New car sales
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Toyota has reached yet another significant milestone in global hybrid sales. The Japanese automaking giant has surpassed 10 million hybrid sales globally since the launch of the first-generation Prius in 1997. That total includes hybrids sold under Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, as well as sales of two plug-in hybrid models. CHECK OUT: Toyota at 9 million hybrids, now makes more than 1 million a year (May 2016) The latter represent only a tiny fraction of the vast numbers of conventional hybrids the automaker has sold over the past 20 years. Toyota surpassed 10 million global hybrid sales just...
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European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-Dec 2016
The Renault Zoe closed out 2016 as the best-selling electric car in Europe. While the Nissan Leaf continues to lead in worldwide sales, the smaller electric car from Nissan's alliance partner has remained on top in its home market. These consistent performances have cemented the Renault-Nissan...
Stephen Edelstein -
China's BYD built more plug-in cars than any other maker last year
Time for a quick quiz: which carmaker sold more plug-in electric vehicles last year—both battery electrics and plug-in hybrids—than any other? If you're a reader in North America or Europe who managed to miss our headline, odds are you may answer "Tesla" or "Nissan," based on media...
John Voelcker -
With Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan is world's largest maker of all-electric cars
The controlling interest in carmaker Mitsubishi it acquired last year has helped the Renault-Nissan Alliance to solidify its position as the global leader in sales of battery-electric cars. The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling all-electric car in history, while the Renault Zoe has achieved...
Stephen Edelstein -
Plug-in electric car sales in Canada, Jan 2017: Volt on top again
The Chevrolet Volt continued its reign on top of the Canadian electric-vehicle sales charts for the tenth consecutive month in January. The plug-in hybrid Volt's 256 sales obliterated the prior January record of 99 Tesla Model Ses from two years ago this month. Chevy Bolt EV sales began at the end...
Matthew Klippenstein -
Real-world data more important than faith in boosting electric cars
"Big data" is often discussed as a useful tool for everyone from policymakers to corporate marketing departments. But could it also be used to help increase electric-car adoption? Last November, the Obama administration held the first-ever "Electric Vehicle Datathon" with that very goal in mind...
Stephen Edelstein -
While the auto industry at large waited to see if January sales continued as strong as last year's record-breaking total, electric-car fans waited for a different number. That was the number of Chevrolet Bolt EVs sold last month, the car's first full month on sale, albeit in a small number of states. Those states, most prominently California, have the most advanced plug-in electric car markets, however. DON'T MISS: 2016 plug-in electric car sales: best year yet, Bolt EV launches, Model S record When GM released its sales results this morning, the number turned out to be 1,162 deliveries. That...
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McKinsey suggests ways automakers could kick-start electric-car demand
Despite steady increases over the past few years, electric cars still represent only a tiny fraction of new-car sales. There are no shortage of theories as to why that is the case. Some electric-car advocates blame manufacturers for not adequately promoting the vehicles, while many within the...
Stephen Edelstein -
Hybrid market share peaked in 2013, down since then
What's a "green car"? Is it a hybrid? A zero-emission vehicle? One that plugs in? Or just one that uses less fuel than other cars in its segment? It's a perpetual conundrum, for Green Car Reports among others, but it illustrates one of the longstanding challenges in the field. Will the market for...
John Voelcker -
European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-Nov 2016
In the waning months of 2016, no dramatic changes occurred in European plug-in electric car sales. The established players remained on top of the sales charts, in virtually the same sequence seen in previous months. The Renault Zoe was again the best-selling electric car in Europe between January...
Stephen Edelstein -
Plug-in Electric Car Sales in Canada, Dec 2016: cresting Everest
While still just shy of the 30,000 vehicle milestone, cumulative Canadian plug-in electric vehicle sales likely finished 2016 high enough to scale Mount Everest (elevation in feet: 29,029). While the full 2016 milestone is unlikely to be reached by January 11—birthday of Sir John A...
Matthew Klippenstein -
Plug-in electric car sales in Dec: 2016 best year yet, Bolt EV launches, Model S record (update)
As sales results trickled in from automakers earlier this month, industry analysts waited to see whether enough buyers signed on the line to make 2016 a new record sales year. They did: a record total of 17.55 million new passenger cars and light trucks were sold last year, narrowly beating the...
John Voelcker -
The Diesel Technology Forum notes that diesel's market share increased in the second half of 2016, but that was mostly due to truck sales.
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UPDATE: Tesla can still sell cars in Missouri stores, pending appeal, after dealer lobby lauds victory
Tesla's Missouri dealer license expired December 31.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla delivered 76,000 cars in 2016, missing its goal
While the auto industry will start to report December and year-end sales totals today, Tesla Motors issued its year-end delivery and production results yesterday. The Silicon Valley car maker, now completing its ninth year of production, delivered 22,230 electric cars during the fourth quarter of...
John Voelcker -
Electric-car market share in 2020: estimates vary widely
Of the new cars sold globally in 2020, what percentage will be electric? It's a simple question, but at the moment there doesn't appear to be a clear answer. Estimates of electric-car market share approximately three years from now vary widely, as do those for periods further beyond that. DON'T...
Stephen Edelstein -
This is the best week of the year to buy a green car
The last week of the year is the best time to buy a new car.
Stephen Edelstein -
Sales of 'green' cars remain low; is it a problem of fear?
Consumer fear of green cars may be hurting sales, one analyst believes.
Stephen Edelstein -
New states are enacting electric-car group buying programs.
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Electric cars are on the market, so where are all the ads?
Automakers put relatively little effort into electric-car advertising, according to the Sierra Club.
Stephen Edelstein -
This Boston dealer is excited about the electric-car future
A Boston-area dealer is optimistic about electric cars.
Stephen Edelstein -
European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-Oct 2016
The Renault Zoe remained the best-selling electric car in Europe through October.
Stephen Edelstein -
BMW plans to sell 100,000 plug-in cars in 2017, CEO says
BMW aims to sell 100,000 electric cars and plug-in hybrids next year.
Stephen Edelstein -
Plug-in electric car sales in Canada, Nov 2016: Bolts from the blue?
Canada's first three Chevrolet Bolt EVs were registered in October, no doubt for media test-drives and dealership training ahead of the 238-mile electric car's Canadian launch. That event is expected to take place early next year, but with photos of truckloads of Bolt EVs headed for U.S. dealers...
Matthew Klippenstein