Sales figures are in for May 2013. Here’s how it shakes out:
The Leaf is continuing its dominance of the models I’m tracking and posted a 10% increase over the previous month (2,138 vs. 1,937).
The Volt is still in 2nd place and showed a 23% increase over the previous month (1,607 vs. 1,306).
The Corvette was trounced by the Volt and Leaf, selling 905 units in May.
The Plug-in Prius saw a 13% increase over the previous month (678 vs. 599).
Finally, the i MiEV dropped 28% from the previous month (91 vs. 127). Surely it’s dying a sloooooow death. (and stop calling me Shirley)
Gasoline prices were up over the previous month by about 18 cents per gallon.
Compared to the original Prius, the Volt is starting to lose ground. By the 30th month of availability, the original Prius had sold a total of 40,286 versus the Volt’s 38,615 units sold, for a difference of 1,671 cars. Back in December of 2012, the Volt had closed to within 548 units of the original Prius and I was predicting the Volt would overtake the Prius shortly.This begs the question, Why isn’t the Volt doing better than this? After a dismal January and February, the Leaf has come charging back (sorry), but the Volt has been in the doldrums since its all-time high sales mark in October 2012. The only exception to this was an the end-of-year spike in sales in December. Now, when I say, “in the doldrums,” take it with a grain of salt. Even with the current low sales numbers, it has been handily beating the Corvette for a year and a half.
But consider the news. The Tesla Model S has been roundly praised in the media, even grabbing Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. Tesla stock has been soaring. Confidence in EVs seems to be on an upswing. Heck, the Volt has been number one for the last two years in Consumer Report’s annual driver satisfaction survey.
I’d like some feedback on this. What do you think is holding the Volt back (if anything)? Why do you think the Nissan Leaf is doing so well now? Last Spring and Summer were very difficult times for the Leaf, but this year it’s another story.
Thanks for stopping by!
The Volt may be slightly behind original Prius sell line. But, that is only slightly and considering its starting price is almost $17,000 more… That’s amazingly close.
My personal experience can be summed up in a single word. Price. While my Volt is my primary car and is really a purchase, my Leaf was a second auto with specific uses and leased for a bargain basement price. Many Leaf owners that I have spoken to while taking advantage of high speed charging seem to fall mostly into two profiles. First are what I would affectionately call “eco-freaks” that want to take the plunge to fully electric lifestyle. For the Leaf, these are the people who cannot afford the price of a Tessla but still want to be totally green. The other people are those like me, who simply cannot pass up a rediculously good deal. Given my lease payments and the use of the car as primarily a spouse commuter car with an occasional errand run, it fits the need. The Volt does the out-of-town trips and the range stretching, but does pencil out over the six years when compared to an alternative vehicle for purchase. I would never buy a Leaf as a singular or primary vehicle as the Volt is so much better for all-around use, but I have met several owners of Leaf’s who do just that and tolerate extended trip planning as though it was simply part of the EV experience. The Volt is simply too expensive to be used almost exclusively as a commuter car and people who buy them are almost as much “eco-freak” as the fully EV purchasers. While being the ideal compromise car, the Volt does not fully satisfy the ECO and fully EV buyers, who are at the bleeding edges of technology. At the same time, the people who the Volt should appeal to are not yet convinced in electric drive technology and really do not understand the Volt. Most also do not believe the economy that can be achieved using the Volt and that they will really regain their costs over time from the reduction in fuel costs. We are a bottom line up-front cost society after all, more concerned with the purchase price rather than the operating cost economies. When Volts go 8-10 years and longer (15-20 yrs?) on their original batteries, then customers will feel better about the purchase price. Meanwhile, I will continue to smile about the efficiencies and savings of both vehicles. This is one place where it is going to pay handsomely to be an innovator.
The Volt is lagging because GM does little or no avertising for the car because they claim they lose money on every sale. Tesla’s share price increase easily wiped out any losses they had creating their car, I think GM dropped the ball on this one, I still love my Volt!!
Buzz, its simple, the dealerships are NOT on board…it seems that many could care less if they sell a Volt. Heck, even the reps they send to the auto show now nothing of the Volt.
Are folks waiting to see what the 2014s come in at and force a reduction in 2013s?
Similarly do folks see the high inventory and assume some deals are coming?
Are some waiting to see what the ELR comes in at and if too high then go for a loaded Volt?