If you believe what most of the press, and the current administration with an agenda barrages us with, you might be inclined to think EVERYONE wants hybrids and electrics no matter what they cost. The REAL truth is being revealed in the numbers, ESPECIALLY in the premium space.
Everyone is picking on the Leaf and Volt but those rides are selling in DROVES compared to the premium offerings like the S400 hybrid, Infiniti M35h, BMW active hybrids, etc
It seems that the entire market revolves around the niche of urban cars and very price conscious buyers, and if you don’t fall into those economics you are doomed to fail. The manufacturers continue to push these $40k+ rides as the future while the biggest potential market being unserved is the sub $16k market.
The ONLY Hybrid or Electric that the world is somewhat clamoring for is one that doesn't exist yet. Where is the demand? It is the Prius style car for UNDER $16k
If you build that, then the traction may finally start to occur although it has been clear for a long time that the ONLY place these specialty vehicles will serve is in Urban markets, and only to the most price conscious customers that exist.
Take a look at the hard numbers for 2011 and see what we mean. If these were simply a normal addition to the lineup most would have been cancelled in a long time ago. However you can’t drop a halo car, and to many of the automakers this is a market you will never make money in, but can’t be without.
Certainly you can argue that hybrid sales numbers are down because of the shortages from Japan. But there is no way even without the natural disasters they could have made up enough ground to be anything but a novelty.
Read the numbers and weep!
| U.S. hybrid sales for December 2011 | | | |
| | | | |
| Model | Dec-11 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2010 |
| Altima | 34 | 3,236 | -51.80% |
| BMW Hybrid 7 | 51 | 338 | 234.70% |
| BMW X6 | 3 | 43 | -82.70% |
| Buick LaCrosse | 982 | 1,801 | n/a |
| Buick Regal | 86 | 123 | n/a |
| Cad. Escalade | 79 | 819 | -32.30% |
| Chevy Malibu Hybrid | 0 | 24 | -94.00% |
| Chevy Silverado | 195 | 1,001 | -46.50% |
| Chevy Tahoe | 40 | 519 | -63.60% |
| Ford Escape | 1,080 | 10,089 | -9.80% |
| Ford Fusion | 888 | 11,286 | -45.80% |
| GMC Sierra | 10 | 164 | -68.60% |
| GMC Yukon Hybrid | 49 | 598 | -51.00% |
| Honda Civic | 565 | 4,703 | -35.90% |
| Honda CR-Z | 564 | 11,330 | 115.90% |
| Honda Insight | 690 | 15,549 | -25.80% |
| Hyundai Sonata | 1,907 | 19,673 | n/a |
| Infiniti M35h | 54 | 378 | n/a |
| Lexus CT 200h | 2,259 | 14,381 | n/a |
| Lexus GS450h | 33 | 282 | -7.50% |
| Lexus HS 250h | 274 | 2,864 | -73.10% |
| Lexus LS600hL | 9 | 84 | -34.90% |
| Lexus RX400/450h | 1,233 | 10,723 | -29.00% |
| Linc. MKZ Hybrid | 434 | 5,739 | 381.50% |
| Mazda Tribute | 36 | 484 | -26.10% |
| Mercedes ML450 | 0 | 1 | -99.90% |
| Mercedes S400HV | 37 | 309 | -67.60% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 89 | 1,571 | 356.70% |
| Porsche Panamera S | 26 | 52 | n/a |
| Toy. Highlander | 563 | 4,549 | -39.00% |
| Toyota Camry | 1,797 | 9,241 | -36.60% |
| Toyota Prius | 17,004 | 136,463 | -3.20% |
| VW Touareg Hybrid | 29 | 390 | 1757.10% |
| All hybrids | 31,100 | 268,807 | -2.20% |
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| U.S. plug-in electric sales for December 2011 | | | |
| | | | |
| Model | Dec-11 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2010 |
| Chevrolet Volt | 1,529 | 7,671 | 2253.10% |
| Nissan LEAF | 954 | 9,674 | 50815.80% |
| Smart ED | 182 | 388 | 12833.30% |
| Mitsubishi i | 76 | 80 | n/a |
| All plug-in cars | 2,741 | 17,813 | n/a |
Source: Hybridcars.com