2009 may have been the peak year for hybrid vehicle sales as a percentage of total sales, despite the addition of 23 models available to consumers, reports CNNMoney. The current price of fuel does not justify the premium price paid for these models.
"The market share for hybrid cars peaked in 2009 at 2.8% of all new vehicles sold. The year after that, it fell to 2.4% and it's on track to be a little less than that this year, according to data from Edmunds.com.
The biggest reason people aren't buying them is cost, industry analysts say. While gasoline may be relatively expensive it's still not pricey enough to make the thousands of dollars more that a hybrid car costs worth the investment."
The falling hybrid numbers put an ominous forecast on the sales of newer plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, and Tesla designed to save consumer even greater fuel costs.
At the same time, SUV and truck sales are escalating, reports the hybridCARS website in its Oct 6 article, September 2011 Dashboard: Consumers Favor Trucks Over Hybrids: "Overall vehicle sales this month were tilted towards trucks-including crossovers-with pickups doing very well. This suggests that small business owners and other commercial interests see better times ahead and are buying these trucks to prepare for new business, and to replace their aging vehicles."
Thanks to John Hartz
FULL STORY: Hybrid car sales: Lots of options, few takers
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