Ford hybrid sales stall
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YA RLY.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 610
From: Saginaw, MI
Ford hybrid sales stall
From today's Autobeat Daily
Ford Motor Co.’s effort to sell gasoline-electric hybrids is stumbling, prompting higher incentives to sell the once-hot vehicles, according to today’s Wall Street Journal.
It says Ford built 19,000 hybrids last year and sold 17,000. But sales this year through February have totaled only about 2,200 units. Ford has doubled cash rebates on its hybrids to as much as $1,000. The company hopes a one-time federa tax credit for hybrid buyers that started Jan. 1 will spur demand.
Ford entered the segment in 2004 with the Escape hybrid SUV and last year added the Mariner hybrid SUV. The company hopes to sell 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010. Right now, it has 9% of the U.S. hybrid market.
It says Ford built 19,000 hybrids last year and sold 17,000. But sales this year through February have totaled only about 2,200 units. Ford has doubled cash rebates on its hybrids to as much as $1,000. The company hopes a one-time federa tax credit for hybrid buyers that started Jan. 1 will spur demand.
Ford entered the segment in 2004 with the Escape hybrid SUV and last year added the Mariner hybrid SUV. The company hopes to sell 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010. Right now, it has 9% of the U.S. hybrid market.
Engineering first
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,613
From: Huntsville, AL
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
Originally Posted by Sledge
From today's Autobeat Daily
Compared to an SUV:
- minivans can be used by businesses to haul stuff and make deliveries
- minivans attract 'value' buyers vs. 'muscle' owners
- minivans are entered horizontally versus 'climbing up' or 'squating down'
- more space for larger, batteries and EV only mode
As a general rule, minivans, all vans, maximize the volume and longest dimensions to weight ratio. Thus large sized loads can be protected from the weather. Only pickup trucks haul larger loads by sacrificing weather and security.
Now I can appreciate that hybrid SUVs and large luxury cars address the least fuel efficient vehicles. But I also associate SUV and luxury vehicle buyers with those having the least concern about fuel costs and efficiency. A hybrid hummer looks like an oxymoron gathering no respect.
One of my speculations is the thought of blue-printing a Prius engine-transaxle and installing it in a Scion xB or VW minivan. This would be a hybrid-electric, microvan with great utility and excellent efficiency. My wife and I could then go on camping-vacations and not think about the price of gas.
Bob Wilson
Last edited by bwilson4web; Mar 7, 2006 at 06:37 AM.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 67
From: Boston, MA
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
A continuation of the story:
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...oogle&keyword=
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...oogle&keyword=
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 334
From: Central Florida
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
Originally Posted by Sledge
From today's Autobeat Daily
When Hybrids were first coming out there was talk of a hybrid 6cyl & 8cyl.
the 6 would get the same milage of a 4cyl & the 8 would get the same as a 6cyl.
lol I guess I'll be dead before that happens......
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 98
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
On the positive side, hopefully the extra rebate will close the gap tightly on the "hybrid premium" and spur potential buyers who were either on the fence, or heading towards non-hybrid SUVs, to go ahead and purchase the FEH.
The FEH was the first hybrid SUV we test drove, and it was that test drive that convinced my fiancee to look at hybrids more closely, rather than just buy a non-hybrid SUV. But, as Pravis Prime alluded to, she balked at the Ford brand and the more masculine looks of the FEH, so we went with Toyota.
Rick
The FEH was the first hybrid SUV we test drove, and it was that test drive that convinced my fiancee to look at hybrids more closely, rather than just buy a non-hybrid SUV. But, as Pravis Prime alluded to, she balked at the Ford brand and the more masculine looks of the FEH, so we went with Toyota.
Rick
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 67
From: Boston, MA
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
I think it's more about name brand and February sales in general. Also, people have adjusted to the higher gas prices. If the prices go up again, you'll see a big jump in sales.
All hybrid sales are down the past few months, but I expect they'll pick up again soon.
All hybrid sales are down the past few months, but I expect they'll pick up again soon.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 225
From: Raleigh, NC
Re: Ford hybrid sales stall
Originally Posted by MikeD
I think it's more about name brand and February sales in general. Also, people have adjusted to the higher gas prices. If the prices go up again, you'll see a big jump in sales.
All hybrid sales are down the past few months, but I expect they'll pick up again soon.
All hybrid sales are down the past few months, but I expect they'll pick up again soon.
+af
