Japanese Thieves Target Prius Hybrids for Platinum and Palladium
- Catalytic converter thefts jump 16-fold in Chiba prefecture
- Prices of the metals spiked following the invasion of Ukraine
Older Prius models contain more of those metals than many other cars.
Photographer: Toru Hanai/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius hybrids are being targeted by thieves in Japan for components containing scarce metals that jumped in value following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There were 173 thefts of mufflers or catalytic converters in Chiba prefecture last year, 16 times more than in 2021, according to local police. About 90% of those were from Prius’s, they said.