable and ready for everyday use. One of the best ways to help ensure that is through rigorous testing in fleets that do a tremendous amount of driving in all types of weather and road conditions.

Magnussen’s Toyota in Palo Alto, California was doing what we’ve always encouraged our dealers to do...to listen carefully to their customers and try to meet their needs. Being so close to Silicon Valley, the dealership was getting lots of requests from customers who wanted to buy a plug-in Prius. And since the dealership had confidence Toyota would eventually deliver a great vehicle, they thought it would be a good idea to take deposits and make customers happy.

So, while we applaud Magnuessen’s excitement about our future Prius plug-in, we want to be clear that we have not announced a timetable for retail sales.

Believe me, Toyota will get there as soon as we can. It just may not happen as quickly as we’d all like it to happen. In the meantime, we’re very proud that Magnuessen’s Toyota intends to return the deposits it has collected from customers hoping to be the first to buy a plug-in Prius. Soon, we hope they will be able to call those customers back and offer them the real thing.

- Irv Miller, Group Vice President, Corporate Communications

Comments

[David]

Is this a nice way of saying a Toyota dealer went off the ranch?

[Yesi Mendez]

What about the RavEV, when is that coming out??? Don't you guys get it...consumers are ready and willing...we're just waiting for the first one to have the nerve (i really wanted to say something else) to release it in mass production. In case you haven't noticed, there is a new awakening. Right now I keep asking myself, do I really want a Prius, or do I REALLY want a PRIUS!!! ...sorry, that was RAV-EV. I'm ready to dump my gas guzzler, because they are all gas guzzlers unless they are an EV.

Patiently waiting...

[Nick]

Same here. Whatever you guys can do to speed up that testing, DO IT! My wife and I are purchasing a regular hybrid Highlander for now, but my commuter car is almost 9 years old, and I will only replace it with either an EV or Plug-in prius. I'll wait as long as it takes, but don't make me get a Volt!

[George G]

What is the status of a plug in model upgrade for a Camery (I have a 2009)

[Donna C]

There are 3 of us in this household with with 1998 Camry, 2000 Corolla, and a 1998 Buick Park Avenue, and we're all just holding off getting new because we both want a plug in hybrid. Hope it happens soon.

[Mark]

Hello Mr. Miller,

One of your competitors is currently deploying their next-gen technology in a very limited market to customers that want to be on the cutting edge.

I'd wager that PHEV Prius mods have more total road miles than their cars, yet they are *delivering* them to customers and you guys are not.

I hope that you will consider expanding the program to include end users (like people that are willing to PAY to help you test the concept :), and expand the locations where it will be offered (since you need testing in all climates and road conditions).

I owned the first gen Prius and currently have an 04. I'll be rushing over to my local dealer with a check as soon as you start taking pre-orders...unless someone else beats you to the punch.

I can't wait to see what you're showing at the Detroit Auto Show this year!

[Felix Kramer]

We're pleased the company recognizes the enthusiasm and enterprise of its dealers and customers. With Magnussen's Toyota of Palo Alto and Toyota of San Luis Obispo converting their pre-order customers into waiting lists, this could be an opportunity for Toyota customers to show, through these or other dealers, that at least as many want a PHEV from Toyota as from GM (gm-volt.com has collected over 40,000 signups).

And we hope that since backed by whoever becomes President providing substantial incentives to buyers and manufacturers of PHEVs, Toyota will decide to expand its limited fleet evaluation program planned for 2009 into a larger demonstration program that makes cars available to early adopters and more corporate and public fleets. That's the way most technology companies evolve and improve their products: through distribution of safe, functional "version 1.0" or "beta" products.

-- Felix Kramer, Founder, The California Cars Initiative (CalCars.org)

[Barry Bishop]

My wife and I want the 2009 Prius, just not the one that CAN'T be plugged in. I'm just "The Average Joe" looking for a great car, and the Prius is what looks logical. If you want to contact me and offer me the opportunity to drive the plugin prius feel free to email me.

-Barry-

[Scott Siechen]

Add my voice to the chorus. I'm waiting with bated breath - please do all you can to get a PHEV Prius to market.

[radiocycle]

I just got on the deposit list here in San Luis Obispo. Can't wait to plug in! Please hurry and bring the PHEV to market! My old car can't last much longer, it has 316K!

[jimmhumm]

I am very excited about the release of such a ground breaking car. Hopefully I won't have to wait to long to get another enjoyable Toyota Vehicle. Thank you for the update. Let us know when they have a release date.

[Peter Hill]

I am personally getting a pug-in as soon as possible. Although I love Toyota, if someone else beats you guys to it, i will go with them. With todays rapid climate change we don't have time to waste, you goys should be on this 24/7.

We currently have a fleet of Prius here at Arlington County Government. Will we be among the first to recieve the new plug ins?

(comment edited to remove links - Roadmaster)

[David Eisenhour]

I am on the top of list to get a 2009 Prius from my local dealership. (Ordered in May 2008) And since then I have been doing research about the Prius and discovered the plug in hybrid was on the horizon.
So what am I to do? My current car is 20 years old and I intend to drive the next car I purchase for the next 20 years.
The only good solution is to wait and wait and wait. While 45 mpg may be good today what will the average fuel economy be like in 1 - 2 years. With all the new interest in saving on fuel costs and the public screaming for good mileage innovation is the order of the day.
I have 5 kids and should a plug in be available in the next 12 months from someone else than that will be the route I choose. I have a short commute 19 miles each direction and a plug in virtually eliminates my weekly need for fuel.
So for me it is not a question of Toyota, Chevy, Ford or Honda it is a question of who can help me rid my life of Exxon, Valero and BP.
I hope you guys move up the date for public release. I do like the options on the Prius, but I must wait until the right choice for my family shows up on the market.

[Mary E. Reeder]

I also hope to get on the Prius Plug In (PPI) list at my local dealer. Say how about going to Japan to buy a PPI? Is that a possibility? I had the 3rd Prius (01) in San Luis Obispo County and now I live in LS Co.and have an 06 Prius. All of my driving grandchildren wanted my 01 so I finally gave in and bought the o6. Here I am waiting for the newest Prius. Hurry. Puleeze.

[Trevor]

I was very disappointed when I read this post. Saying you hope to sell Plug-ins to us "someday" doesn't cut it. And saying the Prius PHEV is going to fleet in '09, well, how many vehicles that went into fleet testing eventually went mainstream? Not many. Fleet seems to be code for "We're just playing around testing this thing, but we're not serious about ever selling it to the public." (The electric RAV, for example)

I will *not* buy a new car until there is a fully electric or 40 mile range PHEV out there to buy. I'd much rather buy it from Toyota, but if Volt beats you to it, well, sorry, you just lost my business. I'm thrilled that Nissan has committed to a fully electric car, and am considering them as well. The awakening that has occurred in society is changing things, and I really hope Toyota doesn't sleep through it.

Please, please, please, show leadership in the context of world issues such as pollution, global warming, oil consumption, etc., and bring out products which improve the world instead of ruining it.

50 mpg is *so* last century. It's time to blow us away with something amazing, just like Apple blew us away with the iPhone. Bring us cars that get 100 mpg plus, or which don't use any gas at all. Small companies are doing it with their PHEV conversions, and companies like AFS Trinity are doing it. It's time Toyota takes leadership by bringing out cars that will save the world.

Please, don't wait. We need EVs and PHEVs now, not "sometime"!

[Jose G]

My next car will have a plug and I don't care who makes it. Will it be a Toyota Prius PHEV, Tesla White Star EV, Honda Insight PHEV (wishful thinking that they have a plug up their sleeves), or Chevy Volt PHEV?

I refuse to keep burning gasoline, oil is too valuable to burn.

I'll wait 'till 2010 and I really hope I am not forced to compromise and buy a Honda Civic GX (Nat. Gas) in the mean time.