tarabell
07-24-2007, 05:21 PM
Until this year, Prius models were in short supply (http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_6449940?nclick_check=1)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_Dealership.jpgMatt Nauman – Contra Costa Times – July 24, 2007
Toyota's Prius hybrid has become the best-selling car in Silicon Valley.
Through May, 1,627 Prius registrations have been recorded in Santa Clara County, according to R.L. Polk. That puts the Prius ahead of Toyota's Camry and Corolla and Honda's Accord and Civic, all cars that outsell the high-mileage, gas-electric sedan nationwide. The Prius was No. 5 behind those models last year.
The Prius' newfound status reflects the continued greening of Silicon Valley. Rod Diridon, executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State, and a Prius owner, listed sustained higher gas prices, the availability of car pool lane stickers for solo Prius drivers -- no more are being issued -- and the intelligence of local residents as factors in the Prius' popularity.
"Are we ahead of the curve, or what?" asked Diridon. "The intellectual capacity within Silicon Valley is amazing," he said. "That higher level of education reflects a higher level of understanding of the terrible consequences of global warming."
At 60 miles per gallon in city driving and 51 mpg on the highway, the 2007 Prius is the most fuel-efficient car on the road, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. When the EPA's formula for figuring gas mileage changes for the 2008 model year, the Prius probably will retain its gas-sipping status, but the numbers will drop to 48 city and 45 highway.
Prius sales are up 45 percent in Santa Clara County and 65 percent in the Bay Area so far this year. The model has been popular in California since it went on sale in 2000 but it is catching on nationwide. U.S. Prius sales through June, according to industry publication Automotive News, are up 96 percent compared with the first six months of 2006.
Although the Prius is a top seller in the South Bay, it's actually the Honda Civic Hybrid that reigns supreme in both Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In Contra Costa, from January to May of this year, 931 Honda Civic Hybrids were registered, compared to 723 for the Prius. The Prius actually came in third in Contra Costa, also trailing the Toyota Camry, which was second with 782 registrations. In Alameda County, 1,157 Civic Hybrids were sold, and the Prius came in second with 1,070.
Still, at 94,503 sales, the Prius represents just 1 percent of U.S. car and truck sales so far this year. In Santa Clara County, Prius registrations represent 5.3 percent of the market.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_6449940?nclick_check=1
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_Dealership.jpgMatt Nauman – Contra Costa Times – July 24, 2007
Toyota's Prius hybrid has become the best-selling car in Silicon Valley.
Through May, 1,627 Prius registrations have been recorded in Santa Clara County, according to R.L. Polk. That puts the Prius ahead of Toyota's Camry and Corolla and Honda's Accord and Civic, all cars that outsell the high-mileage, gas-electric sedan nationwide. The Prius was No. 5 behind those models last year.
The Prius' newfound status reflects the continued greening of Silicon Valley. Rod Diridon, executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State, and a Prius owner, listed sustained higher gas prices, the availability of car pool lane stickers for solo Prius drivers -- no more are being issued -- and the intelligence of local residents as factors in the Prius' popularity.
"Are we ahead of the curve, or what?" asked Diridon. "The intellectual capacity within Silicon Valley is amazing," he said. "That higher level of education reflects a higher level of understanding of the terrible consequences of global warming."
At 60 miles per gallon in city driving and 51 mpg on the highway, the 2007 Prius is the most fuel-efficient car on the road, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. When the EPA's formula for figuring gas mileage changes for the 2008 model year, the Prius probably will retain its gas-sipping status, but the numbers will drop to 48 city and 45 highway.
Prius sales are up 45 percent in Santa Clara County and 65 percent in the Bay Area so far this year. The model has been popular in California since it went on sale in 2000 but it is catching on nationwide. U.S. Prius sales through June, according to industry publication Automotive News, are up 96 percent compared with the first six months of 2006.
Although the Prius is a top seller in the South Bay, it's actually the Honda Civic Hybrid that reigns supreme in both Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In Contra Costa, from January to May of this year, 931 Honda Civic Hybrids were registered, compared to 723 for the Prius. The Prius actually came in third in Contra Costa, also trailing the Toyota Camry, which was second with 782 registrations. In Alameda County, 1,157 Civic Hybrids were sold, and the Prius came in second with 1,070.
Still, at 94,503 sales, the Prius represents just 1 percent of U.S. car and truck sales so far this year. In Santa Clara County, Prius registrations represent 5.3 percent of the market.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_6449940?nclick_check=1