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U.S. Prius Sales Drop 45 Percent

Recession, lower gas prices put a chill on sales

June 8, 2009

Toyota Prius • General Complaints • Acceleration • Availability • Battery • Fuel Gauge • Headlight • Insurance Costs • Service Delays • Tires • Transmission • Traction --- • Happy Hybrid Owners --- Test Drive • Three Lead Feet Meet Little Fuel Sipper --- News • Toyota Ready to Expand Safety Recall Beyond Floor Mats • U.S. Prius Sales Drop 45 Percent • Prius Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List • Toyota Parks Plans For New Prius Plant • Prius Vandalism On the Rise in California • Toyota Plans Prius Plant in Mississippi • Solar Panels to Power Prius Air Conditioning • Unexpected Problems Confront Prius Owners • NHTSA to Hear 'Silent Killer' Complaints • Reports of Prius Price Gouging Rise with Gas Prices • Prius, Porsche Models Top Most-Satisfied Lists • Should You Buy a Second-Hand Prius? • Winter Weather Warning for Prius Drivers • Prius Again Tops Owner Satisfaction Survey • Prius Helps Toyota Knock Off Ford for #2 Spot • Toyota Recalls Floor Mats, NHTSA Warns Prius Owners • Feds Probe Prius Runaway Acceleration • Prius Owners Report More Unintended Acceleration Incidents • Runaway Acceleration Plagues Prians • Toyota Delays Third-Generation Prius • Sales Top 1 Million but Some Owners Find Prius Doesn't Age Well • Prius Owners Losing Ground in Traction Battle • Prius Traction Control Complaints on the Rise • Prius Stalls in Snow; Owners Steamed • Prius Shuts Down in the Snow, Reader Complains • Prius Supplies Increase as Sales Slow • Prius Discounts Popping Up in Showrooms • EPA Finds Prius #1 in Gas Mileage • Prius Owners Question Mileage Claims • Prius Tops Consumer Satisfaction Survey • Hybrids Don't Always Deliver the Expected Fuel Economy

Government involvement in Chrysler and General Motors operations may coincide with a new emphasis on small, fuel-efficient cars. The American taxpayers, who start off owning a big chunk of the bankrupt automakers, better hope consumers warm up to the idea of green cars. But so far, they haven’t.

Toyota reports U.S. sales of its Prius hybrid are down a whopping 45 percent so far in 2009. It’s a far cry from this time last year, when Toyota dealers were tacking on a premium to the sticker price and had waiting lists for the cars.

Toyota says it has sold just 42,743 Prius models through the first five months of 2009, compared to 79,675 during the same period last year.

Why have American consumers fallen out of love with the Prius? Gasoline prices may have something to do with it.

At this time last year gasoline prices were about a $1.50 a gallon more than they are now, costing consumers an extra $30 per fill-up if they were driving a vehicle holding 20 or more gallons. It suggests consumers flocked to the Prius, not because it’s cute or they want to save the planet, but because they wanted to save money on fuel.

Gas prices may not be the only factor.

In a recession, consumers are buying fewer new cars altogether, and when they do make a purchase, are looking for the best deal possible. The Prius -- especially with the surcharge tacked on by dealers last year -- is more expensive than other small cars.

The Prius remains a top-selling model in Japan. In fact, it was the best-selling car in Japan during May, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association. Of course, gasoline prices are much higher in Japan than they are in the U.S.

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