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Does the current situation affect hybrid sales more? - READ ONLY

108 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2009 at 2:35 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Saturn Aura Hybrid, Saturn VUE Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Car Buying, Coupe, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, SUV

Messages Page 8 of 11

#69 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [larsb] by explorerx4

May 11, 2009 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: larsb (May 11, 2009 9:24 am)
poor lars,
the reason sales did not incease as gas prices went up was due to supply.
this was well documented. unit prices were way up.
eco 101.

#70 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [explorerx4] by larsb

May 12, 2009 (7:01 am)

Replying to: explorerx4 (May 11, 2009 5:06 pm)
Hybrid Sales 101:
 
People don't STOP buying hybrids just because gas prices go down. Sales might dip a LITTLE, but they don't fall off a cliff.
 
Prius sales, just like all car sales, fell off a cliff because of the economy. Not merely because of lower gas prices.

#71 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [larsb] by lemko

May 12, 2009 (7:04 am)

Replying to: larsb (May 11, 2009 8:47 am)
Strange! You'd have thought Prius sales would've peaked last summer!

#72 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [larsb] by gagrice

May 12, 2009 (7:09 am)

Replying to: larsb (May 12, 2009 7:01 am)
How about a compromise. Prius sales are down 60% because they are over priced for what you get!
 
I know my pastor friend is having a horrible time getting anyone to take over his Toyota lease that cannot be transferred to Hawaii. That still boggles my mind that you cannot move when you have a Toyota lease. A good reason not to buy from them. And another chink in their armor. What part does their ambitious hybrid plans have in their enormous loss the first quarter. Even worse than bankrupt GM. Maybe they have lied to US and they are selling every hybrid at a loss. No way to know the truth with their closed society.

#73 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [larsb] by andre1969

May 12, 2009 (7:16 am)

Replying to: larsb (May 12, 2009 7:01 am)
People don't STOP buying hybrids just because gas prices go down. Sales might dip a LITTLE, but they don't fall off a cliff.
 
Sure they do. Remember, people panic, and follow every little trend like it's going to go on forever. Then when it changes, they quickly forget.
 
Although you are right, the crashing economy was probably the primary factor in Prius sales drying up. However, when gas prices were shooting up, I imagine a lot of Prius sales were "pulled forward", and the market eventually got saturated.
 
Also, didn't the currency exhange rate between Japan and the US make the Prius unprofitable to sell in the US, so they purposely started cutting back the supply?

#74 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [gagrice] by larsb

May 12, 2009 (7:19 am)

Replying to: gagrice (May 12, 2009 7:09 am)
Oh, God, Gary, how many times do we have to hear about your Priest friend who had a problem with Toyota FINANCE?
 
Toyota is not the only company who does not allow cars to move. They are not alone in anything they do.

#75 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [andre1969] by larsb

May 12, 2009 (7:20 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 12, 2009 7:16 am)
See my post #66 in this Forum about the Prius sales statistics. Proof positive that there is no linear relationship between Prius sales and gas prices.

#76 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [larsb] by andre1969

May 12, 2009 (7:27 am)

Replying to: larsb (May 12, 2009 7:20 am)
See my post #66 in this Forum about the Prius sales statistics. Proof positive that there is no linear relationship between Prius sales and gas prices.
 
What I'd like to see is a month-by-month breakdown. 2008 was a very wild year with fluctuations. At its worst, I was paying over $4.00 per gallon. But towards the end of the year, I was paying as little as $1.49 per gallon, which was the lowest I'd seen since perhaps May of 2003. Heck, I still remember the very first fill-up that I gave my Intrepid, way back in November of 1999, at $1.39 per gallon.
 
Also, I'm not saying that fuel prices are the ONLY factor in determining Prius sales. But they were a factor.

#77 of 108 Re: carried over from a Diesel News post thread [andre1969] by larsb

May 12, 2009 (7:32 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 12, 2009 7:27 am)
andre1969 says, "Also, I'm not saying that fuel prices are the ONLY factor in determining Prius sales. But they were a factor."
 
No more of a factor than it was a factor for any other fuel-efficient car - not just the Prius.
 
When gas prices go down significantly, fickle American car buyers have historically gone for luxury and size, and that has changed a little bit.
 
People understand now that we are not going to have cheap gas all the time, forever. And I think 5 years ago the majority of Americans DID believe that cheap gas was here forever.

#78 of 108 Apparently, not in Japan by larsb

May 12, 2009 (8:11 am)

Sales not being affected by recession for the new Insight in Japan:
 
Insight Becomes First Hybrid Vehicle to Rank as Best-Selling Vehicle* in Japan

Messages Page 8 of 11

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