US Hybrid Sales Increase 11% in January 2007

Combined US sales of light-duty hybrids exceeded 17,591 units in January 2007, according to sales reports from automakers, up 11% from January 2006. (GM is not yet breaking out the sales of its hybrid models, and so GM results are not included in that figure). Hybrids represented 1.6% of all new light duty vehicle sales in January 2007, up from 1.4% in January 2006.

Sales of all light duty vehicles in the US for the month dropped 4.6% year-on-year, according to data from Autodata. Passenger car sales dropped 9.1% from the prior year, while light truck sales almost held steady, with only a 0.3% decrease.

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1970toyotamarc - 2/5/2007 3:10:32 PM

+1 Boost

Mother Earth expresses a heartfelt thank you.

Bill - 2/5/2007 3:25:05 PM

-2 Boost

LOL

You sure about that? What will Mother Earth say when those batteries are dumped at the bottom of an ocean? Or when the hybrid vehicle, let's say an LS600h, is travelling at highway speed consuming lot's of gas. Mother Earth sure is thankful, alright...

XYZZ - 2/6/2007 5:32:10 AM

+1 Boost

bill, if you're gonna criticize hybrids, LEARN about 'em first instead just doing kneejerk stupid comments.

all the batteries are RECYCLED.

from highway speeds, ALL hybrids (ls600h on down to insight) USE slowing energy to recharge batteries, rather than just DUMPING it as heat.

XYZZ - 2/6/2007 6:10:43 AM

+1 Boost

why do you feel bad for people SMARTER than you?

rack - 2/6/2007 9:42:05 AM

+2 Boost

People who buy SVT's get scammed. They take mediocre engines and put a blower on them, and hope they dont fall apart until after the warranty is up.

Bill, dont be a dumbass they recycle batteries.

XYZZ - 2/7/2007 6:04:09 AM

+1 Boost

well, did you ever get cash back JUST for BUYING a stupid f150 lightning? (other than the cash on the hood just to unload slow sellers?)

and how much does it cost to FEED the dumb beast, every time you fill up?

well, until the fed's TAX CREDITS for prius buyers got slashed, prius buyers actually GOT PAID to buy those advanced vehicles. and they further SAVE every time they need to fill up.

CR did a cost analysis on how long it took to "recover" the hybrid premium. but they made an error in comparing the prius to a corolla. it should've been more properly compared to a camry. (this was before the camry hybrid came out.)

still, according to their calculations, the prius saved enuff to account for the hybrid premium in three years. and PAID THE BUYER BACK with additional savings every year thereafter.

when the figures were re-calculated comparing against the camry rather than the corolla, and including the original tax credit, the "payback period" became NEGATIVE! which means in effect, the buyer GOT PAID just to buy the prius. and ADDITIONAL savings from lower fuel bills STARTED FROM DAY ONE.

so yeah, prius buyers were/are FAR SMARTER than supercharged V8 truck buyers!