April 2016 Sales Numbers

In April 2016, the plug-in sales results were mixed. Here are the April sales figures, compared to the previous month:

• Chevy Volt: UP 6% (1,983 vs. 1,865)
• Nissan Leaf: DOWN 37% (787 vs. 1,246)
• Plug-in Toyota Prius: DOWN 43% (4 vs. 7)
• Cadillac ELR: DOWN 8% (95 vs. 104)
• BMW i3: UP 145% (814 vs. 332)
• BMW i8: UP 46% (130 vs. 89)
• Ford Fusion Energi: UP 8% (1,331 vs. 1,238)
• Ford C-Max Energi: DOWN 1/2% (607 vs. 610)

In April, the averaged price of gasoline jumped up to $2.12 per gallon, in the U.S. The trend all month long was up, with minor hesitations along the way.

These sales figure bring up a question: The ELR is being discontinued and the Plug-in Prius has sold 10 units or less per month, for the last four months. Ditch them both from the charts? Just ditch the ELR, since we know it’s going away but the Prius might come back? What about the i8? The i8 has only had monthly sales over 217 once, in The ELR is almost selling as well. What are your thoughts? (comment section below)

The Chevy Volt had another pretty good month, posting 1,983 units sold. The Volt has overtaken the Nissan Leaf, in overall adoption, since inception and now leads by 1,139 units sold. I have been expecting this, for a while, as the Leaf model is due for a refresh, and the Volt is a new model with many improvements. I also wonder if the Tesla Model 3 / Chevy Bolt news about 200 mile EVs has slowed the Leaf’s sales…

April traffic at my dealership was spotty, over March (which had been a big jump up, over February). However, there were some days I was so busy, I never got to take a lunch break. My Volt sales and test drives are as robust as I’ve ever experienced, with March tying my best Volt month ever, and April missing that mark by one unit, because a couple, who ordered a Volt, didn’t pick it up, until a week after it arrived.

When looking at my own sales, by vehicle, my Volt sales are catching up with the most common item I sell, the Silverado 1500 pickup. I am in Texas, after all... My total Volt sales are now at 35, while my Silverado 1500 sales are at 39! The joke, at the dealership, is that a customer walks up to me and says, “I’d like to look at a Suburban.” My response is, “Yes, the Suburban is a great SUV, but have you heard of the Volt?” I’m not quite that bad, but any time a client mentions they’re needs include safety, fuel economy, low maintenance costs or sportiness…

Plug-in sales, compared to the same month a year ago, were mixed, with four up and four down. The BMW i3 is up, in a big way, compared to a year ago although the i8 still languishes, below its average monthly sales mark.

• Chevy Volt: UP 119% (1,983 vs. 905)
• Nissan Leaf: DOWN 49% (787 vs. 1,553)
• Plug-in Toyota Prius: DOWN 99% (4 vs. 428)
• Cadillac ELR: DOWN 9% (95 vs. 104)
• BMW i3: UP 100% (814 vs. 406)
• BMW i8: DOWN 6% (130 vs. 138)
• Ford Fusion Energi: UP 87% (1,331 vs. 711)
• Ford C-Max Energi: UP 10% (607 vs. 553)