Hybrid Sales in USA - Up and Down
Ford Escape Hybrid
When it comes to selling hybrid cars, there’s no consistency, really. We’ll look at hybrid sales in the USA because the market there is the most vibrant. Other parts of the world still largely see a Prius as a posh toy for treehuggers.
According to National Automobile Dealers association data, 16,837 passenger hybrid cars were sold in USA in September 2009. The figure went up in October by whole 20% to reach 20,244. We expected to see another improvement in November, alas, it went down even against the September figures - 16,332. An almost similar pattern is observed in hybrid truck market. Hybrid sales figures for the last three months: 3,140 - 4,231 and 3,671 respectively.
It is not bad, however, to show tens of thousands in sales for a market sector that some five years ago was targeted by mockery.
The market leader, and you might have guessed it, Toyota Prius that sells around ten to thirteen thousand units monthly. In October it was the sixth most popular car in US. Not that there are that many American cars in the top, anyway.
The problem with hybrid market is lack of choice. Prius, Honda, a couple of Lexus models and very few and underpromoted American cars. Although a hybrid purchase qualifies for a tax credit in USA, the cars still keep receiving bad publicity from press. Let’s see if December can improve things.
You might be interested in:
Leave your response!