New Honda Insight Outsells Toyota Prius

[SVOboy]

Recently, we talked about how the hybrid Honda Insight was beating sales expectations in Japan. as far as orders are concerned, that hasn’t changed, with Honda taking in over 15,000 orders in a month when they wanted only to sell 5,000 cars.Unfortunately for Honda, they could only deliver on 4,900 of these vehicles, meaning they [...]Related posts:

1. New Honda Insight Already Beating Expectations
2. Honda Insight Debuts at Detroit
3. Honda Insight: Back from the Dead?

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[bwilson4web]

So what has been the Honda Big-Insight impact on Honda Civic Hybrid sales?

Bob Wilson

[Daox]

Its good to see the Insight making a good splash. As much as I love the Prius (and I do love the Prius), it needs some good competition.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

So what has been the Honda Big-Insight impact on Honda Civic Hybrid sales?

Bob Wilson

That's a good question. I'll have to try to get on the press site for japan and see

[bwilson4web]

Thank goodness the Honda Big-Insight isn't competing with the:

• Honda Civic Hybrid - 40 City, 45 Hwy, 42 Comb. and Guinness 2008 record
• Jetta TDI - Edmunds and Top Gear USA and Guinness 2008 record
• Smart Fortwo - aka. Edmunds Gas-Sipper Smackdown!
• BMW M3 - Top Gear UK
• Prius EPA ratings - only competition: 48 City, 45 Hwy, 46 Combined

<GRINS>
The hybrid market is big enough for may more vehicles but right now there are two small car hybrids and both from Honda. Honda now has two assembly lines competing against each other (unless they are made on the same assembly line.)

In North America, real hybrid market gaps remain:

• minivans - only Japan has a minivan hybrid
• utility vans - Japan has some announced but I don't know the sales
• convertibles - none
• station wagons - none
• small pickups - none

Bob Wilson