DETROIT — The disaster in Japan could slow shipments of popular cars like Toyota’s Prius to auto lots. And many dealers are already taking advantage of expected shortages to raise prices.
Now, buyers will typically have to pay sticker prices, instead of enjoying discounts that had been the norm for small cars and hybrids imported from Japan. Besides the Prius, models that suddenly cost more include Honda’s Insight, Fit and CR-V; Toyota’s Yaris; and several Acuras and Infinitis.
Small cars such as the Yaris, with a $12,955 sticker price for a base model, and the Honda Insight, priced at $18,200, are losing their typical discounts of 5 percent to 10 percent.
The price increases “will last weeks, if not months,” said Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends and insights for , a website that tracks what cars sell for at dealerships.
Dealers are acting on the possibility that disruptions in car deliveries from Japan will cause a shortage of higher-demand vehicles, with demand exceeding supply. So, dealers won’t cut deals on those cars, Toprak said.
Car buyers rarely pay sticker price, also known as the MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Companies typically offer discounts of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars off the MSRP. Many also provide low-rate financing.
Used cars may be affected too. Higher prices on new cars will mean higher prices on used ones, said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. Once supplies of small cars and hybrids tighten and dealers stop negotiating on price, many customers lower their sights. Cheaper used cars become more appealing.
