Volt vs Prius - First 22 Months of Sales

7525 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by volt3939, Nov 1, 2012

focher

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2012 (Edited)

UPDATED WITH OCT 2012 SALES NUMBERS.

I've seen it mentioned how the Volt is doing versus the Prius during the same period, but I never saw the numbers. So I've compiled them. The data is in the attached spreadsheet, along with the links to the source data.

These are USA sales specific. I show the Prius started sales in July 2000 and the Volt in Dec 2010. I call this "First Month". The first 12 months of sales are "First Year". Then we have months 14 through 23 (October 2012 Volt numbers included).

SPOILER ALERT: The Volt now has monthly sales exceeding the Prius at the same period in its sales history.

Life-to-Date
Volt: 27306
Prius: 228989

If Volt sales continue even at the same rate, the Volt will overtake the Prius in total unit sales over the same timeframe within about 3-4 months. Also interesting is that the Volt actually surpassed the Prius' sales rate back in March on a like-for-like basis. You can see how it's now on an accelerated path well above what the Prius did. July appears to have been the breakout month where things really started to take off.

Spreadsheet is here.

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focher

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 2, 2012

ViperRT10Matt said:
Comparisons against the first gen Prius are sort of moot. The Prius really didn't take off till the far superior gen II was released. When people say "look how successful the Prius has been," they mean the design used from 2003 on, and you need to start your comparisons then.

It depends entirely what you're trying to analyze. If we go with your premise, then it's still an "unknown" because we don't know what a Gen 2 Volt will do in the market.

Of course you can pick random moments in the history of sales and declare that is the "right" time for comparison. Everyone is free to read whatever they want into the numbers. That's why I linked to the Excel file. The only thing the graph is showing is how many Volts and Priuses sold in the first 22 months on sale in the USA car market. No other factors were introduced or considered.

By that simple measure, the Volt is doing fine.

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focher

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 1, 2012

Updated with Oct 2012 data in the first post.

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