11,228…that's the number of HS hybrids that Lexus has sold since the car hit the market last August.
1,076 units…that's how many Lexus sold last month.
20,000-22,000…that's how many HS hybrids Lexus had originally projected to sell in the first year.
So the obvious question is why are the HS 250h sales falling below expectations?
"I think we underestimated the power of the Prius brand… And we overestimated what the market would look like based on gas prices. But if we can do over 1,000 units a month, 1,000-1,500 units a month, we feel really good about what we're doing in the marketplace," says Mark Templin, vice president of Toyota's Lexus division.
Click HERE to watch our technology review of the HS 250h.
We say that it probably has to do with several factors including:
– the relatively low price of gas
– Toyota's recent technology woes and
– the Ho-Hum design of HS 250h
Plus Lexus took a risk in trying to sell a small and somewhat pricey luxury hybrid to buyers who may value size and prestige over fuel economy.
But we suspect that if and when oil prices make their inevitable march up the to the four dollars per gallon mark again sales of the HS 250h will also increase.
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