Washington, D.C. – Reported sales of hybrids in the U.S. dropped by 10 per cent in October 2008, when compared to October 2007, according to a report by the Green Car Congress. Sales dropped from 24,443 units in October 2007 to 21,979 in 2008. However, with the overall 31.9 per cent decline in overall vehicle sales in the U.S., hybrids represented 2.62 per cent of all vehicles sold, up from 1.98 per cent in October 2007. Year-to-date, hybrids have a 2.4 per cent share of the new vehicle market.
Toyota reported 11,804 units of the Prius in October, a 10.3 per cent drop from October 2007. The Camry Hybrid sold 2,792 units, a 20.5 per cent drop, and representing 9.1 per cent of all Camry models sold. The Highlander Hybrid sold 1,022 units, up 71.5 per cent, and representing 14.5 per cent of all Highlander models sold.
Lexus sold 615 units of the RX 400h, a 55.8 per cent drop from October 2007, and representing 11.9 per cent of all RX models sold. The GS 450h sold 22 units, a drop of 69 per cent, for 2.7 per cent of all GS models sold. Sales of the LS 600h dropped to 55 units, a decline of 68.6 per cent, and 3.7 per cent of all LS models sold.
The Honda Civic Hybrid sold 1,621 units, a drop of 29.1 per cent, and 8.7 per cent of all Civic models sold. Honda sold one unit of the discontinued Accord Hybrid.
Ford sold 1,997 units of the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner hybrid, a 4.2 per cent decrease, and representing 16.9 per cent of all Escape and Mariner models sold.
General Motors sold 795 two-mode full-size Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade models, representing 11.3 per cent of the total combined sales of those models. The Chevrolet Malibu hybrid sold 325 units, for 3.0 per cent of all Malibu sales, while the Saturn Aura hybrid sold 22 units, for 0.6 per cent of total Aura sales. The Saturn Vue Hybrid sold 354 units, for 11.9 per cent of total Vue sales.
Nissan sold 554 units of the Altima Hybrid, a 40.2 per cent drop, and representing 3.1 per cent of all Altima sales.
Chrysler reported no deliveries of its two-mode hybrid Aspen or Durango models, although it said that the vehicles are currently being shipped to dealers. The company said that it is positioning the Aspen and Durango as niche products that it will discontinue at the end of the year, but that it still plans to introduce a two-model hybrid Dodge Ram in model-year 2010.
