Reported Sales of US Hybrids Drop 1.9% in September

2 October 2007

Total hybrid sales by month. Click to enlarge.

Reported sales of hybrids in the US dropped to an aggregate 22,859 units in September 2007, down 1.9% from September 2006. The reported figures do not include hybrid sales results from GM. Overall light duty vehicle sales in the US dropped 3% according to sales data from Ward’s.

The decline occurred despite the total net number of hybrid models on the market increasing to 10 from 9 in September 2006 (the addition of the Altima Hybrid and Lexus LS 600h being offset by the disappearance of the Honda Insight). The hybrid share of new vehicle sales stayed below the 2% mark at 1.75%. August results saw the hybrid share of new vehicle sales drop back below 2% for the first time since February 2007.

Hybrid share of new vehicle sales. Click to enlarge.

Honda experienced the largest relative decline in September hybrid sales, dropping 20% to a combined 2,321 units. The Civic Hybrid posted 2,092 units, down 16.6% year-on-year. The Accord hybrid posted 229 units, down 41.1% year-on-year.

Toyota, as the hybrid market leader, showed the largest absolute drop in hybrid sales, down 3% to 18,130 units, with the losses coming mainly from the SUVs. The Prius, by contrast, had its best September yet, with 12,494 units, up 19.1% year-on-year. The Camry hybrid came in with 4,196 units, up 3.8% year-on-year.

Toyota total hybrid sales dipped year-on-year. Click to enlarge.

The Lexus GS 450h posted 72 units, down 56.1% year-on-year, but the new high-end Lexus LS 600h L posted 196 units.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid saw its sales drop 91.8% to 193 units. Toyota last month had ascribed a dip in its hybrid sales to a temporary shortage of Highlander Hybrid units. The Rx 400h saw its sales drop 42% to 979 units.

Prius sales remain up year-on-year. Click to enlarge.

However, Ford saw a very slight increase in combined sales of the hybrid Escape and Mariner—up 1 unit, or 0.1%, to 1,652 units. By contrast, overall Ford sales plunged 20.5% in September, year-on-year. (Sales to daily rental companies were down 62% and sales to individual retail customers were down 15%.)

Nissan, with its 8-state sales strategy, turned in 756 units of the Altima Hybrid in September.