Honda Says U.S. Sales Goal for Insight Hybrid May Miss Mark by 30-plus Percent
In April, Honda's Insight became the first hybrid ever to top Japan's monthly car sales list
, but first-year U.S. sales of the gasoline-electric car the model appears likely to miss the automaker's target by a wide margin.
In an interview with a Bloomberg News reporter last week, John Mendel, U.S. executive vice president for Japan's second-largest carmaker, said first-year American sales of the Insight may be no more than 60,000 vehicles.
U.S. sales of the model, which first started appearing in American dealerships in March, had been expected to reach 90,000 vehicles by March of next year.
Mendel attributed the disappointing sales to cheap gasoline, the economic slump and competition from Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid. Gasoline prices in the U.S. have fallen 35 percent over the past year. Meanwhile, Toyota plans to cut the base price of its new Prius by $1,000 to compete more effectively with the Insight.
The Insight, rated by the U.S. government as getting 41 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, is priced from $19,800 to $23,100. By comparison, Toyota's 2010 Prius, which averages 50 mpg, sells for $22,000 to $31,770.
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett June 15, 2009, 1:16 PM
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- Categories:
- Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Toyota
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- Fuel Economy, Honda Insight, Hybrid, Toyota Prius
I haven't seen any of these or new Priuses yet. SoCal must be hoarding them.
Could it be that the Civic hybrid is competing against the new Insight?
I thought the old Insight was much better looking. More futuristing and unique. And offered with a manual. Albeit with fewer seats.