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Japanese Automakers Reported 21% Growth in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Sales

Saturday, February 19, 2011

By Roger Schreffler

Tokyo – (PanOrient News) With the Toyota Motor Corp. leading the way, Japanese automakers reported 21% growth in hybrid and electric vehicle sales in 2010.

According to statistics compiled by WardsAuto.com, global sales grew to a record 853,688 units with Toyota claiming an 80% share (see Tables 1 & 2). Toyota sales rose 30% to 690,778 units.

Second-ranked Honda Motor Co., reporting 8% lower sales of 148,000 units, claimed 17% of the market.

The leading model, the Toyota Prius, claimed 60% of all hybrid and EV sales. The Prius was followed by the Honda Insight at 8.5%, and Toyota RX450h (sold through the automaker’s Lexus channel) at 4.5%.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s i-MiEV was the top-selling electric car with 2010 sales of 4,600 units (see Table 1 in red). Mitsubishi began selling the car in Europe in December under both its name and Peugeot and Citroen’s as the iOn EV and C-Zero.

Meanwhile, hybrid and EV sales in the Japanese market grew to more than 486,000 units, up one-third over 2009 levels. The domestic market now accounts for 57% of global sales, up from slightly less than half in 2009.

Outside Japan, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. launched the Auris Hybrid in June 2010. Toyota currently produces the Camry Hybrid in the U.S., Australia, Thailand and China.

TABLE 1: JAPANESE HYBRID/EV SALES BY MANUFACTURER & MODEL

Japan Overseas Total (% Chg.)

Company Model 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009

Subaru Stella Plug-In **
EV 200(1) 170 0 0 200(1) 170 (+17.5%)

Hino Ranger 100 69 0 0 100 69 (+45%)
Dutro 800(2) 408 0 0 800(2) 408 (+96%)

Honda Insight (3) 38,080 93,283 35,646 37,172 73,726 130,455 (-46.5%)

CR-Z(4) 22,372 0 11,373 0 33,745 0 (-)

Fit Hybrid(5) 24,498 0 0 0 24,498 0 (-)

Civic Hybrid 3,957 4,232 12,474 26,864 16,431 31,096 (-57%)

Accord Hybrid(6) 0 0 0 1 0 1 (-)

Isuzu Elf Hybrid(7) 200 200 0 0 200 200 (no change)

Mazda Tribute Hybrid(8) 0 0 13 183 13 183 (-93%)

Mitsubishi i-MiEV(9) 1,900 1,426 2,700 167 4,600 1,593 (+189) **

Mitsubishi Fuso
Canter Eco Hybrid 318 150 27 10 345 160 (+116%)

Nissan Altima Hybrid 0 0 6,710 9,357 6,710 9,357 (-28.5%)

Fuga Hybrid(10) 1,149 0 0 0 1,149 0 (-)

Leaf EV(11) 330 0 63 0 393 0 (-) **

Toyota Prius(12) 315,413 208,862 193,976 195,292 509,389 404,154 (+26%)

Lexus RX400h/
450h(13) 5,300 6,502 34,153 30,209 39,453 36,711 (+7.5%)

Sai(14) 33,447 3,817 0 0 33,447 3,817 (+776%)

Camry Hybrid(15) 0 0 30,889 30,572 30,889 30,572 (+1%)

Lexus HS250h(16) 14,247 8,494 11,435 6,993 25,682 15,487 (+66%)

Aurus Hybrid(17) 0 0 15,258 0 15,258 0 (-)

Estima Hybrid 10,836 13,513 0 0 10,836 13,513 (-20%)

Harrier Hybrid 1,926 1,983 0 0 1,926 1,983 (-3%)

Highlander
Hybrid 0 0 8,876 12,198 8,876 12,198 (-27%)

Crown Hybrid 5,973 5,697 0 0 5,973 5,697 (+5%)

Lexus LS600h 3,734 1,091 1,651 1,245 5,385 2,336 (+130.5%)

Lexus GS450h 854 708 1,700 2,459 2,554 3,167 (-19.5%)

Prius Plug-In
Hybrid(18) 230 0 370 0 600 0 (-)

Quick Delivery 450 399 0 0 450 399 (+13%)

Dyna Hybrid 38 52 0 0 38 52 (-27%)

Toyoace Hybrid 22 21 0 0 22 21 (-0.5%)

Coaster Hybrid 0 20 0 0 0 20 (-)

Total 486,374 351,097 367,314 352,722 853,688 703,819 (+21%)

Source: Ward’s

NOTES:

(1) Subaru’s fiscal 2010 sales target

(2) Hino Motor Co.’s fiscal 2010 sales target

(3) Honda launched the Insight in February 2009.

(4) Honda launched the CR-Z in February 2010.

(5) Honda launched the Fit Hybrid in October 2010.

(6) Honda stopped producing the Accord Hybrid in fall 2007.

(7) The Elf Hybrid truck employs a diesel engine and lithium battery. The 2010 sales total is an estimate by the manufacturer.

(8) The Tribute Hybrid is based on the Ford Escape Hybrid and produced at Ford’s Kansas City, MO, plant.

(9) The overseas sales total includes an unspecified number of Peugeot- and Citroen-badged models.

(10) Nissan launched the Fuga Hybrid in November 2010.

(11) Nissan launched the Leaf EV in December 2010. The automaker declined to give December sales results of which a small unspecified number were in the U.S. The results in the table are sales through January 25th. Through the month of December, the automaker had assembled 1,000 units at its Oppama plant.

(12) Toyota launched the third-generation Prius in May 2009.

(13) Toyota launched the RX450h in January 2009; the model replaced the RX400h.

(14) Toyota launched the Sai in November 2009.

(15) Outside Japan, Toyota produced 17,200 Camrys in the U.S. in 2010, 7,700 in Australia, 6,300 in Thailand and 1,600 in China. Production and sales results differ.

(16) Toyota launched the HS250 in July 2009.

(17) Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. launched the Auris Hybrid in June 2010.

(18) Toyota began test-marketing the model in December 2009.

TABLE 2: JAPANESE HYBRID/EV SALES BY MANUFACTURER

Japan (% Chg.) Overseas (% Chg.) Total (% Chg.)

Company 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009

Subaru(1) 200 170 (+17.5%) 0 0 200 170 (+17.5%)

Hino(2) 900 477 (+88.5%) 0 0 900 477 (+88.5%)
Honda 88, 907 97,515 (-9%) 59,493 64,037 (-7%) 148,400 161,552 (-8%)

Isuzu(3) 200 200 0 0 200 200 (no change)

Mazda 0 0 13 183 (-93%) 13 183 (-93%)

Mitsubishi 1,900 1,426 (+33%) 2,700 167 (-) 4,600 1,593 (+189)

Mitsubishi Fuso 318 150 (+120%) 27 10 (+170%) 345 160 (+116%)

Nissan (4) 1,479 0 (-) 6,710 9,357 (-18.5%) 8,189 9,357 (-12.5%)

Toyota 392,470 251,159 (+56%) 298,308 278,968 (+7%) 690,778 530,127 (+30.5%)

Total 486,374 351,097 (+38.5%) 367,314 352,722 (+4%) 853,688 703,819 (+21%)

Source: Ward’s

NOTES:

(1) Subaru’s fiscal 2010 sales target

(2) Hino Motor Co.’s fiscal 2010 sales target

(3) The 2010 sales total is an estimate by the manufacturer.

(4) Nissan launched the Leaf EV in December 2010. The automaker declined to give December sales results of which a small unspecified number were in the U.S. The results reported in the table are sales through January 25th. Through the month of December, the automaker had assembled 1,000 units at its Oppama plant.

** Electric cars

Roger Schreffler is a veteran business journalist who has covered the Japanese energy scene for more than twenty years.

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