The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20150107031240/http://www.hybridcars.com/december-2014-dashboard/
December 2014 Dashboard

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.

The hybrid and electric market ended the year with a bit of a whimper, although there were some positive results mixed in with a generally down month.

The hybrid, plug-in, and diesel segments declined, while full electric vehicles had a very good month. The obvious reason given by most “experts” for these results is the low cost of fuel, but the marketing strategies of the automakers and the differing results for key products also played a big role.

For the year, plug-in vehicles and battery electrics saw growth well ahead of the overall market, while hybrid and diesel products trailed.

The overall market experienced exceptional results, with trucks (broadly defined to include crossovers, pickups, vans, and SUVs) continuing to sell at a stronger pace than cars. This has been true for several months and is a key reason why many hybrid and electric vehicles have struggled since their product portfolio is oriented towards cars.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles as a share of the total market were at 0.26 percent in line with recent months, although trailing the year-to-date result. For the year, plug-ins were at 0.34 percent which was in line with 2013. The Volt remains the category leader, but sales remain down due to reduced production and marketing efforts by GM. The showing of the new Volt at the North American International (Detroit) Auto Show in mid-January may increase interest in the new product, but it will not be available to the public until this coming Fall. For the year, Volt sales were down almost 20 percent, while Ford’s plug-in hybrid entries (Fusion and C-Max) increased by 50 percent (even with mileage restatements reducing their fuel economy numbers). Sales of the Prius Plug-in increased by 10 percent.

Battery electrics had a strong month on the backs of the category leaders, the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, and BMW i3 (although some i3s include a small range extender engine). Their sales increased in December at a greater rate than the market as a whole, particularly with respect to December 2013. Those three products did far better than the overall market for the month and with the exception of the Model S (down due to global sales reducing availability for the U.S.) for the year. For the month, the segment’s share was at 0.50 percent, its highest share ever. The year ended at 0.39 percent which also represents an all-time high and an increase from 0.31 percent in 2013. The Leaf of course is the category leader, but a growing number of products are allowing the segment to grow. The Mercedes B-Class, VW e-Golf and Kia Soul are all new to the market and their sales are increasing.

Hybrid volumes had a tough month, with the share of the market at 2.22 percent, which is the lowest level since October 2011. For the year, that share was 2.75 percent, also the lowest since 2011. The Toyota Prius Liftback improved from last month, but was down 15 percent for the year. Summing across the three varieties of Prius hybrids (Liftback, c, and v), sales were down 13 percent for the year. Ford’s two high-volume hybrids, the Fusion and C-Max, saw their volumes decreased by 16 percent. Conversely, sales of the Lincoln MKZ hybrid were up by a third. GM’s hybrids were down significantly (by 15,000 units) as they transition from mild hybrids to powertrains that include start/stop systems often described as “micro hybrids” (which we do not include as part of the hybrid category). The Lexus NX 300h is new to the market this month with hybrids representing 11 percent of total model sales.

Diesel volume is continuing at the lower levels of recent months, with a share of 0.65 percent which trails full year 2014 results of 0.84 percent (as compared to 2013 share of 0.89 percent). As always, the Jetta and Passat (the category leaders) determine the status of the category and they remain at levels below that of previous periods. For the year, the Jetta, Passat, and Golf were all 15 to 18 percent below 2013 levels. The Cruze ended the year at almost 6,000 units, representing only 2.2 percent of US sales. Pricing is a clear issue here, with the diesel option paired with additional content resulting in pricing beyond the reach of many of the model’s customers. Conversely, the BMW X5 and Audi Q5 diesels both show strong growth for the year, in line with strong sales of the underlying vehicles and their category (luxury crossovers).

hev_us_12_14

December 2014 Hybrid Car Sales Numbers

Hybrids sold in the U.S. (December 2014): 33,302
Hybrid Take-Rate: 2.22%

U.S. Hybrid sales for December 2014

Model 12-14 Sales vs. 11-14 vs. 12-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month US Share
Prius Liftback8,7999.50%-11.00%122,776-15.40%145,17226.42%
Prius C2,839-4.60%1.00%40,570-3.40%41,9798.53%
Camry Hybrid 2,44810.30%-10.20%39,515-11.10%44,4487.35%
Fusion Hybrid2,3722.10%-14.30%35,405-5.00%37,2707.12%
Prius V2,284-8.40%8.20%30,762-12.10%34,9896.86%
CT200h1,60821.60%-10.00%17,67317.30%15,0714.83%
ES Hybrid1,40017.30%-17.90%14,837-10.40%16,5624.20%
C-Max Hybrid1,3030.50%8.50%19,162-31.70%28,0563.91%
Optima Hybrid1,29918.00%31.20%13,776-1.00%13,9193.90%
Accord Hybrid1,23312.70%-100.00%13,9771327.70%9793.70%
Avalon Hybrid1,154-4.80%-22.00%17,0483.50%16,4683.47%
RX 400 / 450 h93018.00%-19.30%9,351-17.30%11,3072.79%
Sonata89714.90%-57.70%21,052-3.30%21,7612.69%
MKZ74330.60%-1.50%10,03334.30%7,4692.23%
Lacrosse Hybrid698-9.60%56.20%7,3533.10%7,1332.10%
Civic Hybrid47610.20%-33.10%5,070-34.30%7,7191.43%
Highlander Hybrid4280.70%57.40%3,621-28.60%5,0701.29%
XV Crosstrek Hybrid427-25.70%N/A7,926N/A - 1.28%
Q50 Hybrid386-8.50%324.20%3,4561025.70%3071.16%
NX Hybrid354N/AN/A354N/A - 1.06%
Insight31111.90%-25.60%3,965-17.40%4,8020.93%
CR-Z22419.10%-41.70%3,562-21.70%4,5500.67%
Pathfinder Hybrid*2049.10%-38.90%2,480642.50%3340.61%
QX60 Hybrid*16815.10%-55.10%1,678148.20%6760.50%
Impala Hybrid93304.30%165.70%565908.90%560.28%
Jetta Hybrid57-16.20%-84.20%1,939-65.70%5,6550.17%
RLX Hybrid29-21.60%N/A133N/A - 0.09%
Regal Hybrid22-52.20%-76.30%662-77.10%2,8930.07%
Q70 Hybrid2017.60%-39.40%180-62.10%4750.06%
Malibu Hybrid157.10%-94.40%1,018-92.60%13,7790.05%
Q5 Hybrid11-31.30%-74.40%283-66.90%8540.03%
GS 450h1122.20%-75.00%183-64.90%5220.03%
ML450H10N/AN/A2081.80%110.03%
ILX Hybrid9-10.00%-79.50%379-74.10%1,4610.03%
ActiveHybrid 3 (335ih)9125.00%-89.70%151-83.30%9050.03%
E400H 980.00%-55.00%158-44.00%2820.03%
ActiveHybrid 5 (535ih)650.00%-88.50%112-78.50%5200.02%
LS 600h4300.00%-33.30%65-43.50%1150.01%
S400HV Hybrid4300.00%100.00%10-84.40%640.01%
7-Series ActiveHybrid20.00%-60.00%4545.20%310.01%
Touareg Hybrid2100.00%0.00%30-74.60%1180.01%
Escalade Hybrid1-50.00%-85.70%41-89.00%3720.00%
Tahoe Hybrid1-50.00%-96.80%65-82.70%3760.00%
Yukon Hybrid1-50.00%-94.70%31-89.20%2880.00%
Sierra Hybrid10.00%0.00%6-90.80%650.00%
Silverado Hybrid - -100.00%-100.00%24-76.90%1040.00%
HS 250h - N/AN/A - -100.00%50.00%
Altima Hybrid - N/AN/A - N/A - 0.00%
Cayenne Hybrid - -100.00%-100.00%6505.70%6150.00%
Panamera S Hybrid - N/A-100.00% - -100.00%1640.00%
Total Hybrid 33,3027.00%-8.00%452,152-8.80%495,771100.00%
33,302452,152495,771
Total Auto Sales1,498,21015.70%10.70%16,435,2865.80%15,531,706
Overall Hybrid Take Rate2.22%2.75%3.19%
*Estimated

phev_us_12_14

December 2014 Plug-in Hybrid Car Sales Numbers

Plug-in Hybrids sold in the U.S. (December 2014): 3,867
Plug-in Hybrid Take-Rate: 0.26%

U.S. Plug-in Hybrid sales for December 2014

MfgrModel 12-14 Sales vs. 11-14 vs. 12-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month U.S. Share
ChevroletVolt 1,490 11.5%-37.7% 18,805 -18.6% 23,094 38.53%
FordFusion Energi 789 4.9%-0.3% 11,550 89.7% 6,089 20.40%
FordC-Max Energi 659 2.3%-20.3% 8,433 17.9% 7,154 17.04%
ToyotaPrius Plug In 492 9.1%-46.5% 13,264 9.7% 12,088 12.72%
BMWi8 158 25.4%N/A 555 N/A - 4.09%
CadillacELR 118 -23.9%1866.7% 1,310 21733.3% 6 3.05%
PorscheCayenne S E-Hybrid 67 48.9%N/A 112 N/A - 1.73%
HondaAccord Plug In 63 46.5%65.8% 449 -14.6% 526 1.63%
PorschePanamera S E-Hybrid 31 -45.6%N/A 879 N/A - 0.80%
Total PHEV 3,867 7.1%-22.2% 55,357 13.1% 48,957
Total Auto Sales 1,498,210 15.7%10.7% 16,435,286 5.8% 15,531,706
Overall PHEV Rate0.26%0.34%0.32%

bev_12_14_us

December 2014 Battery Electric Car Sales Numbers

Battery Electrics sold in the U.S. (December 2014): 7,419
Battery Electric Take-Rate: 0.50%

U.S. Battery Electric sales for December 2014

MfgrModel 12-14 Sales vs. 11-14 vs. 12-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month U.S. Share
NissanLeaf 3,102 15.4%22.7% 30,200 33.6% 22,610 41.81%
TeslaModel S 1,900 31.0%11.8% 16,550 -11.3% 18,650 25.61%
BMWi3* 1,013 24.1%N/A 6,092 N/A - 13.65%
SmartforTwo EV 351 12.1%110.2% 2,594 181.0% 923 4.73%
MercedesB-Class Electric 326 68.9%N/A 774 N/A - 4.39%
VWe-Golf 237 99.2%N/A 357 N/A - 3.19%
ChevroletSpark 131 114.8%72.4% 1,145 112.4% 539 1.77%
Fiat500E 115 15.0%130.0% 1,503 271.1% 405 1.55%
KiaSoul EV 110 -21.4%N/A 359 N/A - 1.48%
FordFocus EV 53 -72.3%-66.5% 1,964 13.0% 1,738 0.71%
ToyotaRAV4 EV 37 -55.4%32.1% 1,184 8.0% 1,096 0.50%
HondaFit EV 32 540.0%-37.3% 407 -28.5% 569 0.43%
Mitsubishii 12 -33.3%9.1% 196 -81.0% 1,029 0.16%
Total BEV 7,419 20.1%49.1% 63,325 33.2% 47,559
Total Auto Sales 1,498,210 15.7%10.7% 16,435,286 5.8% 15,531,706
Overall BEV Take Rate0.50%0.39%0.31%
* Breakdown between BEV and PHEV is not available.

December 2014 Compressed Natural Gas Car Sales Numbers

Compressed Natural Gass sold in the U.S. (December 2014): 40
Compressed Natural Gas Take-Rate: 0.00%

U.S. Compressed Natural Gas sales for December 2014

MfgrModel 12-14 Sales vs. 11-14 vs. 12-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month US Share
HondaCivic 40 -23.1%-66.1% 751 -65.8% 2,198 100.00%
Total CNG 40 -23.1%-66.1% 751 -65.8% 2,198 100.00%
Total Auto Sales 1,498,210 15.7%10.7% 16,435,286 5.8% 15,531,706
Overall CNGTake Rate0.00%0.00%0.01%

diesel_US-12.14

December 2014 Diesel Car Sales Numbers

Diesels sold in the U.S. (December 2014): 9,721
Diesel Take-Rate: 0.65

U.S. Diesel sales for December 2014

MfgrModel 12-14 Sales vs. 11-14 vs. 12-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month US Share
VolkswagenJetta Diesel 2,247 -19.5%-22.4% 37,397 -15.0% 43,983 23.11%
VolkswagenPassat Diesel 1,764 23.0%-20.1% 28,756 -17.8% 34,963 18.15%
VolkswagenGolf Diesel 856 15.1%97.2% 6,254 -17.3% 7,558 8.81%
BMW X5 Diesel 630 29.9%8900.0% 6,292 35.8% 4,633 6.48%
AudiQ5 Diesel 565 -5.5%-26.4% 6,295 112.3% 2,965 5.81%
ChevroletCruze Diesel 500 53.4%1.0% 5,988 99.9% 2,995 5.14%
MercedesGL-Class Diesel 419 19.4%21.1% 4,361 -29.7% 6,200 4.31%
Porsche Cayenne Diesel 349 -13.6%26.4% 3,369 -37.4% 5,386 3.59%
VolkswagenTouareg Diesel 330 3.4%41.6% 3,627 -1.9% 3,696 3.39%
AudiQ7 Diesel 306 -8.1%-53.3% 4,260 -1.1% 4,308 3.15%
BMW 3-Series Diesel 296 1.0%-77.6% 8,051 123.9% 3,595 3.04%
BMW X3 Diesel 241 37.7%N/A 1,455 N/A - 2.48%
MercedesGLK Class Diesel 194 -29.5%-54.8% 3,697 8.7% 3,402 2.00%
AudiA3 Diesel 182 9.0%N/A 697 185.7% 244 1.87%
AudiA6 Diesel 177 6.0%-47.3% 2,928 122.0% 1,319 1.82%
JeepGrand Cherokee Diesel 172 12.4%N/A 1,718 N/A - 1.77%
MercedesE-Class Diesel 170 1.2%-44.4% 2,420 38.1% 1,752 1.75%
BMW 5-Series Diesel 113 31.4%-76.0% 4,214 271.6% 1,134 1.16%
VolkswagenBeetle Diesel 89 20.3%-48.9% 1,749 -40.8% 2,956 0.92%
AudiA7 Diesel 58 -21.6%-44.2% 928 103.1% 457 0.60%
AudiA8 Diesel 48 -12.7%-47.8% 687 -11.2% 774 0.49%
MercedesML Class Diesel 14 -33.3%-96.9% 2,914 -40.4% 4,886 0.14%
MercedesS-Class Diesel 1 N/A-97.2% 113 -72.7% 414 0.01%
MercedesR-Class Diesel - N/AN/A 4 -69.2% 13 0.00%
Total Diesel 9,721 2.4%-19.3% 138,174 0.4% 137,633 100.00%
Total Auto Sales 1,498,210 15.7%10.7% 16,435,286 5.8% 15,531,706
Overall Diesel Take Rate0.65%0.84%0.89%

View Past Dashboards: