Hybrid vehicle registrations up more than 25 percent in 2003

[PfcHammer]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040422/na_fin_us_auto_hybrid_growth_2.html

Hybrid vehicle registrations up more than 25 percent in 2003
Thursday April 22, 12:01 am ET
By John Porretto, AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) -- Americans are opting more for vehicles with environmentally friendly gasoline-electric hybrid engines, new statistics show, and that trend is expected to continue because of high gas prices and a growing number of hybrid models.

U.S. registrations for hybrid vehicles rose to 43,435 last year, a 25.8 percent increase from 2002, according to figures from R.L. Polk & Co., a firm that collects and interprets automotive information.

California had the most registrations, followed by Virginia, Florida and Washington.

"People are buying hybrids because of mileage benefits and environmental concerns," said Lonnie Miller, director of Polk's analytical solutions unit. "With the rising cost of gas, hybrid registrations will likely increase in 2004."

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[Joanne98]

1. Great news.

My uncle has one. He loves it :)

[Superfly]

2. If gas was $4 a gallon like over in Europe

Americans would be clamoring for hybrids. I know I'm holding off until the hybrid SUVs come out.

[Paulie]

3. I have a Prius on order...

7 month wait... probably be a 2005 model.

The hybrid SUV's are going to be in the 25-30mpg range, I wanted something in the 45-55mpg range.

If I need a truck, I'll rent one for $19.95 a day. ;)

[jobycom]

5. I bought one on Ebay to avoid the wait

I found a couple on Ebay and Autotrader. Some were listed by dealers trying to get 2K over the sticker, but some are people who want to sell for various reasons.

I bought mine from someone in Connecticut, who had bought it from a dealer in Georgia and had it shipped. He then ordered another one in the color and style he wanted, and when that came in, he sold his on Ebay. It was listed about forty minutes when I bought it with instant purchase, and he said several others had emailed him just before I bought it.

They can be gotten. They are well worth it. The ride, the technology, the mileage, the feeling you get when you pass an H2 (and they will pass an H2), and the looks you get when cruising past the gas station are well worth the trouble and price. I've had people in Mercedes, Corvettes and BMWs slow down to eye my car on the highway.

The sound system is horrible, though.

[demdave]

4. Market driven, people buy them and they make more.

The government can mandate whatever they want but until the public starts buying a product, it is dead in the water. Now the company backed research will, pardon the pun, put the pedal to the metal and start producing even more variants of fuel efficient vehicles.