The decline of sales in the Alternative Power segment slowed down somewhat in the third quarter of 2016 to just 6 percent, a much better (less bad) performance than the 21 perent drop in sales in Q2. That said, prospects for the segment still look pretty bleak because cheap gas keeps luring people away from EVs, hybrids and more fuel-efficient cars in general into larger crossovers, SUVs and pick-up trucks. Not even the new Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt or Tesla Model X seem to be able to stop that.
Highlights for Q1-Q3 2016:
- Sales of the three-vehicle Toyota Prius family dropped 26 percent despite the arrival of the new, controversially-styled liftback in the showrooms – a sign perhaps that, in a sector that’s quickly developing, customers are no longer content with Toyota’s gentle incrementalism?
- After losing 22 percent in Q2 due to lack of supply of the newly-facelifted version, Tesla Model S rebounded in style by gaining a scarcely-believable 89 percent in sales in the third quarter
- The new Chevrolet Volt is in hot pursuit of the Californian wonder-car, though, having gained 79 percent in sales in Q3 itself, and now firmly outselling fourth-placed Ford C-Max.
- Tesla Model X keeps climbing the rankings, and is now up to fifth spot, while the fuel-cell Toyota Mirai is now up to 11th
- Most other models in the sector lost sales, from the aging Nissan Leaf and Lexus CT to the futuristic BMW i3 and i8
- The Tesla Model X sold over 5,000 units in the first half, and almost outsold the Leaf in Q2. It has consolidated its sixth place, ahead of the Lexus CT and BMW i3
Note: clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off