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popular choice among Australian car buyers, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, known for its fuel efficiency, has been met with unexpectedly long wait times ranging from 12 months to two years. As a result, frustrated customers are starting to cancel their orders.
Toyota Australia has faced challenges meeting the demand for the RAV4 Hybrid, leading to extended delivery delays. While Toyota had counted on canceled orders to reduce the lengthy waiting period, the car manufacturer has struggled to catch up with the surge in customer demand.
The RAV4 Hybrid, designed to use significantly less fuel than traditional family SUVs, witnessed a spike in popularity as fuel prices soared to record highs. Despite increasing production by 40%, Toyota continues to grapple with delivering orders in a timely manner.
Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia's head of sales and marketing, mentioned a cancellation rate of three to four percent for various RAV4 Hybrid models, factored into their production forecasts. Anticipating an improvement in the situation, Hanley suggested that while the wait times might decrease to under 12 months by July next year, customers might still face a wait post-July 2024, although significantly reduced from the current delays.
However, plans remain subject to change, and Toyota is working on ramping up production in the second half of this year and even further in the first quarter of next year, aiming to enhance the supply of the RAV4 Hybrid. The company is optimistic about potentially alleviating customer wait times in the near future, assuring a more reasonable timeframe for vehicle delivery by next year.
