Hybrid Car Review

Hybrid car sales were way up in March, despite the 12% drop in the marketplace. Hybrid car sales increased by 10% over March 2007 for a total of 38,214 units sold. That does not include GM hybrid cars, because GM doesn't break out hybrid car sales.

Toyota Hybrid Car Sales for March 2008

Toyota hybrid sales were up about 11%. Prius sales were up slightly, while Camry Hybrid sales increased by 35%. Highlander Hybrid sales were down to 2,239 units sold. As usual, Prius sales alone accounted for half of all hybrid car sales in the US at 20,635. The next closest competitor was the Camry Hybrid.

Lexus sales were mixed, with an increase in RX 400h, but a decrease in GS 450h. Lexus sold 113 of the newly introduced LS 600h L.

Honda Hybrid Car Sales for March 2008

Honda Civic Hybrid sales were up by 34% making it the third most popular hybrid, while Accord Hybrid sales were down by 86%. The Accord Hybrid has been retired, so sales keep dropping until the inventory has been run through. Honda is hoping to really increase sales in a couple of years by introducing a Global Hybrid, what some Honda supporters are calling a Prius killer. In the meantime, Honda hybrid sales were up 20% overall.

Ford and Nissan Hybrid Car Sales for March 2008

Ford hybrid car sales dropped 20% on their Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. But Nissan increased sales of their Altima Hybrid by 80%, although sales are still very limited. Nissan is still restricting sales to only eight states.

Make	Model	Mar-07	Mar-08	% Change
Honda	Accord	385	53	-86%
Honda	Civic	2,813	3,769	34%
Honda	Insight	1	0	-100%
Toyota	Prius	19,156	20,635	8%
Toyota	Highlander	2,501	2,239	-10%
Toyota	Camry	5,144	6,930	35%
Toyota	GS 450h	181	65	-64%
Toyota	RX 400h	1,471	1,570	7%
Toyota	LS600hL	0	113	-
Ford	Escape/Mariner	2,523	2,008	-20%
Nissan	Altima	462	832	80%
Total		34637	38214	10%
Make	Model	Cumulative, 2006	Cumulative, 2007	% Change
Honda	Accord	945	143	-85%
Honda	Civic	6520	7322	12%
Honda	Insight	1	0	-100%
Toyota	Prius	39682	42909	8%
Toyota	Highlander	6203	6320	2%
Toyota	Camry	11277	14801	31%
Toyota	GS 450h	508	206	-59%
Toyota	RX 400h	3965	3929	-1%
Toyota	LS600hL	0	330	-
Ford	Escape/Mariner	5457	5225	-4%
Nissan	Altima	668	1834	175%
Total		75226	83019	10%

Update: GM Hybrid Car Sales for March, 2008

Although GM doesn't break out their numbers, I found a source (via ABG) for how many they have sold through the quarter (843) and how many just this month (577). About 450 were Yukons and Tahoe Hybrids. That makes sense since they have been on pace to sell around 100 Aura and Vue Hybrids (mild version) each month.

There are questions about whether the low numbers so far reflect demand or if they reflect supply. Only time will tell if more people will be interested in paying $50,000 for a hybrid SUV.