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On a monthly sales basis, only the Prius outperformed last years totals. The Highlander Hybrid's sales were a disaster. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/in-the-news/t-august-hybrid-and-fuel-efficient-non-hybrid-sales-toyotas-hihy-takes-a-beating-6201.html#post44226)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Toyota_Highlander_Hybrid.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (www.CleanMPG.com) - Sep. 4, 2007

The outgoing 2007 Toyota Highlander had a poor showing with the newly redesigned 08’s in route this past month. The rest of the fuel efficient Hybrids and non-hybrids had a disconcerting month as well with decreases seen across the board on a month over month basis by comparison to last years levels other then for the Prius.

The Toyota Prius hybrid mid-size sedan posted yet another increase in monthly sales with a 25.7% increase over Aug. of 2006. The Toyota Camry Hybrid reported sales of 4,284, down 13.9% from the year ago monthly sales comparison period. The FE/MMH twins with their combined sales of 1,833 units yielded a loss of 14.3% vs. the same selling period a year ago. The HiHy sold just 378 units, down a whopping 85.4%. The Lexus RX 400h hybrid reported sales of 1,172 units for the month down 22.6% vs. the year ago sales period. The Honda Accord Hybrid sales continue to drop off as dealership inventories continue to dwindle to just 275 units during the month of August.

For the fuel efficient non-hybrid automobiles, the Corolla again leads all sales with 30,491 units for the month of August however a decline of 12.8% from the year-ago sales period was tallied. The Honda Civic also had a somewhat disappointing month with sales totals of 28,551 units, a decrease of 9.5% vs. the same period a year ago. The Toyota Yaris subcompact posted August sales totaling 7,861, a surprising decrease of 31.0% from the same period a year ago.

Overall sales YTD (year to date) of the “Big 7” Hybrids showed an increase of 36.1% vs. the year ago January through August sales period. The Prius-II by far made up the bulk of that increase with its own 76.0% increase YTD compared to this time last year. The performance, SUV hybrids and surprisingly most fuel efficient non-hybrids are showing declines as well.

Aug. 2007 Hybrid sales summary:

||Month to Date|||Year to Date|
Make and Model|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|
Toyota Prius|14,055 |11,177|+ 25.7%|124,620|70,447 |+ 76.0%
Toyota Camry Hybrid|4,284|4,977|-13.9%|36,683|17,386|+110.0%
Honda Civic Hybrid|2,102|3,411|-38.4%|21,736|21,839|-1.0%
Toyota Highlander Hybrid|378|2,581|-85.4%|15,895|23,474|-32.6%
Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid|1,833|2,140|-14.3%|16,833|16,618|+1.1%
Lexus RX400h|1,172|1,514|-22.6%|11,214|13,927|-19.9%
Honda Accord Hybrid|275|499|-44.9%|2,579|4,248|-39.6%

Aug. 2007 fuel efficient Non-hybrid sales summary:

||Month to Date|||Year to Date|
Make and Model|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|
Toyota Corolla|30,491|34,971|-12.8%|262,431|274,074|-4.7%
Honda Civic|28,551|31,549|-9.5%|230,203|225,212|+1.7%
Toyota Yaris|7,861|11,392|-31.0%|62,509|44,214|+40.7%

DSR*: Daily Selling Rate - There were 27 selling days for both the Aug. 2006 and 2007 sales months. There were 205 selling days for the year through Aug. 2007, 1 more then through Aug. of 2006.

I don't get it. The HCHII was the only choice for me. I guess it's Prius-envy.

It is interesting to note that though the HCHII was down, it was only by 1%.

It could be that people are just buying less cars in general. You'd need to compare these numbers with sales figures for other cars as well, non-hybrid SUV's for instance.

Wayne, I know I've been eyeballing the lots I pass while driving on my normal routes and I've certainly noticed a dearth of those vehicles. Strangely, the Toyota dealership nearest me doesn't seem to have any Prii on the lot, either? :confused:

Hi NoFlash and Sean:

___I drive by or visit my local Honda dealership about every 2 weeks and all I can say is there is an absolute minimum of Civic’s, Fit’s and HCH-II’s on the lots. They are not being sold in a typical supply-extremely high demand relationship; Honda is just not allowing them to fill the lists from my vantage point. The next time I am in, I will speak with a GM about this mess because it just isn’t right. A Honda dealership in Joliet was willing to part with an HCH-II for $500 over even though they only had 2 on the lot and they both arrived that day but this is ridiculous in terms of supply.

___In the recent past, MSantos has hinted at Honda’s lack of production capacity and thus the larger and more profitable vehicles are being produced sans the more fuel efficient ones. This is quit plausible although I would like to hear from an employee or two in East Liberty, OH. to see if only the CRV is being built with OT vs. the Civic? The Greensburg Plant in Decatur County, IN. will not be ready for Civic production until late 08 but with a cap for 200,000 vehicles, I can only hope Honda will be able to supply a few more Civic’s (possibly hybrid’s and non) to their dealerships then?

___Psic, good point. The overall auto market was down ~ .6% overall so there is some correlation but the fuel efficient vehicles were off by far more. Here is a number that absolutely devastated me when putting this together last night although I am sure Toyota is pretty happy about it :ccry:

Aug. 2007 Toyota Tundra sales summary:

||Month to Date|||Year to Date|
Make and Model|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|Aug. 2007|Aug. 2006|DSR* % Change|
Toyota Tundra|18,919|11,173|+69.3|124,909|78,916|+57.5

___GM P/U Truck sales had a decent showing last month w/ an 11% rise as well :(

___All in all, “Sheep are meant to be shorn” – Bill Reinert – Toyota Technology lead at ASPO 2007.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

There was minimal speculation why sales are actually down, but I suspect that a large portion of the hardcore FE buyers are already sold and that with confusion about the rebate program combined with desire for plug in hybrids that may be "just around the corner", people are waiting.

Even the announcement that Toyota (& others) will be putting out many/most models with hybrid options in 2010/2011 may actually hurt the industry as people may hold out for their favorite model with improved milage instead of buying an existing model.

It really bugs me that none of the major 2008 models are plug ins...even if the battery technolofy isn't available, it seems to me that making the cars "plug-in ready" would be enough to encourage sales, and people could then upgrade in 5-7 years when the battery tech has caught up and the existing batteries are starting to show their age.

It bothers me that I bought a Hylander that I can only achive low/mid 30mpg when in another year I might be able to get a plug in that effectivly double/tripples that number. It leaves me wondering if it was a smart puchase.

I think there are several effects here:

1) Gas prices this August were about $2.70-$2.75 versus about $3.00 in August 2006. They had also risen about 80-90 cents in the six months prior to 8/06. We're about level with March 07 prices now. In other words, gas prices aren't as alarming this summer.

2) The pool of willing "adopters" of hybrid technology is shrinking as absolute sales numbers increase. E.g. I bought one already so I won't buy one this summer.

3) Manufacturer incentives on non-hybrids are larger this year, I'm sure (though I have no empirical data).

4) psic's point.

Wayne, the current Tundra was brand new for 2007. Explains some of the DSR change as folks put off purchase until new ones arrived in September/October 06. --RN

Hi HCHIN:

___Tom, Rich and I watched the actual launch of the Tundra at NAIAS 2007. Older Tundra sales were never brisk but the new model finally caught up with the domestics so it makes sense. It is just sad to see so many Tundra’s leaving the lots knowing most will never do any real work and given all the crisis’ we face from one end of the spectrum to the other :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Ford is certainly in a pickle. From what I see, clearly there's now a waiting list for the FEH/MMH due to shortages, since there are people on it. I also recently chatted with a dealer, he's heard that salespeople discourage people to buy the FEH simply because they can't get it; the dealer can't get one to sell to them, so they try to talk them out of it.

I've also finally heard that there's only going to be 350 MTH's, all sold in CA, and that's it. Worse then the NAH!

They clearly need to do whatever it takes to increase production, since things are finally starting to snowball in a way to move FEH's off the lot, and fast. Then again, that would require them to actually want to sell Hybrids, not just use them as their tool for other purposes. (Raise CAFE, PR shield, PR hype/environmental boon, etc.)

Gas prices are down. Although I observed a typical price $3.19 in MN over the holiday, here on the west coast (traditionally the most expensive gas) we're running right around $2.70. Lower gas prices = lower FE sales. Elasticity in action.

Wayne--

My neighbor has a spankin' new 5.7L Tundra 4x4 Dual Cab. I figure between our two hybrids and his truck, we just about cancel out...

I think I'm just about done worrying about other people's car choices, though it will continue to make me wonder. I guess in the end this is another form of evolution, and eventually the dinosaurs that fail to evolve in the short term will someday be forced to. --RN

Gas prices are down. I think people generally show a low memory for such things and the trend that gas prices will go up again and will also continue to go up. At no time in history have gas prices gone way way up and then gone way way down. It just doesn't happen.
But all a lot of people think of is that they go up and then after awhile go down.

--des

Gas prices are down. Although I observed a typical price $3.19 in MN over the holiday, here on the west coast (traditionally the most expensive gas) we're running right around $2.70. Lower gas prices = lower FE sales. Elasticity in action.

As I've posted elsewhere, I just took delivery of my '08 FEH a few weeks ago so I'm in the August sales number. It only took a little over 3 months to get one. I can confirm a shortage of FEH and MMH in the Southeast region as well. Dealers here aren't willing to even order them because they can't count on the typical order to delivery schedule. Ford really could use the sales but you can't sell what isn't there... all that wasted advertising. (Or was it wasted since some of those that came for a FEH probably went with a higher margin/lower FE vehicle?)

As for the gas prices and the public. I'm no longer shocked at the short range memory of the general public. We live in an ADD society where long range planning and foresight is well outside the norm. I realize that my new vehicle purchase is a long term investment (as I intend to drive it about 6-10 years) and bought the most FE one I could find that fits my needs. I did calculate current and projected gas prices. I hope that as technology improves, I'll already have the base components in the FEH to extend the FE through the aftermarket.

I guess I won't have to fear the next gas price spike as much as those Tundra owners.