With consumers looking for alternatives to combat the higher gas prices, Nissan, who is having problems producing the world's first mass produced all-electric vehicle, the LEAF, due to the lasting effects of Japan's devastating earthquake earlier this year, has decided to walk away from the Altima hybrid at the end of the year, according to Automotive News, an industry trade magazine.
In a market where hybrid sales are up 8% for the year, the Nissan Altima hybrid sales are down 41% for the year, when compared to the same time period in 2010, according to hybridnews. com. The Altima hybrid has barely racked-up 2,000 sales this year. This is a far cry from the hybrid leader, the Toyota Prius, which sales are sixty times higher than the Altima hybrid.
Other than the Altima hybrid, Lexus' HS 250h, which looks like a guzzied-up Toyota Corolla, is the only other hybrid car which sales have dipped below the Altima hybrid. In fact, the HS 250h sales are down 80% for the year. We wouldn't be surprise if Lexus joins Nissan -- giving this premium class sedan the boot. Or if Lexus decides to hold on to the HS, they'll possibly restyle the conservative design vehicle in hopes of stimulating sales.
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