Sales of Hybrid Vehicles Hit Record High in the U.S. in 2021

We’ve heard this song before, in fact every year for nearly a decade now. There’s a ton of talk in the industry about this or that new electric model, and this or that automaker making a big announcement concerning investments and targets for transitioning to electric mobility.

Meanwhile, surveys of where consumers are at regarding the shift make it clear that the transition won’t happen overnight. Motorists, particularly in North America, continue to have concerns and doubts. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, for many folks the transition to all-electric vehicle ownership first implies something in between. Something like a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model.

For proof, year-end vehicles sales totals in the United States show that a record number of American buyers bought a hybrid or PHEV model in 2021. This even as many automakers pushed hard for consumers to consider their all-electric models. Others, particularly Asian manufacturers, increased their hybrid offerings, and they have benefited from the fact that in many markets there are no subsidies to purchase an electric model, meaning the price differential remains a significant barrier. For buyers in those regions, a hybrid model remains a more cost-effective solution.

In some areas, especially in the U.S. or in remote areas, the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure is another concern for many buyers, as is the range.

All of this has driven sales of hybrid models, which grew by 76 percent last year to reach a total of 801,550 units. That represents 5 percent of the total of light vehicles sold in the United States. Not so long ago, it was 1 percent.

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