Sales in the Alternative Power segment fell by 11% Q1 2016 to 54,688 vehicles, a steep decline but actually not as bad as some other sectors (mainly premium mainstream ones). The reason for the decline is clear: cheap gas keeps luring people away from EVs, hybrids and more fuel-efficient cars in general into larger crossovers, SUVs and pick-up trucks. With no large increase in the gas price on the horizon it is hard to see how the fortunes for the sector could turn around anytime soon, though with new cars such as Tesla Model X, as well as Chevy Bolt and Volt models hitting the market at least one can expect some positive stories.
Highlights in Q1 2016:
- Sales of Toyota Prius line-up fell by 21% as the new main model slowly arrives in the showrooms
- Only two models recorded positive growth relative to Q1 2015: Tesla Model S (sales up 37%) and Chevy Volt (sales up 113%, allowing it jump into 4th spot)
- The other big news is that Tesla Model X sold almost 2,500 units in its first full quarter, good enough sixth spot on the charts list, ahead of Lexus CT
- Of the models that sell more than 5,000 units per year the biggest fall came unexpectedly from BMW i3, with sales plummeting 72%, a giant drop for a revolutionary model that’s less than three years old
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