Introduction of a new series is the perfect time to reward geographic areas for their purchase history and let the loss leaders go. Same principal is used on the allocation of new Toyotas to their dealers, the ones selling the most last month get a bigger share this month.
I am late to the Land Cruiser world. This forum has had many recent posts about the sales for the last two years being around 3,000 Land Cruisers per year. That’s is not enough volume to justify the huge costs associated with bringing a new model 300 here. They have to provide at least three to our testing facility at no cost for the facility to destroy and then issue a permit for more units to arrive.
Rolls Royce probably does not sell that many units per year here either, but at prices over $250,000 each, perhaps it is more viable as many of our Uber rich have more than one, just like with Ferraris and Maseratis.
For me, the relatively low price to acquire a limited production LC was wonderful.
I just returned from Indiana where one dealer in Indianapolis has acquired all 30+ LC units in his five state sales area. By the way, the “premium” added to the sticker price is getting bigger with every passing day. These surcharges make my “list” price seem like a bargain.
Also, the 4Runners are scarce as well with premiums being added to list price. We ordered in early spring three 2021 4Runner Venture Special Editions for three of my wife’s daughters. List price is the norm. The third unit is at the port in Seattle and will be delivered in late July after the train ride to Chicago where the accessories are installed and then trucked to the local dealership. Said dealer got a different model 4Runner in on a dealer trade and there is a $3,000 premium added.
Folks in the know are aware that the next model year 4Runners will lack the current V6 and frame and are not pleased at the idea of a small displacement engine with turbo charger(s) similiar to the Tundra getting a 3.44L V6 with twin turbos.