With the notable exceptions of the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, most of the hybrids on sale today are merely spin-offs of existing ICE models with gas / electric powertrains fitted; take the hybridized Chevy Tahoe, Toyota Camry and Honda Civic for instance.
According to automotive statistics website Polk online, in the first seven months of 2011, sales of non-dedicated hybrid models dipped 1.5% compared to last year. Analyst Tom Libby blames the sales slump on the lack of distinct styling; hybrid buyers want their cars to stand out from the crowd.
Of the 16 hybrid variants of standard car models that have been on sale since the start of 2010, only two – the Lexus GS sedan and GMC Yukon Denali SUV – saw an increase in sales this year.
The remainder – which includes the Ford Fusion, Lexus RX, Nissan Altima and GMC Sierra – all saw a slump of between 0.1 and 6.0 percent. Even the GS and Yukon Denali hybrids only saw increases of 1.7 and 0.8 percent respectively.
Hybrid sales only account for between 0.1 to 13.6 percent of these models’ hybrid sales. It does not bode well for the Obama government’s need to increase hybridization in U.S. fleet sales to reduce the U.S.’s reliance on foreign oil and CO2 emissions.
By Tristan Hankins
Story Sources: Polk Automotive
