Published

Thieves Just Say “No” to Prius

Car thieves in the U.S. shun the Toyota Prius hybrid, according to the National Crime Information Center.
#hybrid

Share

Car thieves in the U.S. shun the Toyota Prius hybrid, according to the National Crime Information Center.

The NCIC says the theft rate for 2008-2010 model Prius cars is one per 606 units on the road about one-eighth the national average for all vehicles of that vintage. The center says stolen Prius models also have an extremely high 97% recovery rate.

Nearly half the 2,400 Prius thefts reported in the last 12 years occurred in California, which also has the highest Prius population. Florida, New York and Washington followed with 127, 111 and 92 cumulative thefts, respectively.

The NCIC doesn't say why Prius thefts are so low, but analysts point to the car's unusual powertrain and the niche appeal of its parts. Toyota Motor Corp. has sold more than 1.2 million Prius vehicles in the U.S.

RELATED CONTENT

  • On Ford Maverick, Toyota Tundra Hybrid, and GM's Factory Footprint

    GM is transforming its approach to the auto market—and its factories. Ford builds a small truck for the urban market. Toyota builds a full-size pickup and uses a hybrid instead of a diesel. And Faurecia thinks that hydrogen is where the industry is going.

  • Internal Combustion Engines’ Continued Domination (?)

    According to a new research study by Deutsche Bank, “PCOT III: Revisiting the Outlook for Powertrain Technology” (that’s “Pricing the Car of Tomorrow”), to twist a phrase from Mark Twain, it seems that the reports of the internal combustion engine’s eminent death are greatly exaggerated.

  • FCA Opens the Door to The Future

    FCA introduced a high-tech concept vehicle today, the Chrysler Portal, at the event previously known as the “Consumer Electronics Show,” now simply CES.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions