| Hybrid vehicles show decline in sales. The change in | | | | more affordable. Saturn auto body parts in Vue Green |
| heart of auto owners is attributed to the cut in gasoline | | | | Line hybrid, for instance, are now more reasonably |
| prices. In this regard, some auto enthusiasts are saying | | | | priced. As a fact, the hybrid just costs $1,000 more |
| that hybrid vehicles' appeal is fading away. | | | | than the regular Saturn Vue. |
| Toyota and Honda automakers have enjoyed hybrid | | | | Also, analysts in the industry said that Honda Accord |
| hype the most. This is because, their hybrid vehicles | | | | auto parts will not give savings to the consumers. |
| made it big in the auto market at once. In July this year, | | | | Rebecca Lindland, auto analyst at Global Insight said |
| gasoline prices were high and consumer intended to | | | | that a driver who buys a Honda Accord hybrid, which |
| save on fuel costs so they shifted to vehicles that run | | | | can cost some $3,000 more than a regular model, will |
| on both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor | | | | need 10 to 12 years to break even in fuel savings, |
| peaked at an annual rate of nearly 1.5 million units, this | | | | assuming the price of gas remains within the $2.50 to |
| information was divulged by Edmunds.com, an | | | | $3 range. To get that saving you have to drive 15,000 |
| automotive shopping website. | | | | miles a year, and if you are driving a hybrid 15,000 |
| However, in August, sales of hybrid vehicles dropped | | | | miles a year, you are doing a lot of highway driving and |
| sharply. Further, tax credits, which have significantly | | | | not maximizing the best use of your vehicle, Lindland |
| pulled sales, were reduced. Starting from the month of | | | | continued. |
| September up to the present, the famous Prius, which | | | | "The other possibility is diesel, Lindland concluded. New |
| is made up of sophisticated auto parts Toyota, | | | | regulations requiring low-sulfur diesel fuels, which went |
| experienced drop in sales. About 22.4 percent decline | | | | into effect this fall, are likely to boost the popularity of |
| in hybrid sales is suffered by Toyota. | | | | diesel vehicles in the United States. Those vehicles are |
| According to Alex Rosten, Edmunds.coms manager of | | | | already popular in Europe. (Diesel) has got a really bad |
| pricing and market analysis, the downturn that can be | | | | rap because most of us think of it as loud and smelly, |
| attributed in large part to a quirk in federal law. He | | | | but this is not your fathers diesel," she continued. "Cars |
| added, "The tax credit has played a large role, and it | | | | that run on diesel get consistently better mileage than |
| will expire at the end of 2007 unless Congress renews | | | | gas engines, whether on the highway or in the city. |
| it." On the one hand, Rosten said that there will always | | | | Thats the huge advantage they have over hybrids |
| be a demand for hybrids from green consumers. In this | | | | they are not as duty-cycle sensitive. |
| regard, automakers are working to make their hybrids | | | | |