Comments on: February 2010 Dashboard: Toyota Woes Pull Down Hybrid Sales

By: Phil Fournier

Phil Fournier — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:28:07 +0000

Brad,

I hope you are able to resolve the information scarcity and keep the Hybrid dashboard rolling. This information is very important to us in the vehicle service and repair industry. Though as an aftermarket service provider I won't see these vehicles for a couple of years, anyway, as an educator it is very helpful to know what is selling. The american public becomes the ultimate arbitrator of technology by what they buy. Honda thought they had a huge winner with the Insight 2010 and so did I, but the public has had a different opinion. IMA technology is good, but not as good as Toyota's dual electric motor strategy at fuel conservation and Honda needs to face up to it.

Thanks for your good work with hybridcars.com .

By: Yegor

Yegor — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:32:14 +0000

Thank you for update. Yes, I look forward to these numbers and it is disappointing that they not available for so long time.
I also would like that you would start to truck world sales numbers since Japan is doing so great in our days.

By: Bradley Berman

Bradley Berman — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:25:36 +0000

Readers,
Thanks for your feedback on the timing of the hybrid dashboard numbers. Here's the problem: Toyota, Ford and Honda are reporting their numbers--but General Motors, Nissan and Mercedes did not report them for March. That leaves the dashboard lacking half its manufacturers. Through our partnership with R.L. Polk, we can get a complete set of numbers (via new car registrations), but that complete set will not be available until about six weeks after the close of the month. We are trying to source more timely numbers, but the delayed yet complete set is our likely direction. Feedback welcomed and encouraged.

Bradley Berman, Editor
HybridCars.com

By: Smooth H-Ryder

Smooth H-Ryder — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:39:00 +0000

^^^
No kidding dude. I just check here towards the second half of the moth and its usually not there. Its funny somebody finally mentioned that.
You can get sale numbers from msn or google news like on the 2nd or the 3rd. Thats what I would do.
Has anybody also noticed that articles like 'demographics of hybrid users' and 'fleet info' and other, are like a decade old?

By: ????

???? — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:22:25 +0000

Seriously, how long does it take to put these freakin’ numbers together. One month the dashboard is posted on the 5th, the other is the 25th?
I understand it is a free service, but have some pride in providing information in a timely manner.

By: Yegor

Yegor — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:01:06 +0000

1. Of course Prius is #1 – it has 10 proven reliability history plus Toyota reliability.
2. “Insight” is a Honda mistake – it is too small for North American market. If it were the size of Prius it would have taken half of Prius sales. Honda has to increase the size ASAP.
3. Ford lacks reliability history – it makes Hybrids for 5 years only – consumers do no trust Ford enough.
4. Ford makes the biggest potential Hybrid for North American market – Escape, unfortunately people do not trust Ford Hybrids yet. The truth is people with money do not buy small cars – on the other hand people without money cannot afford hybrids. Fusion Hybrid and Camry Hybrid are useless because trunk is totally separated from cabin. If Toyota would make RAV4 Hybrid and Honda would make CRV Hybrid – Hybrids sales would jump 200% in US. I had to buy Toyota Venza because there is no RAV4 Hybrid or CRV Hybrid.

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:07:30 +0000

Prius sold 27,000 units in Japan. This month Toyota is offering discounts on their vehicles. Expect Prius sales to go up.

As gas prices go up, so will be sales of Prius.

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:16:47 +0000

While Hybrids gets lot of popularity with monthly and annual sales figures.

Flex-fuelled vehicle sales in Brazil have crossed the big 10-million mark and in USA have crossed 8 million mark.
Thats 18 million +.

Meanwhile CNG vehicles have crossed 11 million and LPG 14 million.
I guess Hybrid sales have crossed 2 million mark.

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:02:38 +0000

Despite recalls, Prius is able to gain 10% increase over Feb-2009.
Civic-H has lost its market to Insight, may be it will be replaced
with CR-Z which gives 57 MPG.
Vue & Aura - probably GM sold the last units from stock.
Sierra-H - No news about this, probably GM stopped selling it.
Fusion - Overtakes Camry again.
Highlander & RX400h - goes down badly.
LS600h & GS450h - May be dropped this year.

Time for GM to bring 2-mode version in Equinox & Malibu to compete
with Escape & Fusion.

Ford can apply Hybrid in C-Max and sell it.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:05:28 +0000

GR;

I think the Ford game changer would be the Grand C-Max as a hybrid or even better plug-in hybrid. Ford has announced that the US will get the new Grand C-Max. Now we just need to convince Ford it needs to be a hybrid.

The Grand C-Max would not go head to head with the Prius. It would be in a class by its self (well almost). Room for six in three rows. Lots for space for stuff if the back seats are folded down.

Competing with the Prius is very hard. The Prius is very efficient with both fuel and space. To get Prius type MPG, Ford would have to go with a Focus hybrid. The Focus hatchback may have more storage room, but less passenger space when compared to the Prius. Ford also has the problem in that the name is Ford Focus, not Toyota Prius. Ford's newer cars may match or even beat Toyota in quality, but it is going to take a while for people to change their attitude towards Ford. Toyota has built up a lot of good will with their consumers over the last 35 years by providing quality cars. Ford has been building quality cars for only about 5 years.

If you do not know what a Grand C-Max looks like, think of a Mazda 5.