U.S. hybrid sales increased by 38%, Prius leads segment

According to data released by R.L. Polk & Co., an automotive research firm, U.S. registrations of new hybrid vehicles increased by 38% in 2007 to a record 350,289. Even though hybrids make up just 2.2 percent of the U.S. automotive market, they are growing even as overall auto sales decline by 3 percent.

Of course, Toyota’s Prius hybrid led the sales taking up 51 percent of the hybrid market, up 43 percent from 2006.

R.L. Polk & Co., noted that most buyers tend to stay within the segment they were previously in when opting for a hybrid. More than half of those who purchased a Lexus...
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M53R - 4/21/2008 5:17:54 PM

+8 Boost

This is expected because as petrol prices are going up, people will be looking for cars that get good mileage, and the Prius (hybrids in general) achieve that.

carchick - 4/21/2008 8:04:09 PM

+3 Boost

I think hybrid purchases are almost perfectly coordinated with gas prices at the moment. Interesting because when gas prices dipped a bit (even though the long term forcast was for them to go up) hybrid sales went down..

LexusKindaGuy12 - 4/21/2008 8:54:58 PM

+5 Boost

hybrids are the way to go until an alternative fuel is available

EI34 - 4/21/2008 10:06:28 PM

-5 Boost

toylexus is going to fail! o_O

EI34 - 4/21/2008 10:06:56 PM

-4 Boost

BMW rulez!! ;-)

lexusrox123 - 4/22/2008 8:50:50 AM

+1 Boost

shut up, kid

holmstar - 4/22/2008 9:30:57 AM

+1 Boost

What a bunch of fanboys. Damn.

holmstar - 4/22/2008 9:39:08 AM

+1 Boost

hybrid still have a way to go. A rabbit tdi can match or better many hybrids in termso of mpg. What I'd like to see is a diesel series hybrid. With one of those I bet you would get 100 mpg pretty easily.

mattrix - 4/22/2008 11:33:37 AM

+1 Boost

That would also be VW:

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/03/revealed-volksw.html

monkeyrun - 4/22/2008 2:15:29 PM

+1 Boost

I will trade in my Prius once this hits the market.

autopro - 4/23/2008 5:27:42 PM

+1 Boost

I like the diesel\hybrid idea,but either way hybrid is here to stay.Lexus is bring out a stand alone sedan with approx. 40mpg in mid 2009.Perfect timing,they will sell like hot cakes.