Toyota Hybrid Credits Run Out Sunday

Can you hear the radio ad? “Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! It’s your last chance to get a hybrid tax credit on all Toyota and Lexus green machines!”

We warned you earlier this month, but if you still haven’t gotten off your duff but don’t feel like paying for more carbon-offsetting, this is your last chance to get a tax credit on a new Toyota or Lexus hybrid car or SUV. This is part of the government’s phased credit program. After each automaker sells a certain number of hybrid vehicles, the credits dwindle per quarter until they’re gone. For Toyota — which has 75% of the hybrid market share — that time is now.

To see how much tax credit ka-ching is left for each model, keep reading. You can also check out other makes and models and their corresponding tax credits here.

Lexus
2007 GS 450h: $387
2007-2008 RX 400h: $550 (FWD and AWD)

Toyota
2007 Camry Hybrid: $650
2007-2008 Highlander Hybrid: $650 (FWD and AWD)
2007 - 2008 Prius: $787

Comments

[J]

I wondered will the sales of those hybrid model plummets as soon as the credit runs out.

Is there still a long line for the Prius now?

[Dave T.]

J,
They've been selling pretty well even still yes. There are more of them available however than the Camry Hybrid. I did an inventory search and found only 3 nationwide in the Cars.com new car inventory. I think I found 46 2007 and 2008 prius' locally in comparison.

[Tor]

Prius is around. I've seen them at local dealerships. Before the dealer would have one. Now they have 10-15 and a bunch of used ones.

The tax credit system punishes success. Is that the way to go? Why does it not give higher credits to more fuel efficient cars?

[Dave T.]

Tor,
I won't tell you who to blame for the end of the credits but it is an administration decision. The tax credit system is actually designed to give the more fuel efficient cars bigger credits as well as the sale figures.

[Max Reid]

Fair chance should be given to every company, otherwise Toyota will monopolise.

Already their decision to apply Hybrid tech in gas-guzzlers with V6 engines like Highlander, RX400h, GS450h and with V8 engine LS600h is not a green decision.

As for the Prius, there is a standard edition which costs $1,200 less. That should be attractive for buyers.

[J]

Max Reid,

Fair? Well...Welcome to the real world, where the idea of fair does not exist. If some company is less competitive, it is their own problem.

But I do highly agree with you about the V6 and V8 hybrids shall not count as greenies.

[LM]

Actually, I'm 110% positive that if it was Ford who made the Prius and developed the technology first and had 78% of the hybrid market, those tax credits would NOT be expiring. It's purely a political decision that punishes mass-production and successful hybrid sales.

If the Administration REALLY cared about reducing our dependence on foreign oil AND combating global warming, it would be increase the CAFE standards and giving $5000 credits on cars that get over 40MPG, maybe phased out over a period of 5 years, as guzzler taxes on vehicles getting less than 30MPG increased from $1000 to $5000 over the same period.

That would be a truly revolutionary model of encouraging the market to produce efficient vehicles. This Administration only wants to make a difference for the worse.

[Commodore]

This article sounds like an advertisement for Toyoda. Keep your import-lover, tree-hugger bias out of your future pieces please, Mr. Thomas.

More on topic:
Hybrids are a joke to me. Recall when John Edwards called the war in Iraq a bumper sticker? That is basically what hybrids are - a bumper sticker for those who want to look green or make a political statement. You can buy a cheaper-than-a-Prius (and better looking) Honda Civic and do more for the environment than you will do with a Toy Prius. Unless of course you drive your Prius for 10+ years..

[Commodore]

LM:
I don't like Bush or the war and all that, but you are really misguided (a.k.a an idiot) for blaming everything on Bush.

The hybrid credits are the same for every manufacturer (Ford and GM also have hybrids you know) and the credits will expire for everyone else someday too. The credits were design to bolster hybrid sales and in that regard they are a success. But think about this: For the past several years, AMERICA has been paying its citizens to buy foreign cars. Do you see anything wrong with that? That is like the President driving around in an Acura or us pleading allengience to the Japanese national anthem.

So I think it is time to stop wasting your life away crafting more consipiracy theories about Bush, a new president will be in office soon

[J]

Commodore,

Please tell me that you didn't mean that really.
As a Civic owner, I can tell you, the Prius if in my hands, will definitely beat the Civic in terms of reducing emission and achieves better mileage. The only reason I got the Civic over the Prius is because I personally prefer not to drive a Toyota due to specific dealers in my region.

[Commodore]

Yes, I meant that. Hybrids are a joke! They are the smartest thing Toyota has ever done though.

Hydrogen, electricity, biodiesel, and even ethanol are what we really need to reduce our dependence on oil (which the Prius does not do), reduce pollution (which you can do by driving a smaller car, no necessarily an ugly one), and "stopping global warming" (which I am not convinced on).

[LM]

Commodore:

You must be in the 25% of people that actually still believes this guy knows what he's doing. Give it a rest, we all lost with this Administration.

The Big Three lobbied hard to put a cap on the credits because they felt threatened by Toyota and could not compete. What we need are more incentives to purchase fuel-efficient cars, not incentives that expire. Perhaps with a new Administration we will move in the correct direction and begin to undo 8 years of recklessness.

No matter what is out there, the Prius is still one of the, if not the, cleanest mass-produced cars available. There is no denying it so don't even try. Hydrogen is a pipe dream that MAY be feasible in 20 years. We don't have 20 years. We don't even have 10 years. It's people like you that need to get your head out of the sand. I can sleep at night because I know you are in the very small minority now and we can do something productive.

[Philip Seal]

Hybrids are a joke. The batteries are supposed to last for eight years. Since they are isolated from being used by themselves, you won't know if they working or not. Consider a laptop that must always be plugged into its charger. How would you know if the batteries were any good. The Nicads don't last long, they have memories. Not to mention that fact that charging any battery take fuel. A Hybrid that plugs into your house might work, but the electric bill will rise and that take more coal. Volkswagon has the answer with it clean diesel engine.