U.S. electric vehicle sales surged nearly 80 percent last year Hybrid vehicle sales hit a record high

While tesla companies and Ford motor companies are high-profile to promote the sales of pure electric vehicles, Asian automakers such as Honda and Toyota are mainly pushing the production line of hybrid vehicles. Because pure electric vehicles are more expensive, have limited driving distances or lack charging stations, many consumers may be hesitant to choose hybrid vehicles.

Automotive industry data proves this. The sales of pure electric vehicles and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in the United States last year increased significantly, of which hybrid vehicle sales hit a record high, the limelight is even more than pure electric vehicles, and the market share is also ahead of the latter.

Last year, the sales of hybrid vehicles in the United States were significantly ahead of pure electric vehicles

According to analyst firm Wards Intelligence, U.S. hybrid vehicle sales jumped 76 percent last year to 801,550 units, accounting for 5 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales. In contrast, sales of pure electric vehicles also rose 83 percent to 434879, but the market share of light vehicle sales in the United States was only 3 percent.

Toyota's record number of hybrids sold in the U.S. market also allowed the company to surpass General Motors to become the largest sales car manufacturer in the United States.

Toyota's sales of gasoline-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel cells increased 73 percent year-over-year to 583697, most of them gasoline-electric hybrids.

GM, on the other hand, has launched a massive recall of Bolt electric vehicles due to the risk of battery fire, resulting in less than 25,000 electric vehicles sold.

Brett Smith, technical director of the American Automotive Research Center, said: "Hybrids perform very well in terms of fuel economy, and they don't have some of the big flaws that electric cars have. ”

Consumer acceptance will still take some time to catch up

Honda Motor, the second-largest hybrid car seller in the United States, sold a record 107,060 hybrids last year, up 67 percent from 2020.

Dave Gardner, executive vice president of Honda, said: "As we prepare for pure electric vehicles, we hope to significantly increase the sales of hybrid vehicles for our core products, CR-V and Accord, in the coming years. ”

Honda Motor plans to launch its first all-electric vehicle in the U.S. market in 2024. Honda Expects the electric vehicle market to take a leap forward thanks to the launch of new models by major auto companies and the policy support of the Biden administration.

Gardner said: "It's just a matter of time, but I think it will take a while for consumer acceptance to catch up." "

Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor's global chief operating officer, said hybrids and plug-in hybrids will help accelerate sales of electric vehicles. "Some of our competitors have gone straight into the pure electric vehicle space... We still see a lot of consumers hesitating when it comes to buying pure electric vehicles. ”