Hybrid and VW Diesel Sales Analysis: Prius Outsells Insight 8 to 1 ...
Other Toyota hybrids showed mixed results: Camry: down 50%; Highlander: down 32%; Lexus RX: up 155%; GS: down 77%; LS: down 62%. But the new Lexus HS 250 sold a very respectable 1,527 units, only slightly less than the Insight.
Honda’s Insight (1,739 units) is a sales dud, only modestly improving on last year’s Civic hybrid numbers. Seems there’s more to the Prius’ success than its body shape. The Civic Hybrid (down 85%) is becoming irrelevant.
In light of the highly-hyped new Fusion/Milan hybrids (1,333 units), Ford’s 14.3% increase in hybrid sales looks feeble. Escape/Mariner hybrid sales dripped 53%. This continues the raise the question as to whether Ford’s hybrid program is anything other than a PR/EPA/Govt. fleet sales gambit, with volumes limited purposely because Ford’s hybrid costs likely exceed incremental revenue.
GM sold 1,159 hybrids, down 23%, out of its arsenal of various hybrid technology systems. Nissan sold an irrelevant 229 Altima hybrids.
VW sold 4,008 TDI units in October, which represents 24% of total VW sales. TDI share of models sales is: Jetta SportsWagon: 90%; Tuareg: 45%; Jetta Sedan: 26%; Golf: 19%. Total Jetta sales: 3658. VW’s total diesel sales represent an amount equal to 16% of the hybrid market.
[Green Car Congress]
The Prius really does hit the sweet spot for those that value MPG’s and green cred in a new car purchase. The Insight is a half-assed copy that is only slightly cheaper. The Civic doesn’t get the Prius’s MPGs and doesn’t look like a hybrid. The Escape/Mariner is expensive, hard to find, and not as efficient. The Fusion/Milan is expensive and not as efficient. And diesel cars are expensive and still suffer from all the negative diesel stereotypes as well as being dirtier than gas hybrids.
Seems there’s more to the Prius’ success than its body shape.
I would argue that it’s not that simple. Look at how far all the “standard design” hybrids fell. Seems that there IS something to buying a hybrid – in general – that has to do with it looking like a hybrid. (The lone cited exception being a large increase in RX400h sales)
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