Washington, D.C. – Reported U.S. sales of hybrid vehicles in April climbed 46 per cent to 39,898 units over the same period in 2007, according to a report by the Green Car Congress, the second-highest reported monthly total of hybrid sales. The increase in hybrid volume, combined with the general decrease in light-duty vehicle sales, pushed the new-vehicle market share for hybrids to 3.2 per cent, the first time it has ever topped three per cent.

The results do not include General Motors vehicles, as the company does not report its hybrid numbers separately.

The Toyota Prius sold 21,757 units, up 67 per cent over April 2007. Toyota has now sold more than 680,000 Prius models in the U.S. and will likely break the 700,000-unit mark next month.

The Camry Hybrid sold 6,678 units, up 51 per cent from April 2007, representing 16.7 per cent of all Camry models sold. The Highlander Hybrid sold 2,578 units, up eight per cent. This was 25.8 per cent of all Highlander models sold, the highest hybrid percentage of any brand with conventional and hybrid versions of the same model on the market.

The Lexus RX400h sold 1,624 units, up 17 per cent, and representing 22.7 per cent of all RX sales. The GS450h sold 82 units, a decrease of 53 per cent, and 5.2 per cent of all GS sales. The LS600h sold 122 units, or 6.1 per cent of all LS sales.

The Honda Civic Hybrid sold 4,324 units, a 51 per cent increase from April 2007, and 12.7 per cent of all Civic models sold. The Accord Hybrid, now discontinued, sold 25 units, a decrease of 92 per cent and 0.1 per cent of all Accord sales.

Ford sold 1,907 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, a decrease of 16 per cent from last April, which marked 10.3 per cent of all Escape and Mariner units sold.

Nissan sold 801 Altima Hybrids, or 3.5 per cent of all Altima sales; the hybrid version is sold in only eight states.