Comments on: Annual Hybrid Sales Drop for First Time

By: H. Goswick

H. Goswick — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:24:04 +0000

All this talk of Ford selling 25,000 of its new 2010 Fussion/Milan hyrbrids this year is no more than hype. It is March and so far as I can find out Ford has zero of these new hybrids for sales. I have emailed Ford asking for availability in Macon, Georgia, but have not even gotten a reply. There is nothing on their website other than a promo. I think they called these cars 2010 models because that is when they hope to be able to have one for sale. Unfortunately, if they fold in 2009 no one will ever have the opportunity to buy one.

By: Poopy

Poopy — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:44:49 +0000

i am waiting for the poop powered hybrid

By: Boom Boom

Boom Boom — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:55:22 +0000

GM's hybrids are hopeless. They don't get the predicted fuel economy and no independent testing has given them good ratings. Not many people are buying the big SUV hybrids and fewer will by the trucks. (Look at the numbers on the last hybrid dashboard.) Truck drivers will be the last hold-outs against hybrids. GM put out lame hybrids and is suffering poor sales as a result. Consumers aren't fools. Everybody talks about the "next quarter" for GM as if, they're just on the cusp of getting a successful hybrid out, but they never do. (Chrysler is even more hopeless.)

Ford, on the other hand, just beat both Nissan and Toyota in a head to head test with their Fusion in Car and Driver (the Malibu finished a distant last place) and seems able to compete with the Japanese alternatives. The Ford Escape Hybrid currently sells more than all the GM hybrids combined (and more than Honda and all of Toyota's hybrid SUVs, too), so Ford seems the best hope against Toyota. I don't know how long it'll be before they dare take on the Prius, but they can still beat Toyota to the punch with a Hybrid mini-van or mid-size wagon, so there is room for competition.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:06:25 +0000

two-mode……..two-mode………

It does seem that the SUV buyers took a liking to the hybrid drivetrains and bought them in larger numbers then even I expected. The truck drivers I would expect would be even more interested given that alot of these are for work and would be greatly appreciated for their fuel economy…..like getting diesel.

By: Detfan

Detfan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:39:33 +0000

The articles omits the new GM hybrid offerings coming the first quarter of 2009, the Chevy Silverado two-stage hybrid, the GMC Sierra two-stage hybrid, and the Saturn Vue two-stage hybrid(giving Vue buyers two hybrid options). If the trucks sell 10% hybrids, then GM could be selling in excess of 4,000 hybrid trucks a month.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:50:48 +0000

I predict…..and I am not one for predictions….that 2009 sales will beat 2007 sales….but just barely. I am not sure if all these introductions will increase sales of hybrids, but perhaps limit the share of competitors more. The full size SUVs are doing well from GM and the Ford midsize offering I expect will have long waiting lists. I don’t expect the Insight to get 100,000 as expected, but still sell a respectful amount. Finally, I would expect the Prius share of the hybrid market to fall below 40% from its current 50-55% range.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:14:19 +0000

It is exciting to see the hybrid SUV sales increase for GM in December, although you have to wonder at what level of discount. It really seems that hybrid sales will be tightly aligned with fuel prices in the coming months, even more so than economic conditions in general. Adding the new Insight and Fusion will likely help, but if gas remains below $2/gallon I don’t see 2009 beating 2007.