Last summer, getting a Honda Civic hybrid required being on a waiting list. Now, it's a different story.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last summer, getting a Honda Civic hybrid required being on a waiting list. Now, it's a different story.
"We have had a couple of Honda Civic hybrids sitting on the lot for a few weeks now," said Kurt Morganroth, sales manager at Lester Raines. "People aren't coming in and asking for them."
In November, hybrid car sales dropped 50 percent from November 2007, according to a Green Car Congress report. In West Virginia, things aren't any different, according to dealers.
According to the Green Car Congress, Toyota Prius sales were down 48.3 percent, selling 8,660 units. That's the lowest sales month since January 2007.
Toyota Camry hybrid sales were down 57.5 percent and Highlander hybrid sales were down 64.8 percent from November 2007. In November alone, Highlander sales dropped 35.9 percent.
The hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Mariner were down a combined 38.8 percent over November 2007. Combined sales for both models dropped 17.9 percent in November.
Nissan and Honda suffered similar fates - with Civic hybrid sales dropping 67.8 percent from 2007 and Nissan Altima hybrid sales dropping 70.4 percent.
Also, no Honda Accord hybrids were sold in November, compared to 204 in November 2007. Nissan Altima hybrid sales dropped 45.3 percent this November.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last summer, getting a Honda Civic hybrid required being on a waiting list. Now, it's a different story.
"We have had a couple of Honda Civic hybrids sitting on the lot for a few weeks now," said Kurt Morganroth, sales manager at Lester Raines. "People aren't coming in and asking for them."
In November, hybrid car sales dropped 50 percent from November 2007, according to a Green Car Congress report. In West Virginia, things aren't any different, according to dealers.
According to the Green Car Congress, Toyota Prius sales were down 48.3 percent, selling 8,660 units. That's the lowest sales month since January 2007.
Toyota Camry hybrid sales were down 57.5 percent and Highlander hybrid sales were down 64.8 percent from November 2007. In November alone, Highlander sales dropped 35.9 percent.
The hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Mariner were down a combined 38.8 percent over November 2007. Combined sales for both models dropped 17.9 percent in November.
Nissan and Honda suffered similar fates - with Civic hybrid sales dropping 67.8 percent from 2007 and Nissan Altima hybrid sales dropping 70.4 percent.
Also, no Honda Accord hybrids were sold in November, compared to 204 in November 2007. Nissan Altima hybrid sales dropped 45.3 percent this November.
At C&O Motors, the dealership has six Nissan Altima hybrids for sale, said general manager Gene Walker. Last summer, consumers couldn't get the Altima hybrid anywhere in the state, he said. Walker purchased the vehicles at dealerships in New York and Pennsylvania.
Still, he said, last summer, the hybrid vehicles were all pre-sold. Now, they aren't.
"But, gas is not $4 either," he added.
Morganroth at Lester Raines agreed, saying that summer was a hot time for hybrid sales, partially due to the $4 gallon gasoline.
"Now, that gas is reasonable, that is not the case," he said.
Also, the traditional car sales are down too, making it harder for dealers to sell the higher-priced hybrids, he said.
However, if you are in the market for a hybrid - or any car really - manufacturers are offering tons of rebates, he said.
"It's a good time to buy, but everyone is scared to death to do so," he said.
Reach Sarah K. Winn at sarahkw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5156.
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