"I have never in my life seen or felt what's happening right now," says Toyota of Boardman sales manager Stephanie DiCarlo. She thought she'd seen it all after nearly 30 years in the auto sales biz.

"People are very concerned about the cost of both their vehicle and their future costs with gas," DiCarlo says.

Those soaring gas prices have lots of folks taking a different road.

"Really looking for hybrids, which is Toyota's specialty, but also electric cars," DiCarlo explained Thursday.

Problem is, that road is a dead end for many.
There just aren't enough hybrids to go around.
Toyota will roll out its first all-electric vehicle this summer.
But DiCarlo worries that between a lack of supply and a lack of charging and maintenance stations, the US isn't ready.

We asked her why would the company spend so much on advertising but not have the product to deliver

"I think they want to," she said. "I'm pretty sure computer chips are still an issue."

Those chips are critical for the cars to function. 

"They're building what they can," DiCarlo said.

But that's not adding up to much.
DiCarlo says her monthly inventory has been all but cut in half.

"New car inventory, we usually have about 400 on this lot...we have two Highlanders. That's all that's available for sale today."

So what's the consumer looking for something more fuel-efficient - even if it's not a hybrid - to do?

"You need to get your name on a car in advance," referring to programs at dealerships that reserve cars that haven't yet arrived on the lot. "You need a three to six month game plan, especially for coming out of a lease."

A game plan that will take plenty of patience and probably a little luck to succeed.