Confirmed: Toyota RAV4 Prime Launch On Schedule

Torque News reached out to Toyota this week and a spokesperson for the company confirmed that Toyota’s plan to produce, sell, and deliver the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) in America remains on track. Considering how reluctant automakers are to disclose production and sales results mid-month and mid-quarter, we were pleased to learn this news.

Related Story: Toyota RAV4 Prime Is 2nd-Fastest-Selling Vehicle In America

RAV4 Prime Launch Challenges
Despite launching during the worst year for vehicle sales in the modern era, amid a global shortage of critical components such as microprocessor chips and batteries, and while the shipping and transportation industry struggles with peaks and valleys in demand, the Toyota RAV4 Prime launch remains on schedule.

Related Story: Here Are the Models That Are Being Affected by the Chip Shortage

RAV4 Prime Launch Results To Date
The RAV4 Prime launched last year at the very end of July. Now in its tenth month of sales and approaching a new model year, 2022, fans and shoppers of the RAV4 Prime are hoping the vehicle will be produced in greater numbers for two reasons. First, so that they can be found for purchase, and Second, so that the higher than MSRP price levels may settle back to a more reasonable level.

Related Story: Toyota Way Ahead of Projected RAV4 Prime Deliveries In America - Hybrid Models Continue Strong Growth

Flexible Energy Options Offered By PHEVs
With the (over-hyped) gas shortage caused by a successful ransomware attack on a US pipeline, even those who didn’t suffer any fuel delays or inconveniences became aware that plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles like the RAV4 Prime, which can operate for as many as 42 miles without using any gasoline and has a 94 MPGe rating, are a sensible way to manage either electricity demand peaks or short-term interruptions in gasoline availability.

The initial launch of the RAV4 Prime was one of the most robust of any electrified vehicle model in EV history. Toyota has met or exceeded any of its production promises for the model thus far. Looking ahead to the one-year anniversary, we were pleased to hear from Toyota that despite all of the headwinds, the RAV4 Prime launch continues to move forward unabated.

The next formal report of deliveries by Toyota will be the first week of July following the end of Q2. Check back at that time to see how Toyota has done following the RAV4 Prime's eleventh month of deliveries.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin