Ford has announced that its hybrid market share jumped nine points from December 2011 to December 2012, while Toyota’s share of the hybrid vehicle segment dropped 8 points.
Ford has announced that its hybrid market share jumped nine points from December 2011 to December 2012, while Toyota’s share of the hybrid vehicle segment dropped 8 points. Ford’s market share in the segment has jumped thanks to the launch of the C-MAX hybrid and the all-new Fusion hybrid.
Ford’s launch of the new C-MAX hybrids and Fusion Hybrid this past fall led the company to deliver record-setting hybrid sales in December, resulting in a 9 percent market share gain to 16 percent. In the same period Toyota’s share of the hybrid vehicle segment fell 8 points, from 68 percent to 60 percent.
Ford sold more hybrids in the fourth quarter of 2012 than in any other three-month period in the company’s entire history with 19,554 units sold, besting its own previous hybrid vehicle sales record by more than 193 percent.
“We’re bringing new hybrid buyers into the market, many of whom wouldn’t be considered traditional hybrid buyers,” said Amy Marentic, marketing manager, Global Small and Medium Cars. “There’s a sense hybrid buyers represent a pragmatic or green ethic. Fusion Hybrid is scoring with these audiences, but the car also puts some excitement into the segment through design; it shows hybrids can have beautiful and sophisticated styling. This, in turn, means different buyers.”
Although sales of Ford’s hybrids are off to a great start, Ford’s MPG claims have been called into question several times.
