April 2012 Sales Thread
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 8
From: USA
Without much fanfare, Toyota started selling the plug-in version of the Prius a couple of months ago. But the power of the Prius brand—plus a base of loyal customers and a small-battery approach—has put the PIP at the top of the plug-in car sales charts in April, surpassing the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt.
As we reported yesterday, Nissan LEAF sales came in at only 370 units in April. Meanwhile, the Chevy Volt fared better with sales clocking in at 1,462 units in April.
But the the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid passed them both, logging 1,654 sales in April. The entire Prius line of cars did amazingly well, more than doubling in sales from a year ago. The Prii was the 3rd most popular passenger model in the United States in April, beat only by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
The success of Prius shows what a 10 - 15 year commitment to a technology can produce, if given time to mature. But is Toyota also showing the way to getting adoption of plug-in technology, by offering a plug-in hybrid with a smaller more affordable battery—even with more limited all-electric range—rather than a large-battery plug-in hybrid or pure electric car. Is this the secret to making plug-ins accessible to mainstream buyers? A smaller battery plug-in also means quicker recharge times, even when using standard 110v outlets rather than expensive dedicated charging equipment.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Good question, anyone have the breakdown on the Prius? I hate how they only show the total when there's 3 completely unrelated model?
The C sold a remarkable 4,875 in March, which was a partial sales month in its debut.
It outsold every Scion and every Lexus. And most notably, it outsold the Yaris, which I don't think it is intended to do.
It was also the fastest selling car (time on lot) in March (whole industry).
Very interested in seeing its first whole month of sales.
We could go around in circles on this argument. In any technical description you consider, the LFA is a sport coupe. It's a coupe that is sporty. It's exotic of course, but I never heard of exotics dropping their "coupe" designations. All Lambo's are coupes. All Ferrari's are coupes.
If Lexus currently had a 3rd gen SC shaped almost exactly like the LFA, it would be a sport coupe, no?
There are many sub categories, but a coupe is a coupe.
The C sold a remarkable 4,875 in March, which was a partial sales month in its debut.
It outsold every Scion and every Lexus. And most notably, it outsold the Yaris, which I don't think it is intended to do.
It was also the fastest selling car (time on lot) in March (whole industry). Very interested in seeing its first whole month of sales.
In any technical description you consider, the LFA is a sport coupe. It's a coupe that is sporty. It's exotic of course, but I never heard of exotics dropping their "coupe" designations. All Lambo's are coupes. All Ferrari's are coupes. If Lexus currently had a 3rd gen SC shaped almost exactly like the LFA, it would be a sport coupe, no?
There are many sub categories, but a coupe is a coupe.
Last edited by -J-P-L-; May 5, 2012 at 07:58 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
BTW, anyone notice that Nissan moved only 16,239 Altima's in April compared to the 41,000 they sold in March?
Obviously, the Altima is transitioning to the new model, but still, that is a huge difference in only one month.
Obviously, the Altima is transitioning to the new model, but still, that is a huge difference in only one month.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 0
From: MO
We could go around in circles on this argument.
In any technical description you consider, the LFA is a sport coupe. It's a coupe that is sporty. It's exotic of course, but I never heard of exotics dropping their "coupe" designations. All Lambo's are coupes. All Ferrari's are coupes. If Lexus currently had a 3rd gen SC shaped almost exactly like the LFA, it would be a sport coupe, no?
There are many sub categories, but a coupe is a coupe.
Let's just say that Lexus doesn't currently have an offering in the affordable coupe (A5, G37, C-Class coupe, 3 Series coupe) segment... unless you want to include the IS hard-top convert.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Found the Prius breakdown:
Prius----15,661
Prius c---4,006
Prius v---3,847
Here's ALL hybrid sales below...Let's just say that Toyota is all that matters in the hybrid market.
The Insight and CR-Z are epic failures. Honda can't do any right these days. Even the Civic hybrid, rated at a decent 44/44mpg, is selling poorly. With $4/gal gas no less. Wow.
Model---Units---CYTD
Toyota Prius---15661---59094
Toyota Camry---4406---15676
Toyota Prius c---4006---8881
Toyota Prius v---3847---15495
Hyundai Sonata---1847---6814
Lexus CT 200h---1620---6508
Chevy Malibu Hybrid---1557---3324
Buick LaCrosse---1165---4311
Kia Optima---837---3507
Lexus RX400/450h---801---3372
Ford Fusion---778---3508
Honda Civic---766---2862
Honda Insight---738---3035
Toy. Highlander---552---1995
Linc. MKZ Hybrid---397---1695
Honda CR-Z---334---1699
Buick Regal---130---465
Porsche Cayenne---104---477
Cad. Escalade---57---253
Chevy Tahoe---47---170
GMC Yukon Hybrid---40---175
Chevy Silverado---30---171
Lexus HS 250h---28---591
BMW Hybrid 7---29---173
Porsche Panamera S---26---142
Infiniti M35h---23---163
Mazda Tribute---16---90
GMC Sierra---12---44
VW Touareg Hybrid---12---85
Altima---10---77
Lexus GS450h---10---67
Lexus LS600hL---8---27
Mercedes S400HV---8---57
Ford Escape---0---941
Mercedes ML450---0---13
BMW X6----11
All hybrids---39901---145958
All vehicles---1181186---4637337
Prius----15,661
Prius c---4,006
Prius v---3,847
Here's ALL hybrid sales below...Let's just say that Toyota is all that matters in the hybrid market.
The Insight and CR-Z are epic failures. Honda can't do any right these days. Even the Civic hybrid, rated at a decent 44/44mpg, is selling poorly. With $4/gal gas no less. Wow.
Model---Units---CYTD
Toyota Prius---15661---59094
Toyota Camry---4406---15676
Toyota Prius c---4006---8881
Toyota Prius v---3847---15495
Hyundai Sonata---1847---6814
Lexus CT 200h---1620---6508
Chevy Malibu Hybrid---1557---3324
Buick LaCrosse---1165---4311
Kia Optima---837---3507
Lexus RX400/450h---801---3372
Ford Fusion---778---3508
Honda Civic---766---2862
Honda Insight---738---3035
Toy. Highlander---552---1995
Linc. MKZ Hybrid---397---1695
Honda CR-Z---334---1699
Buick Regal---130---465
Porsche Cayenne---104---477
Cad. Escalade---57---253
Chevy Tahoe---47---170
GMC Yukon Hybrid---40---175
Chevy Silverado---30---171
Lexus HS 250h---28---591
BMW Hybrid 7---29---173
Porsche Panamera S---26---142
Infiniti M35h---23---163
Mazda Tribute---16---90
GMC Sierra---12---44
VW Touareg Hybrid---12---85
Altima---10---77
Lexus GS450h---10---67
Lexus LS600hL---8---27
Mercedes S400HV---8---57
Ford Escape---0---941
Mercedes ML450---0---13
BMW X6----11
All hybrids---39901---145958
All vehicles---1181186---4637337
Last edited by -J-P-L-; May 5, 2012 at 08:11 PM.
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So hybrids account for 3% of u.s. vehicle sales. I wonder how many switched from vehicles that had more utility but they got a hybrid just because of gas prices and their math skills suck, lol . also, i don,t believe repeat hybrid buying is very high.
. also, i don,t believe repeat hybrid buying is very high.
Last edited by bitkahuna; May 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
http://www.latimes.com/business/mone...0,416214.story
Guest
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Yup, only 35% of hybrid owners buy again. Take away Prius owners, and that drops to 25%. Prius owners are, however, some of the more loyal customers in the industry (model specific). Prius owners LOVE their Prii. I think that the numbers aren't quite accurate yet because a large portion of Prius owners are still driving their first Prius, so quantifying a repeat buyer doesn't yet factor out. The Prius is the most reliable car on the road and people keep them.
http://www.latimes.com/business/mone...0,416214.story
http://www.latimes.com/business/mone...0,416214.story
Went from 1 to 2 hybrids and family and friends are purchasing b/c of us. 
We actually love the hybrids and gas isn't the only reason for purchase. Perish the thought
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,335
Likes: 61
From: California
I wasn't surveyed either. Love my first hybrid. It's definitely a different type of car and the mpg is great. As far as math skills, I'm sure the Prius is a good buy factoring reliability, mpg's and price point...