ASH8

http://www.globalmotors.net/honda%e2...all-in-the-us/

LAtimes.com reports that Honda’s Insight hybrid which came with a great many hopes riding on it and was supposed to be a serious competitor to Toyota’s Prius has come a cropper with dismal sales.

Even though it was reasonably priced and even look somewhat liked the Prius, it entered the market with many bad reviews and bad sales figures. Though the auto maker expected to sell 30 pieces a month, it managed sales of only 10 in a month. And it looks like the sales figures are going to continue with Honda managing only 30 percent of its targeted sales.


Prius, on the other hand, more expensive though it is, has still sold 12,998 units last month. Even though Honda had the first mover advantage, being the first auto maker to bring hybrids into the US more than a decade ago, has not been able to translate that into sales.

ASH8

This is interesting, only 10 in a month.

It goes to show you that the "world" is still not really ready for Hybrids when gas is at lower prices...

I tend to agree with that guy in the US who said until gas hits $8 a gallon you won't see a major change in how we transport ourselves...it will happen, but when?

Rhawb

Only TEN!? That sounds WAY out of whack - even after reading the article, it's still not clear. Do they mean ten per dealership or ten nationwide?

rotarygod

I think the world is ready for hybrids. It's just not ready for a piece of ****. Then again Toyota is selling their own pieces of eco **** like hotcakes so maybe the key is in judging just how ugly something can get and still sell. Pontiac answered that question with the Aztec.

moRotorMotor

I agree, there is something not right about that figure.

ASH8

IMO most of the Prius success is entirely based on "clever marketing", particularly getting the Greenies, and those in *HOLLYWOOD* on side...

Forget about the TRUE ecological cost of these **** mobiles, now with a solar panel to keep car COOL...(WOW..Big deal, Mazda had this on their 1991 V6 929 with trunk cooling fans).

One would think the "recycle" cost of the battery would be hitting PRIUS Owners about now.

No More Oldsmobiles

The GlobalMotors.net article doesn't say when the story supposedly ran in the LA Times. I found this article on the LA Times website, and it doesn't mention the 30 and 10 figures.

map

They didn't price it right. It's cheaper than the Prius, but not enough considering the mileage and size deficiencies against it. The reviews make it sound awful. The thing is obviously a huge mess. It is time to admit that the Prius is pretty good at what it does, and it's not as easy to duplicate as Honda thought.

ASH8

That story is over 4 months old!!!!

No More Oldsmobiles

I know, and it was the only item I could find on the Honda hybrid -- but their site is running very slow now.