After months of doom and gloom for the auto industry in the USA, there is finally a ray of hope courtesy of hybrid cars.
Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased by 5.2 per cent by volume in June 2009 compared to the same month in the previous year. This meant that a total of 26,205 hybrid units were sold – some three per cent of all new vehicles, the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008.
Indeed sales of hybrids have significantly out-performed the total light duty vehicle market, which dropped by 27.7 per cent in volume to 859,847 units.
Here is a look at how each manufacturer faired:
Ford: It was a decent month for Ford with the new hybrid version of the Fusion and Milan boosting overall hybrid sales to 3,649 units – a June sales record and up 91 per cent compared to the previous year.
General Motors: A total of 1,454 hybrid models were delivered in the month, which is a rise of 26.5 per cent. GM hybrids currently include the Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura and Saturn VUE BAS; as well as the Tahoe, Silverado, Sierra, Yukon and Cadillac Escalade two-mode hybrids.
Honda: Total hybrid sales hit 3,662 units for American Honda, up 34.5 per cent year on year. This was led by the success of the new Honda Insight with 2,079 units sold. The Civic Hybrid meanwhile posted 1,583 units, which is a fall of 41.6 per cent compared to the previous year.
Nissan: The Japanese manufacturer posted 666 units of the Altima Hybrid, which is a fall of 50 per cent compared to June 2008.
Toyota: Taking the lion share of hybrid sales in the US, the Japanese manufacturer posted 16,744 units in June. The improved performance was led by the Prius which saw an increase in volume of 10.5 per cent with 12,998 units sold through the month. Meanwhile, the Camry and Camry Hybrid remained the company’s volume leader with the Camry Hybrid selling 2,093 units – this represented a 31.5 per cent fall compared to the previous year. The Highlander Hybrid sold 1,098 models, a fall of 27.3 per cent.
In terms of its luxury division Lexus, the RX hybrid sold 527 units, down 60.4 per cent; while the GS450h Hybrid sold just 27 units – a drop of 63 per cent. The LS600h meanwhile saw a 57.5 per cent fall to a meagre 31 units.
