The Car Customers Wait For 9/10/26
Speakers
Phil LeBeau
— Auto & Airlines Reporter, CNBC
Jessica Ettinger
— Anchor, CNBC
Bobby Crabtree
— Dealer, Crabtree Motor Group
Summary
CNBC's Your Money Minute reports on strong demand for the 2026 Toyota RAV4, which is now sold only as a hybrid. High gasoline prices and Toyota's dominant U.S. hybrid market share are driving waiting lists and sold-before-arrival demand, supporting Toyota's sales and vehicle values.
- The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is now built only as a hybrid, not as a pure internal combustion vehicle.
- Dealers report customers waiting two to three months, with RAV4s often sold before they arrive.
- High gasoline prices are cited as a factor supporting hybrid demand.
- Toyota accounts for nearly one out of every two hybrid vehicles sold in the U.S.
- RAV4 hybrids represent a large share of Toyota's U.S. hybrid sales.
- The base 2026 RAV4 price is about $33,000, with higher trims up to $50,000 according to Edmunds.
Ideas
High gas prices boost Toyota hybrids.
High gasoline prices and the hybrid-only 2026 RAV4 are driving strong demand and customer waiting lists. Toyota already dominates the U.S. hybrid market, making nearly one of every two hybrid vehicles sold, with RAV4 hybrids a large share, which supports Toyota's sales and helps vehicle values hold.
Up Next
This CNBC video, published September 10, 2026, features Phil LeBeau discussing TM. 1 trade idea extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers: Phil LeBeau · Tickers: TM