The Popularity of Hybrids | Green Energy News

April 18, 2004 – Vol.9 No.4

THE POPULARITY OF HYBRIDS.

Today there are just three hybrid cars available in new car showrooms in the U.S. - Toyota’s second generation Prius, Honda’s Insight and Civic Hybrid. Though officially not on sale, Ford, Lexus and Honda are effectively already marketing their hybrid entries for introduction this fall through informational advertising, press releases to the media and websites.

Though compared with all new vehicle registrations in the U.S. of close to 16.5 million vehicles in 2003, the number of new registrations of hybrids (meaning new vehicle sales since vehicles have to be registered) is relatively small - 43,435 Toyota and Honda hybrids for last year. But the market growth of hybrids is impressive. The segment grew 25.8 percent over 2002 figures.

In statistics compiled by R.L Polk and Company there were 21,750 Honda Civic Hybrids sold in 2003, Toyota sold 20,387 Prius hybrids, and Honda’s Insight came in third with 1298 sold/registered.

By this year’s end the picture should change with the second generation, and greatly improved Prius, now on the market. There are apparently long waiting lists to get the cars.

For a state-by-state tally of hybrid sales as well as income and gender information on hybrid registrations visit R.L. Polk at http://www.polk.com/ .