The Prius, Toyota's gas-electric hybrid model, remains popular among environmentally conscious consumers, and is now widely available on dealer's lots--for the first time since the current version
went on sale in the U.S. three years ago.
Priuses now sit on dealer lots an average 17 days--up from as low as five or six days a couple of months ago, Toyota says. Still, the turnover
rate is extremely quick, compared with the national average for a new car: 64 days. Toyota expects to import 122,590 Priuses this year, up from a previous forecast of 110,000.
Sales fell
12% last month (although they are down only 1.4% for the year), due to reduced tax credits, lower gasoline prices and increased competition--including from its own Camry brand. Toyota never intended
for Prius shortages to develop, according to Toyota group Vice President Jim Farley. "We had no idea it was going to be a hit," he says. Now, "it's a family jewel."
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