New Hybrid cars,a 3yr waiting list, Why?
Created July 30, 2006, at 1:53 am by Anonymous
Aloha, I am a student at UHM and my Economic professor posed a question: Why does New Hybrid cars have a 3 year waiting list?
Please help me understand.
Much Mahalos,
Sophia
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There are many answers to that question...
1. They don't. There are plenty available on dealer lots.... though this may be different for you in HI. This could lead to a different answer...
2. Your on an island and subject to different supply chains/availability.
3. $3.00+/gallon gasoline.
4. Manufacturers can't make enough to supply the accelerating demand (largely due to battery manufacturers not being able to supply the parts).
5. Caution on the side of manufacturers not to over-invest in production of vehicles that still face a somewhat uncertain future (sales-wise).
6. Shady sales tactics by dealers - hype the vehicle, say there's a 3-year waiting list, then call you with some story about an extra hybrid in their last shipment that's yours today if you want it.... hoping you'll jump at the offer.
7. . . .
And when (if) you do get your hands on one, it'll cost about $27,000 or more! (I think the MSRP is around $21,000). SO there's also gouging involved. When the Prius first came out, the waiting list was about one year. WIth gas prices what they are, and rising demand for gasoline and hybrid cars, the three-year waitlist makes sense.
Your professor probably doesn't know much about hybrid cars. There are many different models of hybrids that you can drive off the lot today in Honolulu. If your professor says it's not true tell him/her if you find several new models that readily available for purchase that they buy one for you then. However i'm assuming he/she is just asking a supply/demand real world question. Also assuming he/she is talking about HYBRID is referring to the poster child hybrid car "Toyota Prius" which is in very high demand. Which at a stretch could take 3 years but highly unlikely who would put a deposit down on car for 3 years on something they can't drive. However for reasons already listed in previous posts would suffice for your question.
Aloha,
Wayne
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