Reduced Accord hybrid sales are not the end of hybrid cars

One might think the end of hybrid cars is near. Carlos Ghosn, whose Nissan Company has no hybrid technology, and Honda make some bearish comments regarding hybrids, suddenly, hybrids are no longer hot.

"We've had to reevaluate our position [regarding the Accord hybrid]," Honda Executive Vice President Dick Colliver recently stated. "It's having a hard time in the market." (MSNBC)

Well, it isn't necessarily surprising that the Accord hybrid might see a production decrease. Nonetheless, Honda's other two hybrids, the Civic hybrid and the Insight are seeing very good sales. Moreover, Honda has never been as bullish regarding hybrids as Toyota and they are still not.

More important, the Toyota Prius is still attracting waiting lists and is blowing all the competition away. The Prius is a unique vehicle powered by excellent technology.

Let's face it, sticker shock is the most important factor in buying a vehicle. Even if all hybrids saved $2000 compared to their conventional cars after 5 years, but customers had to pay more upfront, the majority of buyers would still go for the most immediate savings.

As hybrid technology becomes cheaper and gas prices go higher, America's perception of hybrids will continue to improve. Today, however, if you want to sell a 100,000 hybrid vehicles, produce a unique hybrid.