WHICH HYBRIDS SHOULD YOU BUILD PARTS FOR?

you forgot to take into account that prius shipments have been reduced (or just not increased) bc they're using the parts for newer hybrids, like the camry hybrid.

 

Well, if I were in the specialty parts business, I would certainly look at the Prius and new Civics because that is where most of the market is still at in overall numbers. As noted on this and other forums, dealer interest in these cars and aftermarket accessories would provide a ready market.

 

Something doesn't seem quite right in the logic of this article.

Who can say that if the newer models weren't available, people wouldn't simply by one of the existing hybrid models and there still be a 26% increase in hybrid sales?

Seems to me no matter how many models there were to choose from, sales of hybrids increased.

If *I* were looking at which hybrids to build parts for....I'd be going with a Prius for sure. Too soon to tell on the Cambrid.

And if I were looking in to what I could invent to make me money...I'd be looking at battery technology. Building a better battery (or battery substitute) is where the money is going to be in the future, not just for cars but for other things.

I think the photovoltaic industry is going to get lively too. They'll see a boost in sales if they can get them both more efficient and cheaper.

 

"Consumers are unlikely to purchase hybrids as a result of increases in fuel prices..."

It would be interesting to know how many Prius drivers did NOT purchase their hybrid as a result of increases in fuel prices. I enjoy the fuel savings, of course, but that alone would not have generated sufficient excitement to have made a purchase. I got excited about commuting in a super-high-tech hint-of-the-Jetsons saucer... uh, vehicle. That was my prime motivation to buy and I'd have to think I'm not the only one.

The Prius is so freshly and smartly engineered that, after driving it for 19 months, I continue to be awed (some would say I've misspelled "odd") as I continue to learn of even more impressive design elements. And, what a fun toy to play with! This car was built for me, with interior and exterior panels that virtually zip off almost as if velcroed in place (front bumper in less than 10 min.).

The best engineered hybrids will continue to sell well and so will the best engineered ________'s. (Just fill in the blank).

 

"It is important to note that if there hadn't been a substanstial increase in the number of hybrids sold, then there would've actually been a decrease."

I just felt it was important to state that if I hadn't earned more money in 2006 than 2005, then I would have earned somewhat less. It's too bad, too, because I could have used the extra money, but it's not like it really counts, because I would have earned less if I hadn't earned more.

In a similar vein, I recently had a child, and if she hadn't been born a girl, then it is important to note that she would have been a boy, and my wife and I are operating under the presumption that she would have been a boy anyway, and are going to ignore the fact that she is a girl.

Also, there is a busy intersection near me. It is much busier than the same time last year, 26.4% busier. But if you don't count the new residents in the neighborhood, then actually 4.5% fewer people. And most of the people in town will never go through that intersection at all, no matter how busy traffic gets! So, if it weren't for all the cars, it wouldn't actually be so busy. Because of this, I've decided to stand in the middle of the road.

Oh, one more thing, I have a penny which I dropped which landed head side up. It did indeed land head side up, and you can plainly see Lincoln winkin' at me from the floor, and everyone around me agrees that there's old Abe looking up at me. But, it is important to note that if the penny had not landed head side up, and then it would have been tails. It's too bad, too, because I bet my buddy who would get the last cookie, and it was supposed to be me if it came up heads, but since it would have come up tails if it hadn't come up heads, I guess he gets the last cookie.

Nate

P.S. Does any of this make any sense? No. ;-)

 

The corollary:
Do fluctuating gas prices really have anything to do with consumers purchasing Hummer H1s?
It seems that right now the answer may be no.

 

This seems like an agenda-based article. Looks like SEMA is made up of pro-truck and hot-rod types...check out the Board of Directors.
Guess I'll have to put SEMA on my growing list of untrustworthy news sources.
I totally questioned the sales numbers that they put together for the Prius. Wikipedia states that for 2005, the Prius sales figures were 107,897...double what they were in 2004 which was 53,991 (that's closer what SEMA lists as 2005 sales of 53,308). So maybe some dummy there just made a mistake and mix up 2004 with 2005?
But what about 2006, you ask? Well, let's see, SEMA says only 48,156 Prius have been sold in 2006 (and the year is only half over, but let's even forget about that). Wikipedia states, "As of June 7, 2006, 500,000 Prius has been sold worldwide, 266,212 in US alone." Um, who's lying.

 

I guess they hadn't seen this bit of research.

FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program - Fact of the week #431

 

Okay, I've looked at some other resources and took another look at the SEMA numbers. I was misunderstanding the numbers in their chart. I thought they were comparing total 2005 to partial 2006...so I guess they aren't being dishonest with the numbers...but they're evil, nonetheless. :lol: They're just using extremely selective data points to draw a desired conclusion.
The numbers are only Jan-June cumulative sales numbers for 2005 and 2006. By comparing these two data points a trend is established?
What would be good to know is what the 2005-2006 numbers are for all other non-hybrid vehicle sales. Then you would have some kind of reference point.