The US market for hybrid vehicles is forecast to exceed 10% of the total light vehicle market by 2012, reports German language automotive industry newspaper Automobilwoche.
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Automobilwoche quotes a current study by B&D Forecast GmbH, which forecasts that sales of hybrid light vehicles will rise from 83,000 units in 2004 to three million by 2015, equivalent to 17.7% of the total US light vehicle market.
The US market is being driven by emissions requirements that come into force in California in 2008. Many new hybrid models are being prepared by the Japanese and the Big 3 US manufacturers for launch in the next few years. By 2008 Ford will have five hybrid vehicles in its line-up, notes the article. The first Ford hybrid model, the Escape SUV, went on sale in September 2004.
European manufacturers are being left behind, with Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, managing director of B&D Forecast, estimating that German manufacturers lag the Japanese by four or five years.
Toyota and Honda currently lead the US hybrid market. Prius sold 53,600 Prius cars in 2004 and launches a hybrid version of the Highlander and the Lexus RX400h later this year. Honda sold 25,700 hybrid Insights, Civics and Accords in 2004.
The US market is also being driven by a tax incentive of around $2,000, says Dudenhoeffer in the article, as well as environmental awareness and the fun of driving a hybrid vehicle.
Susan Brown
