August 2010 Dashboard: Hybrids Down, Clean Diesels Up
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The U.S. auto market experienced its weakest August sales since 1983. Overall sales dropped by 21 percent compared to last August, when the Cash for Clunkers programs gave an all-too-brief boost to car sales.
Sales of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI were up nearly 30 percent compared to a year ago.
Gas-electric hybrids, which disproportionately benefited from Clunkers a year ago, took a harder fall in August, dropping by 38 percent compared to last year. In a rare bright spot, the Ford Fusion Hybrid—a vehicle that racked up numerous “Car of the Year” awards in 2010—saw big gains in sales in August. Ford sold 3,010 Fusion Hybrids—up from 1,226 a year ago and nearly double from last month’s sales.
While less than one-third the size of the hybrid market, sales of clean diesels fared better compared to a year ago. The dozen clean diesel vehicles we are tracking are up by 52 percent compared to last August, and up by 20 percent compared to last month. While the iconic Prius fell by 37.5 percent since last year when Clunkers was in full swing, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the quintessential clean diesel, is up by nearly 30 percent from a year ago. Nonetheless, hybrid technology is expected to spread faster and grow much bigger than clean diesel in the U.S. in the coming years.
Honda posted the first sales of its new model, the CR-Z hybrid coupe. Honda sold a respectable 694 units during a partial month of sales. The introduction of the CR-Z, plus the jump in Fusion Hybrid sales, produced total hybrid sale of 24,002 units—essentially flat compared to last month.
August 2010 Hybrid Car Sales Numbers
Hybrids sold in the US (August 2010): 24,002
Hybrid Take-Rate: 2.41%
US hybrid sales for August 2010
| Model | Units | vs. last month | vs. August 2009 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 11,799 | -16.3% | -37.5% | 91,940 | -2.0% |
| Ford Fusion | 3,010 | 89.8% | 27.9% | 14,604 | 41.1% |
| Honda Insight | 2,030 | 9.3% | -52.0 | 14,145 | 0.7% |
| Lexus RX450h | 1,370 | 1.0% | -21.9% | 9,771 | 9.5% |
| Toyota Camry | 1,165 | -8.7% | -44.9% | 10,075 | -42.8% |
| Honda Civic | 761 | 23.3% | 6.1% | 4,489 | -68.0% |
| Ford Escape | 728 | -35.8% | -57.5% | 7,983 | -28.9% |
| Honda CR-z | 694 | n/a | n/a | 694 | n/a |
| Lexus HS 250h | 594 | 260.0% | 9.4% | 7,251 | 1,235.4% |
| Toyota Highlander | 486 | -15.5% | -41.9% | 4,506 | -46.1% |
| Altima | 284 | -24.9% | -91.0% | 4,710 | -36.1% |
| Chevy Silverado | 328 | 185.2% | 98.8% | 1,160 | 89.2% |
| Mercury Milan | 94 | 4.4% | -60.8% | 701 | -29.2% |
| Cadillac Escalade | 88 | -15.4% | -58.9% | 826 | -43.0% |
| Chevy Tahoe | 88 | 10.0% | -60.4% | 1,081 | -47.9% |
| Mercedes S400 | 84 | 21.7% | 281.8% | 677 | 2977.3% |
| Mercedes ML450 | 79 | 229.2% | n/a | 739 | n/a |
| GMC Yukon | 76 | -2.6% | -39.7% | 900 | -20.3% |
| Mercury Mariner | 62 | -27.9% | -84.1% | 652 | -50.4% |
| Mazda Tribute | 55 | -19.1% | -71.1% | 441 | -47.9% |
| GMC Sierra | 51 | 155.0% | -16.4% | 355 | 35.0% |
| BMW ActiveHybrid 7 | 26 | 188.9% | n/a | 53 | n/a |
| Lexus GS450h | 15 | -6.3% | -68.8% | 210 | -30.2% |
| Lexus LS600hL | 15 | 7.1% | 50.0% | 81 | -58.5% |
| Chevy Malibu | 12 | -14.3% | -97.3% | 385 | -89.1% |
| Saturn Aura | 3 | -25.0% | -95.4% | 45 | -83.9% |
| BMW X6 | 3 | 0.0% | n/a | 231 | n/a |
| Saturn Vue | 2 | n/a | -99.5% | 49 | -97.8% |
| All hybrids | 24,002 | 0.7% | -38.3% | 178,754 | -11.3% |
| All vehicles | 997,468 | -5.0% | -21.0% | 7,661,592 | 8.4% |
August 2010 Clean Diesel Car Sales Numbers
Clean Diesels sold in the US (August 2010): 7,318
Diesel Take-Rate: 0.73%
US clean diesel sales for August 2010
| Model | Units | vs. last month | vs. August 2009 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Jetta | 4,245 | 18.9% | 29.3% | 27,497 | 4.7% |
| BMW X5 | 560 | 23.1% | 102.2% | 4,909 | 120.7% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 472 | 15.1% | n/a | 3,681 | n/a |
| Mercedes GL320 | 383 | 115.2% | 59.6% | 2,057 | 19.8% |
| Audi Q7 | 371 | 50.2% | 437.7% | 1,918 | 88.6% |
| BMW 335d | 341 | -38.7% | 66.3% | 2,441 | 179.3% |
| Audi A3 | 338 | 74.2% | n/a | 2,078 | n/a |
| Mercedes ML320 | 268 | 36.0% | 262.2% | 1,476 | -32.3% |
| Jeep Cherokee | 128 | 18.5% | -16.9% | 745 | 8.6% |
| VW Touareg | 121 | 3.4% | -6.9% | 1,147 | 167.4% |
| Mercedes E320 | 61 | 1,933.3% | -82.5% | 110 | -88.9% |
| Mercedes R320 | 30 | 150.0% | 275.0% | 216 | -23.1% |
| All clean diesels | 7,318 | 21.0% | 52.8% | 48,275 | 31.7% |
| All vehicles | 997,468 | -5.0% | 21.0% | 7,661,592 | 8.4% |
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