The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops

The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops

      One buyer was informed that the delivery of his hybrid Toyota would take more than 2.5 years.

      Demand for Toyota's hybrid models has surged over the last year. Concurrently, some suppliers are experiencing shortages of essential components, particularly magnets required for hybrid electric motors.

      The demand for hybrid vehicles saw a significant rise in 2024, especially among those who are hesitant to switch to electric vehicles. Despite being the global leader in hybrids, Toyota is struggling to meet the demand for its fuel-efficient models in several regions, including the U.S., leading to extensive waiting periods for many buyers.

      Sources indicate that there are shortages affecting Europe, Japan, China, and India as well. For instance, in India, wait times can range from two to nine months depending on the hybrid model, with Japan experiencing waits of two to five months. Similarly, in Europe, waiting times have approximately doubled since 2020, averaging around 60 to 70 days.

      Increasing Demand, Increasing Challenges

      Toyota is not only grappling with heightened hybrid demand but also facing bottlenecks within its hybrid supply chain, as noted by several industry figures to Reuters. A specific shortage of magnets being supplied to Toyota's Aisin Corp has caused delays in the availability of hybrid motors. Additionally, Denso is facing its own supply chain issues at second- and third-tier suppliers, which has further delayed deliveries of inverters.

      Toyota has reported a “significant” increase in hybrid demand across all regions in the past year, stating that “the production capacity for hybrid parts and components from our suppliers and from our in-house manufacturing aligns with our annual production plans and our vehicle assembly capacity.”

      Long Waits Result in Lost Sales

      In some instances, buyers are facing years of waiting for their vehicles. An Indian customer, Saugata Dasgupta, shared that he ordered a Toyota Innova Hycross SUV in January 2023. By August 2024, he still hadn’t received it and was informed of an additional wait of 25 to 30 weeks. Earlier this month, the wait was adjusted to another 15 to 25 weeks, leading him to opt for a vehicle from Mahindra & Mahindra instead.

      In Europe, models like the Yaris Cross hybrid and the RAV4 plug-in hybrid are reportedly some of the most difficult to obtain.

      Looking forward, Toyota's expansion in North Carolina may help alleviate the shortage. The company plans to start shipping batteries to that facility this month for use in its increasing range of electrified vehicles.

The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops

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The Surge in Toyota Hybrids is Causing Buyers to Wait Months for a Minor Component | Carscoops

A buyer was informed that the delivery of his hybrid Toyota would exceed 2.5 years.