Toyota is raising prices across the board for hybrid models in Japan. Toyota blames rising steel and raw materials prices for the hike, which is about 3 percent on Toyota’s two gas-electric hybrids, the Prius and Harrier.
Next month, the base model Prius S will list for 2.38 million yen, or $22,000 – that’s up 73,500 yen. The Harrier Hybrid Premium S – sold in North America as the almost identical Lexus RX400h – goes up 136,500 yen to 4.76 million, or $43,000.
Price hikes between model years without a redesign are especially uncommon in Japan. Toyota has only raised prices in its home market between model years a handful of times in the last 30 years.
