Quote:
Hybrid and electric cars were the rage when gas prices where high. The grandfather of the category has been the Toyota (NYSE: TM) which recently fell on very hard times. Sales of the hybrid were off 26.7% to 11,027 in June and 25.2% to 67,405 for the first six months. Incentives on the Prius have dropped to .9% for 72 months.
Quote:
Virtually every large global manufacturer has one or more hybrid models. This was not the case when the Prius first hit the market. Even Toyota current has hybrid and FCV (fuel cell vehicle) of its Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Highlander, and Marai models. In a sense, Toyota competes against the Prius.
The Prius is lost, virtually, in an ocean of new competition. And, there is not evidence that the ancient hybrid can battle its way back into the lead it once held. The flood of competition is too great, and being first to market no longer has any value.
http://247wallst.com/autos/2016/07/03/toyota-dumps-prius-as-sales-collapse/?yptr=yahoo
I think the main reason is ugly styling of both exterior and interior.
I posted in another thread 2016 Chevy Volt sale increase substantial over last year, both month of June and year to date. This tells me low gas price is not the main reason for Prius failure to capture/retain customers. Yes, Prius is a hybrid and Volt is plug-in hybrid, but both are intended to save gas. I don't know if Toyota drops the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid or not.
Hybrid and electric cars were the rage when gas prices where high. The grandfather of the category has been the Toyota (NYSE: TM) which recently fell on very hard times. Sales of the hybrid were off 26.7% to 11,027 in June and 25.2% to 67,405 for the first six months. Incentives on the Prius have dropped to .9% for 72 months.
Quote:
Virtually every large global manufacturer has one or more hybrid models. This was not the case when the Prius first hit the market. Even Toyota current has hybrid and FCV (fuel cell vehicle) of its Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Highlander, and Marai models. In a sense, Toyota competes against the Prius.
The Prius is lost, virtually, in an ocean of new competition. And, there is not evidence that the ancient hybrid can battle its way back into the lead it once held. The flood of competition is too great, and being first to market no longer has any value.
http://247wallst.com/autos/2016/07/03/toyota-dumps-prius-as-sales-collapse/?yptr=yahoo
I think the main reason is ugly styling of both exterior and interior.
I posted in another thread 2016 Chevy Volt sale increase substantial over last year, both month of June and year to date. This tells me low gas price is not the main reason for Prius failure to capture/retain customers. Yes, Prius is a hybrid and Volt is plug-in hybrid, but both are intended to save gas. I don't know if Toyota drops the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid or not.
