Prius, Corolla Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, and RAV4 Hybrid Each Outselling Every Affordable Electric Vehicle In America

I'd better wait for a new RAV4 EV

I'm sure that you just knew that I would raise a red flag about these numbers John. Of course the numbers themselves are quite accurate, but it is the spin that you have placed on their meaning that I question. First off, you specifically qualify your headline saying that each Toyota EV outsells EVERY "affordable" EV in America. That is only true if you exclude the Tesla Model 3 from being "affordable", but if you include it in the running then the Model 3 alone outsells each of the Toyota EV models by a good margin. Am I surprised that Toyota's new hybrid lineup is a success? Not one bit. Heck, I even own a Toyota Corolla myself, and I know why they are top sellers. Same goes for Hondas. Plus Toyota does a new refresh of the Corolla model and and charges a meager $2500 more for the new hybrid version which gives you 53/52MPG compared to the regular Corolla's 31/38MPG. I figure that is part of the reason for the recent Prius' sales dip. Again with the Highlander Hybrid, it is a new model, and the hybrid version rides on the coattails of it's successful gas-only brother with 7% of the sales. Just like the Camry hybrid does off of it's top selling gas-only brother. As you readily admit, the Highlander Hybrid is not really in competition with the Model X, but the new Audi E-Tron is actually comparable, and it is also brand new, but so far has only 1/4 of the sales of the Model X. Plus these April numbers predate the recent BIG drop in prices for the Model X and Model S, and the increase in range of both models. For now we cannot be certain of how the Model Y preorders will affect other Tesla models moving forward. Plus with Chevy dropping the Cruze and Volt, and Ford offering an uncertain hybrid future, it is no surprise that Toyota is cleaning up on the new hybrid introduction across their model lineup. I am a little disappointed that Toyota doesn't offer a hybrid version of the Model 86, as there currently is no competition yet for affordable hybrid sportscars. But perhaps there were packaging problems, and it's too much of a niche market already to justify the R&D expense. Still I'm sure that Tesla would be proud to know that just their Model 3 alone has half the monthy sales of ALL of the Toyota EV models combined. And importantly all of the competing BMW, Audi, and Mercedes EV sales combined are a fraction of the Tesla sales. So Tesla is still doing just fine thanks. If there is a lesson to be learned here from Toyota's hybrid sales success, it NEEDS to be learned by GM, Ford and Chrysler, who have once again dropped the ball, and who SHOULD have offered plug-in and hybrid versions across their whole model lineup, including their trucks. Toyota's hybrid sales success puts the lie to GM's claims that the Volt was not successful enough, and Chrysler's claim that American buyers only want to buy gas guzzling trucks and SUVs. It is ironic that many of Toyota's successful hybrid models are actually being built right here in the U.S. using similar American union workers, that GM and Ford will be avoiding with their upcoming EV models which will most likely be built in China. So kudos to Toyota for having faith in America. In our workers and our economy minded buyers who will reward them for their long-term thinking.

I stand corrected John. You are totally right about Toyota not using union labor. You would think that the UAW would make concessions to keep jobs here in the U.S., but maybe not. As gas prices rise, the sales of the now profitable, lower gas mileage vehicles will drop in the U.S. So it is valuable and timely to keep track of hybrid sales growth. Some idealists only want a full transition to only BEVs right away, but they miss the fact that the realistic move towards electrification of vehicles is a path where automakers design hybrid versions of current models (although I am not a fan of mild-hybrids) and then build plug-in hybrid models that are essentially full EVs, but with gas backup, and eventually build new BEVs. So it is good to take note that some automakers are already building hybrids today, and that customers are buying them in record numbers. Fuelling the larger transition to electric cars across the board, rather than just the most profitable niche buyers,

I would love to go BEV today, but even used ones are way out of my affordability. They are almost at the point that i could live with them. Right now even though it seems incremental the Toyota Camry and Hybrid are what i can afford and cut down my emissions by over 50% annually and still live without a big sacrifice or change in lifestyle. I am still waiting for the better battery, faster charging in the used car market. Yes my wish list is Tesla any model, but here in Canada even the cheapest ones are over 55k !!! my budget is mid 20's so you can see families like mine being unable to make a full transition to BEV but at most can stretch into Hybrid. Great article though and thanks for the information.