Larger Toyota Prius V delayed further
The Prius V at the Chicago Auto Show.
Although the North American market should be impacted less than others
The first Toyota Prius-derivative, the larger Prius V, was set to make its debut in the US this year, but Prius V buyers might have to wait until next year because of supply shortages.
Still, US buyers probably won’t have to wait as long as those in Europe, for instance.
Because the Prius V will only be a 5 passenger vehicle, rather than the 7 passenger version slated for Europe and other markets, the Prius V will continue to use NiMH battery technology. The 7 passenger version, which uses a lithium-ion battery to make room for an extra row of seating, will face even further delays because of a lithium-ion battery shortage.
Interestingly, while I’ve been a proponent of the 7 passenger version for the US market, early orders in Japan demonstrates the 5 passenger version is selling about 2.5 times better than the 7 passenger version.
