Electric and hybrid vehicle sales rose 73% in the US in 2012, according to the research firm Mintel. That makes them the fastest-growing sector of the US auto industry, with around 440,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold in 2012.
Mintel is predicting that sales in 2013 will rise even more significantly, reaching at least 535,000 units sold by the end of the year, which would be a 14% increase over sales in 2012.
And, by 2017, it’s predicted that sales will reach 850,000 units a year, making up 5% of the total car market in the US.
Silicon Republic writes:
“According to Colin Bird, an automotive analyst with Mintel, new models such as the Toyota Prius v (Prius+ in Europe) and the Chevrolet Malibu Eco are catching on with consumers. He said the segment would expand further in 2013 with the onslaught of new models, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid series and the Honda Accord Hybrid.”
He also notes that one of the main driver of EV and hybrid adoption is that people are looking to protect themselves from expected future increases in gas prices.
Source: Silicon Republic
Image Credit: Nissan Leaf via Wikimedia Commons
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