NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Commercial
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • New Bike Prices
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertise
NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
Home Electric

Toyota Prius hybrid axed for New Zealand line-up

by Matthew Hansen
September 21, 2021
Toyota Prius hybrid axed for New Zealand line-up

A Toyota New Zealand spokesperson has confirmed that the Prius hybrid has been culled from the Japanese marque’s local line-up.

The model was quietly axed in May, leaving the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid as the lone Prius offered in Kiwi showrooms for the moment. “The Prius hybrid was discontinued from our line from May production this year,” said the spokesperson.

The update follows the departure of the Prius C hatchback. A new updated Prius C variant was recently unveiled in Japan. “At this stage no we have no plans to introduce it to our line-up,” the spokesperson added of the new C.

The Prius inherited a tech and visual update in 2019, which included a cleaner front end, a new voice-activated mobile assistant, and more.

Although older grey imports were here first, the Prius was first offered here officially by Toyota in 2003. In 2019 Toyota’s local arm reported that more than 5500 Prius-badged models had been sold locally over its lifespan.

The nameplate has somewhat been a victim of its own success; the hybrid tech that it helped pioneer is now appearing in almost every other passenger vehicle Toyota offers locally. While the RAV4 hybrid and Corolla hybrid are two of the country’s best-selling electrified vehicles, the Prius is among the slowest selling.

According to figures from the Motor Industry Association, 13 new Prius’ were registered between the start of the year and the end of July. This is dwarfed by the 2180 RAV4 hybrids, 1072 Corolla hybrids, and 672 C-HR hybrids registered in the same period.

For those curious, a total of 38 Prius Prime PHEVs were registered in the same period. July, the first month where the New Zealand Government’s Clean Car Discount came into effect, represented the model’s equal-best month for sales, with nine recorded.

Share
Previous Post

Incredible multi-million dollar HSV trio surfaces for auction

Next Post

US investigation opened into whether Tesla Autopilot is safe

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Autocar is New Zealand’s leading automotive magazine. Delivering news reviews from the automotive world, including commentary from leading automotive writers and covers the scope of motoring including new cars, classic cars, EVs and motorbikes.

Our team

Publisher: Mark Petch
General Manager: Gavin Shaw
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Senior Editor: Peter Louisson
News Editor: Zane Shackleton
Art Director: Alex Schultz
Photographer: Tom Gasnier

To Subscribe

nzautocar.subscription.co.nz

Contact Us

Advertising:
Gavin Shaw
gavin@autocar.co.nz
.
Editorial:
Kyle Cassidy
kyle@autocar.co.nz
.
NZ Autocar
PO Box 44 304
Point Chevalier
Auckland 1246
New Zealand

Categories

  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Commercial
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Motorsport
  • News
  • Reviews
  • YouTube

Useful Links

Home
News
Motorsport
New Car Prices
New Bike Prices
Subscriptions
Competitions
Contact Us
Advertising
Terms and Conditions

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Commercial
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • New Bike Prices
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertise

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.