For readers of The Green Motorist, or just about any other hybrid vehicle blog, it comes as no surprise that auto manufacturers are having a difficult time getting hybrid vehicles out the dealership’s doors. Many of the major auto manufacturers are seeing double digit declines in overall vehicle sales with a model or two that is doing well.

In February of 2009, Nissan saw an overall decline of auto sales by 37.1% but the sporty and fuel inefficient Nissan Z saw a 33% increase in sales. In November 2008, Toyota saw a drop in sales of 33.9% but the gas-guzzling Toyota Sequoia (14/17 mpg city/highway) saw an increase in sales of 52% over October 2008. Just a few months prior, customers were waiting for and paying a premium on hybrids like the Toyota Prius.

I have written several times about this “out of sight, out of mind” mentality that so many American drivers have. The marquee at the local gas station no longer has regular gasoline starting with $4 and so Americans are back to their gas-guzzlers.

Ken Bensinger takes a more in-depth look at this issue in his article that appeared on the LA Times website. Here’s an excerpt:

“Americans have cut back on buying vehicles of all types as the economy continues its slide. But the slowdown has been particularly brutal for hybrids, which use electricity and gasoline as power sources. They were the industry’s darling just last summer, but sales have collapsed as consumers refuse to pay a premium for a fuel-efficient vehicle now that the average gallon of gasoline nationally has slipped below $2.”

Read the entire article: Hybrid car sales hit a roadblock: public’s disinterest

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