Ford Fusion shows reality of hybrid car sales
Can it sell 30,000 units in '09?Here's the good news. The Ford Fusion hybrid has helped the Fusion achieve a record year in sales for Ford, while stealing hybrid consumers away from Toyota and Honda.
Here's the bad news. Overall, total hybrid sales are still under 3 percent of total market share, and half that share is the Toyota Prius.
Moreover, while this is positive news for Ford and its excellent hybrid technology, the Toyota Camry hybrid still moved more units than the Fusion hybrid, despite an $800 tax credit in favor of the Fusion. What happens when the Fusion's hybrid tax credits expire?
Still, that's not really the point. In reality the hybrid versions of the both the Fusion and the Camry demonstrate that hybrid cars are not ready for serious market penetration without a significant increase in incentives and/or much higher gas prices.
Labels: Ford fusion hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:34 AM
7 Comments:
Can't agree more: hybrids car are for well-off people right now. With this <$3 per gallon joke-like price, nobody would bother about fuel efficiency much.
sad, but true. of course, we're getting close to topping that $3.00 price in many areas.
of course, i'm not sure the production capabilities exist to support any big increase in hybrid demand.
Dahcredyns:
Here is a link that describes where we need to go to turn things around. Of course my old buddy Lee Iaccoca started saying this WAY back in the 1980's LOL.
Tom G.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5A33NI20091104
"How to boost fuel efficiency? Raise taxes, executives say"
For the last several years a number of high profile executives in the auto industry have been saying this.
Publicly, interest in such a move has gone up, but only marginally. And those of us that are open-minded to a gas tax are still very much in the minority.
There are a lot of ways to offset the costs of a gas tax, especially for those least able to afford an increase in gas tax. It'd sure be nice to see a mainstream, popular politician address this issue.
But, that just shows the true character of our politicians. It's about winning, not standing up for real issues. I'd love to see a popularly elected politicians risk his/her position to take a real stand.
But it seems most politicians aren't leaders, just panderers.
Not a lot has changed on this front.
Hybrids are for the greenlings and the well off.
Interest in hybrids is directly proportional to gas prices.
A gas tax increase still does not have sufficient support.
SSDD.....
I always waiting for new models of hybrid cars. from your post above, I was impressed with the shape and design (the photo). I am more interested in technology and design, rather than price.
My hybrid
we should make it legal to buy the
Hybrid car so that we can contribute
saving our earth from Global Warming.
Mio Navman M305
Post a Comment
<< Home