GM: 260,457
TOYOTA: 193,234
FORD: 166,461
HONDA: 142,539
CHRYSLER: 117,457
NISSAN: 75,847
HYUNDAI: 50,033
MAZDA: 23,771
Of all global major car makers Hyundai will probably be the biggest beneficiary of high oil prices. They will post operating earnings of $2.3 billion this year, up 25%, on sales of $33.7 billion, up 11%. For their Elantra, Accent and Sonata sales increase has been maximum. These three compact, subcompact or mid size models registered 69%, 91% & 26% respective growth in sales figures. US sales of Hyundai SUV and Minivans tumbled by 41%.
Big cars are not preferred by Americans any more. Honda Motors have proposed shifting from SUVs to subcompacts. They were the first major automakers to offer hybrid (Insight in 1999) in the US. However their efforts have long been overshadowed by Toyota's success with the Prius. Honda sold just 277,000 hybrids to date, compared with Toyota's 1.5 million. However, unlike Toyota Honda is less interested in hybrid technology for heftier vehicles. They believe cleaner diesel is more appropriate for bigger cars.
By late 2010 Toyota plans to introduce 5 new hybrids - only models in the US, including a revamped Prius, a minivan and a new Lexus - some of them plug-ins. Unconfirmed sources are talking about a new Prius debuting in the first half of 2009 which will be lighter and more efficient than current model. It will be a hybrid tapping solar power. It may be designed to have integrated solar panels on the roof. This solar system will supply a portion of 2kw to 5kw needed to power the car's air conditioning.
GM is also developing the electric-powered Chevrolet Volt.
Many auto experts are becoming skeptical of plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged using home electricity. Battery technology, as many feel, is not ready.
However, until automakers can pass on the full cost of hybrid technology to the customers selling more hybrids will corrode their profit margins for sure.
(data courtesy: businessweek)
Big cars are not preferred by Americans any more. Honda Motors have proposed shifting from SUVs to subcompacts. They were the first major automakers to offer hybrid (Insight in 1999) in the US. However their efforts have long been overshadowed by Toyota's success with the Prius. Honda sold just 277,000 hybrids to date, compared with Toyota's 1.5 million. However, unlike Toyota Honda is less interested in hybrid technology for heftier vehicles. They believe cleaner diesel is more appropriate for bigger cars.
By late 2010 Toyota plans to introduce 5 new hybrids - only models in the US, including a revamped Prius, a minivan and a new Lexus - some of them plug-ins. Unconfirmed sources are talking about a new Prius debuting in the first half of 2009 which will be lighter and more efficient than current model. It will be a hybrid tapping solar power. It may be designed to have integrated solar panels on the roof. This solar system will supply a portion of 2kw to 5kw needed to power the car's air conditioning.
GM is also developing the electric-powered Chevrolet Volt.
Many auto experts are becoming skeptical of plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged using home electricity. Battery technology, as many feel, is not ready.
However, until automakers can pass on the full cost of hybrid technology to the customers selling more hybrids will corrode their profit margins for sure.
(data courtesy: businessweek)
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