GM and Toyota plug-in hybrids again lead plug-in sales from major OEMs in September

3 October 2012

In September, GM’s plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt (2,851 units sold) and Toyota’s plug-in hybrid Prius PHV (1,652 units sold) continued to lead sales in the US of plug-in vehicles from major OEMs. The battery-electric Nissan Leaf followed with 984 units, a decrease from Sep 2011, but its best performance since then.

The US market-leading Volt saw its September sales increase 294.3% (by volume) from September 2011 sales of 723 units. The Volt extended range electric vehicle has sold 16,348 units Jan-Sep 2012, up 319.7% from the 3,895 units for the same period in 2011. Overall, total GM sales rose 29% in September year-on-year.

Toyota’s Prius family of hybrid vehicles posted September sales of 18,932 units, up 103% from Sep 2011, including: 10,806 units of the hatchback sedan; 3,088 units of the Prius V; 3,386 units of the Prius C; and 1,652 units of the plug-in hybrid Prius PHV. Prius PHV sales from Jan-Sep 2012 totaled 7,734 units. Overall, total Toyota sales were up 41.5% in September year-on-year.

With its 984 units sold in September, the Nissan Leaf saw its sales decrease by 4.6% from its September 2011 results; however, Nissan noted, the September 2012 results are the best since then. For Jan-Sep 2012, the Leaf has sold 5,212 units, down 27.6% . Overall, total Nissan sales were down 1.1% for the month.

Ford reported 59 units of the battery-electric Focus sold in September. Although the C-MAX hybrid has gone on sale, the plug-in hybrid C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi are not yet in showrooms. Overall, Ford posted a slight 0.1% decline in vehicle sales in September 2012, although sales of its small cars totaled 24,628 vehicles—the company’s best US small car sales since 2002 and a 73% increase year-on-year.

American Honda reported total September 2012 US sales of 117,211 units, an increase of 30.9% compared with September 2011. The company placed 16 units of the Fit EV.