Published December 3, 2011
The HybridCars.com monthly sales dashboard is a collaboration of HybridCars.com and Baum & Associates, a Michigan-based market research firm focusing on automotive issues including the hybrid and electric vehicle market.
Hybrid sales continued their rebound based on increased availability. Sales in November exceeded all months except March, where availability was strong and gas prices were much higher. The Toyota Prius led the way, with the highest result since March and this one model representing 58 percent of total hybrid sales. Most hybrid models offered by Lexus and Toyota experienced strong growth over October 2011, again due to availability.
The Chevrolet Volt narrowly improved on its all time monthly sales high, but unless GM can more than triple its current monthly sales record in December, it will not be enough to meet its goal of 10,000 U.S. deliveries by the end of the calendar year.
The Escape and Fusion hybrids both did very well, although the Escape hybrid will be replaced next year by the C-Max hybrid and plug-in.
Mild hybrids offered by Buick (Regal and Lacrosse) are just beginning to be available and should increase in the coming months, joined by the Malibu which will be sold in strong numbers in the new year.
Hybrids in November 2011 grew by 30 percent over last month and 24 percent over November 2010, far ahead of a decline of 2.5 percent or a gain of 14 percent for the overall month. In addition, hybrid sales year-to-date are only 3.4 percent below 2010 year-to-date, which is noteworthy given the lack of availability for much of the year.
Vehicle side notes: BMW X6 hybrid sales for this month are negative (-1) and the Buick Regal and Panamera S hybrids are new additions. Also the Kia Optima remains unreported, as is the Toyota Prius V, Fisker Karma, and (all-electric) Tesla Roadster. Hyundai Sonata hybrid sales are again assumed at 11 percent of the total, as we have done for the last several months.
Diesel sales continue to grow, although last month volumes were only modestly above October, albeit there was strong growth vs. November 2010.
Plug-in sales increased from last month, albeit at a lower level than expected. Volt sales grew, but GM's 10,000 goal for 2011 will not likely be met. The availability of demonstrator models for sale was not enough to increase sales in November to allow the annual goal to be met. The safety issues regarding the Volt batteries in a crash (or post-crash) situation are not thought to be a major factor in November sales. GM will certainly be working aggressively to address this issue in the coming weeks.
November 2011 Hybrid Car Sales Numbers
Hybrids sold in the U.S. (November 2011):26,110
Hybrid Take-Rate:2.63 percent
U.S. hybrid sales for November 2011
| Model | Units | vs. last month | vs. October 2010 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 15,208 | 38.2% | 48.7% | 119,459 | -4.7% |
| Lexus CT 200h | 1,759 | 16.4% | n/a | 12,122 | n/a |
| Hyundai Sonata | 1,723 | -13.9% | n/a | 17,766 | n/a |
| Ford Escape | 1,131 | 97.4% | 48.0% | 9.009 | -12.6% |
| Ford Fusion | 993 | 15.9% | -28.9% | 10,398 | -46.2% |
| Lexus RX450h | 928 | 7.8% | -28.2% | 9,490 | -30.1% |
| Honda Insight | 749 | 52.2% | -51.2% | 14,859 | -23.1% |
| Toyota Camry | 730 | 119.2% | -25.7% | 7,444 | -44.3% |
| Buick LaCrosse | 522 | 11.0% | n/a | 819 | n/a |
| Honda Civic | 503 | 4.8% | -17.8% | 4,138 | -35.6% |
| Linc. MKZ Hybrid | 475 | -0.4% | 21.2% | 5,305 | 590.8% |
| Toy. Highlander | 322 | 34.7% | -55.4% | 3,986 | -38.7% |
| Honda CR-Z | 305 | 5.5% | -70.2% | 10,766 | 146.2% |
| Lexus HS 250h | 207 | 1.0% | -73.7% | 2,590 | -72.9% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 140 | 30.8% | 4.5% | 1,482 | 973.9% |
| Altima | 55 | 12.24% | -87.3% | 3,202 | -47.5% |
| Infiniti M35h | 46 | 39.4% | n/a | 324 | n/a |
| Buick Regal | 37 | n/a | n/a | 37 | n/a |
| Chevy Silverado | 37 | -24.5% | -2.6% | 806 | -54.1% |
| Mazda Tribute | 36 | -5.3% | -21.7% | 448 | -26.2% |
| Cad. Escalade | 30 | 0% | -62.0% | 740 | -31.4% |
| Chevy Tahoe | 28 | -20.0% | -59.4% | 479 | -63.2% |
| Porsche Panamera S | 26 | n/a | n/a | 26 | n/a |
| BMW Hybrid 7 | 25 | 177.8% | 212.5% | 287/td> | 277.6% |
| Lexus GS450h | 22 | 15.8% | 22.2% | 249 | -9.5% |
| VW Touareg Hybrid | 21 | 16.7% | n/a | 361 | n/a |
| GMC Yukon Hybrid | 21 | 8.7% | -67.7% | 549 | -50.1% |
| Mercedes S400HV | 19 | 111.1% | -51.3% | 272 | -70.2% |
| GMC Sierra | 8 | 100.0% | -86.4% | 154 | -67.8% |
| Lexus LS600hL | 5 | -37.5% | -61.5% | 75 | -33.0% |
| BMW X6 | -1 | -150.0% | -111.1 | 40 | -83.5% |
| Chevy Malibu Hybrid | 0 | n/a | -100.0% | 24 | -94.0% |
| Mercedes ML450 | 0 | n/a | -100.0% | 1 | -99.9% |
| All hybrids | 26,110 | 30.2% | 24.4% | 237,707 | -3.4% |
| All vehicles | 991,663 | -2.5% | 14.0% | 11,495,790 | 10.4% |
November 2011 Plug-in Electric Car Sales Numbers
Plug-in cars sold in the U.S. (November 2011):1,974
Plug-in Take-Rate:0.19%
U.S. plug-in electric sales for November 2011
| Model | Units | vs. last month | vs. September 2010 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Volt | 1,139 | 2.8% | n/a | 6,142 | n/a |
| Nissan LEAF | 672 | -20.8% | n/a | 8,720 | n/a |
| Smart ED | 101 | 494.1% | n/a | 206 | n/a |
| All plug-in cars | 1,912 | 8.8% | n/a | 15,068 | n/a |
| All vehicles | 991,663 | -2.5% | 14.% | 11,495,790 | 10.4% |
November 2011 Clean Diesel Car Sales Numbers
Clean Diesels sold in the U.S. (November 2011):9,276
Diesel Take-Rate:0.94%
U.S. clean diesel sales for November 2011
| Model | Units | vs. last month | vs. October 2010 | CYTD | vs. CYTD 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VW Jetta | 3,288 | -9.4% | -7.2% | 48,002 | 18.9% |
| Passat | 1,184 | 1.9% | n/a | 2,954 | n/a |
| Mercedes GL320 | 958 | 16.8% | 164.6% | 5,209 | 63.5% |
| Mercedes ML320 | 828 | -4.6% | 279.8% | 4,252 | 80.6% |
| BMW X5 | 767 | 66.7% | -0.4% | 6,258 | -12.1% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 683 | -3.8% | 53.5% | 8,969 | 78.1% |
| VW Touareg | 464 | 19.9% | 887.2% | 3.042 | 116.8% |
| BMW 335d | 307 | 9.3% | -14.2% | 3,243 | -4.0% |
| Audi A3 | 269 | 46.2% | -50.1% | 3,282 | 2.1% |
| Audi Q7 | 217 | -28.1% | -52.5% | 3,412 | 14.1% |
| Mercedes E320 | 210 | 52.2% | -26.1% | 2,580 | 314.8% |
| Mercedes S350 | 87 | -8.2% | n/a | 161 | n/a |
| Mercedes R320 | 14 | -53.3% | -41.7% | 450 | 38.0% |
| Jeep Gr Cherokee | - | n/a | -100.0% | 152 | -89.4% |
| All clean diesels | 7,885 | 2.9% | 0.7% | 81,662 | 27.2% |
| All vehicles | 991,663 | -2.5% | 14.0% | 11,495,790 | 10.4% |
