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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%
       
       
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



Are Premium Hybrids And Electrics The BIGGEST FAIL EVER In The Auto Business? The Numbers Say YES.

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