Toyota, Honda pace 37% first-quarter sales growth of hybrid and electric vehicles
(April 6, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sales of new hybrid and electric cars climbed 37 percent in the first quarter of 2011, according to new data released by Edmunds.com. The growth outpaced sales of traditional gasoline-powered cars and trucks whose first quarter sales improved 20 percent over the same period in 2010.
Leading the way in sales of hybrid and electric vehicles — also known as "advanced technology" vehicles — was Toyota, which sold 54,609 units in the first quarter, 37 percent more than the same period last year. Toyota's flagship hybrid, the Prius, grew more than 50 percent year over year, making up almost 80 percent of the company's advanced tech sales.
| Manufacturer | Q1 2011 | Q1 2010 | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 54,609 | 39,861 | 37.0% |
| Honda | 11,354 | 6,160 | 84.3% |
| Ford | 7,704 | 7,047 | 9.3% |
| GM | 2,323 | 1,585 | 46.6% |
| Nissan | 1,728 | 2,072 | -16.6% |
| Porsche | 432 | 0 | N/A |
| Volkswagen | 169 | 0 | N/A |
| Mercedes-Benz | 110 | 458 | -75.9% |
| BMW | 94 | 64 | 46.8% |
| ALL HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES | 78,523 | 57,247 |
37.2% |
Honda enjoyed the highest growth in advanced technology sales in the first quarter. Its 11,354 sales accounted for an 84 percent increase over 1Q 2010.The Insight hybrid led the way with 6,058 first quarter sales — a 22 percent increase over 1Q 2010. Honda also successfully introduced the CR-Z hybrid in 2011, with 3,670 sales in the first quarter.
But not all hybrids are winners so far this year. Mercedes-Benz and Nissan have seen advanced tech sales fall 76 percent and 17 percent, respectively, through the first three months of the year. The Lexus HS 250h, meanwhile, saw sales plummet almost 80 percent in the first quarter.
The rise of hybrid and electric vehicles comes as gas prices continue to soar. And as some analysts anticipate prices at the pump to exceed $5/gallon by the end of the year, Edmunds.com expects more consideration of all fuel-efficient vehicles, especially hybrids and EVs.
"Edmunds.com analysts are starting to see the same pattern of buyer behavior that we saw when gas prices last hit record highs in 2008," said Edmunds' Auto Observer.com Senior Editor John O'Dell. "But the price at the pump isn't the only force driving the market. With nearly a dozen new models to choose from, hybrids are offering a much broader appeal than they have in the past."
Read more details about hybrid and EV sales in the first quarter of 2011 on Edmunds.com.
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