Nissan Leaf outselling all hybrids, except Toyota Prius

The Nissan Leaf outsold all hybrid cars, except the Toyota Prius. Can there be only one when it comes to hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid cars and electric vehicles?

The second best selling alternative powertrain vehicle in June.

Can there be only one hybrid, one plug-in hybrid and one EV?

The Toyota Prius has dominated hybrid sales forever. When it comes to hybrids, it really is the Prius and everything else, but nothing else really matters.

That doesn’t mean all other hybrid cars suck. There are great hybrids out there, such as the Ford Fusion hybrid or the Lexus CT 200h, just to name a few, but their sales make them almost irrelevant.

Consequently, the fact that the Nissan Leaf outsold all hybrids in June, except the Prius, is almost profound, almost.

Obviously, June auto sales are a mess. The Japanese earthquake is still having a huge impact on car sales, especially when it comes to hybrids and plug-in vehicles. The supply chain destruction just hit that segment harder than any other, and it could still be months before things are almost normal.

Still, what would June’s hybrid/plug-in sales picture have been without the earthquake? It would have been different. That’s for sure. Considering its low hybrid price, or instance, I’d bet the Honda Insight would have posted stellar numbers.

Nevertheless, none of that really matters, today. Today, it’s all about the Prius when it comes to hybrids. For more than 10 years, there has been only 1.

Will there be only 1 electric car?

Will there always be only the Prius when it comes to hybrids?

My gut says no.

Regardless, I think the electric car field will be more competitive quicker than hybrids, but costs — barring super extended plug-in tax credits — will still keep a cap on overall sales. So, maybe ‘the 1′ syndrome will be less meaningful in the EV space, but without Prius-topping sales, what does the EV space mean?.

Interestingly and ironically, however, I’m beginning to wonder if a mild hybrid couldn’t challenge the Prius. For instance, with the right pricing, the upcoming Chevy Cruze eAssist could outsell the Prius. It might not be profitable upfront for GM, but marketing wise, the Cruze eAssist might even trump the Chevy Volt‘s PR hype machine in the short term. But such Cruze eAssist pricing might be impossible and illogical.

Perhaps there can be only one Prius, one king hybrid, at least until hybrid costs decline more and gas prices rise significantly.

Anyway, I hope the Leaf continues to defy the odds. I’d love to see the Volt or the Leaf become the best selling alternative cars in America — even best selling cars. Unfortunately, I’ don’t believe that’s going to happen.

Hence, if I’m right — through 2020 or so — can there be only 1?

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