Large hybrid SUV sales crash

Down from 1,000 per month

"The momentum that General Motors was starting to get with its hybrid sales hit a major speed bump last month," reports Autobloggreen this morning.

In September the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid combined, achieved sales of just over 1,000 units. In October, despite the edition of the Cadillac Escalade hybrid, total sales of all three of these hybrid vehicles dropped to 795 units.

I don't know that I'd call 1,000 units per month momentum, but I think it's obvious that large SUVs - whether hybrid or not - have no future.

GM's dual mode hybrids: Just greenwashing?

Is the marketing budget bigger than the production budget?

A few years ago Dan Neil wrote an article that so offended GM that the automaker pulled all of their advertising from the LA Times. Well, he might have achieved the same result with his recent article, Just Right, Yet Wrong.

Dan says a lot of great things about vehicles like the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid. Still, he has questions, a lot of questions about GM's dual mode hybrid vehicles, and those questions lead Dan to the word 'greenwashing'. Read more....

Is $50,000 too much for a full-sized hybrid SUV

A Yukon hybrid at the LA Auto Show

Back in August, when I was able to test drive the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, I was very impressed. In fact, I was so tempted I titled the article of my test drive as The Devil Drives a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. I'm not a fan of big SUVs, but the Tahoe hybrid tempted me.

However, after learning that the price of this hybrid SUV, as well as the very similar GMC Yukon hybrid, is going to start around $50,000, I'm no longer tempted. I simply cannot afford such a vehicle.

I love hybrid vehicles, particularly full hybrid vehicles, but can GM really sell many of its full hybrids at such a price? I'm just not sure. The Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are excellent vehicles for hybrid SUV fans, but $50,000? Dammnnn!

Finally, a real revolution from Chevy?

A classic American vehicle goes green?

There is no vehicle segment more important than trucks to GM's Chevy brand. Certainly, SUVs are a profitable product for GM, but trucks are Chevy's marquee vehicle.

Thus, while it's great that GM has gotten into the full hybrid game with the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid, the hybrid that I think GM can be most proud of at this point in time is the Chevy Silverado hybrid.

If all goes well, this new hybrid truck will hit dealerships in late 2008 and it will be the definition of GM's American Revolution branding, finally - at least until the Chevy Volt.

GM's dual mode hybrids: DOA?

Is it now all about the Volt?

GM's dual mode hybrids, such as the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid, are not even yet for sale. Even so, are they already being phased out?

Finish: GM's dual mode hybrids: DOA?

Hybrid of Presidents?

Top hybrid for Presidential candidates

The DetroitNews reported this weekend that Ford began running ads in New Hampshire and Washington "touting the fact that the Ford Escape Hybrid was the top choice of vehicles among presidential candidates."

GM, however, was quick to respond, 'Wait until the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and GMC Yukon hybrid become available for sale.'

Tahoe and Yukon hybrids as efficient as a Camry?

As efficient as a Camry?

Ed Peper, a General Manager for GM's Chevrolet, told CNBC's Behind the Wheel that the Chevy Tahoe hybrid would achieve 21 mpg in the city - the city fuel economy of a conventional Toyota Camry.

That's a good start. Of course, the Toyota Camry hybrid, on the other hand, achieves mid to high 30s fuel economy in the city.

Still, I get Chevy's point.

My Chevy Tahoe hybrid test drive left me very impressed. Still, it's hard for me to endorse any large SUV, but I absolutely believe that the buyers of large SUVS need to take some responsibility for their gas-guzzling. The Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid provide such an opportunity for large SUV buyers to both reduce foreign oil consumption and to invest in GM's hybrid technology.

Hopefully, one day, that investment will lead to hybrid cars in addition to smaller hybrid SUVs from GM. Until then, the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are a step forward.

Just 10,000 GM dual mode hybrids?

Just a PR effort?

I'm not a big fan of SUVs, but when I test drove the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, I was quite impressed. If you have to have an SUV of this size, I believe it should be the hybrid Tahoe.

Nonetheless, GM doesn't seem to have very high expectations for either the Tahoe hybrid or the GMC Yukon hybrid. While I can't remember the source, I read something the other day quoting Bob Lutz in which he said GM planned to sell about 10,000 of these hybrids in the first year - in total.

Considering the sales of other hybrid SUVs, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, these numbers are not that surprising. Nonetheless, the Highlander hybrid will outsell both of GM's hybrid SUVs, even though it barely qualifies for any tax credit.

I'm glad GM is finally launching some dual mode hybrids, I just wish they were being a little more aggressive.

Hybrid SUVs: The same old GM?

Large SUVs will become GM's first hybrids

When the first full hybrid vehicles from GM hit the streets this Fall, they will come in the form of full size SUVs. And, why should anyone be surprised that GM would start with large SUVs, such as the Yukon hybrid or the Tahoe hybrid?

If large trucks are GM's bread, then large SUVs are GM's butter.

Of course, GM's bread and butter isn't as tasty to consumers as it was a decade ago. Sure, more fuel efficient hybrid versions of these gas-guzzlers might help stem the public's growing disinterest in such vehicles, but will they provide any new marketshare?

--> Finish: GM's hybrids: The wrong start?

Volt and hybrids are the future for GM?

Chevy Tahoe hybrid: The future of things to come from GM?

"We know that our success in the future is contingent on delivering technology that is meaningful to society," said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM's hybrid technology, who was among the team of engineers at GM's Milford Proving Grounds Friday to showcase the automaker's new powertrain technologies. "The whole spirit of the company is driven to do this."

I have had the pleasure of hanging out with many GM employees, including top executives, and I have to agree that I do believe the "spirit" of GM is changing - has changed.

Already GM is finalizing the launch of its first full hybrid vehicles, such as the Tahoe hybrid and the Yukon hybrid, and many more hybrids are due to hit the road in the next few years, including a dual mode plug-in hybrid, the Saturn Vue.

Still, what really gets many GM employees excited is the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid. Despite the claims of naysayers, this vehicle is not just a hype machine, although it has played that role well since its debut. For GM employees, I believe, the Volt is the nail in the coffin of GM-haters - a role I have taken in the past. The Volt is final proof that GM has not only changed, but that GM can bring the best automotive technology to the world - even in terms of fuel economy or emissions.

While success isn't guaranteed, where there is a will, there is a way, and I absolutely believe that GM has the will. May the force be with them.

A skeptical view of GM's hybrid vehicles

No Prius-fighter for years?

When it comes to hybrid cars, Toyota is king. Of course, when 2 members of the Big 3 aren't even selling full hybrids, it's easy to be king. So, will that change when GM starts selling its first full hybrids?

There is no doubt that GM's first dual mode hybrid vehicles, the Yukon hybrid and the Tahoe hybrid, will have an advantage over Toyota's hybrid trucks and SUVs. In particular, GM's dual mode hybrids can tow big loads and achieve impressive highway fuel economy for such large vehicles.

On the other hand, GM's hybrids might cost over $10,000 more than their conventional counterparts. Thus, while some can claim GM's hybrids are more technologically sophisticated than Toyota's, they also appear to be more expensive. Will the rewards justify the costs?

--> Finish: A skeptic's view of GM's hybrids

Is the Tahoe hybrid an American Revolution?

Finally, an American hybrid

I won't call it a freedom-fighter - that takes, minimally, 40 mpg. Nonetheless, I'll call the Chevy Tahoe hybrid an incredibly important step in the evolution of the American automobile. I might even call it an American revolution.

The Chevy Tahoe hybrid, as well as the Yukon hybrid, will not just be the first dual mode hybrid vehicles, these hybrids vehicles will be Made in America.

Unlike Ford's hybrids, such as the Escape hybrid, the Tahoe hybrid......

---> Finish: Chevy Tahoe hybrid: An American revolution

Will GM's big hybrids be better than Toyota?

Bigger hybrids are better?

Later this year GM's first dual mode hybrid vehicles are set to go on sale. The Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid will be GM's first full hybrid passenger vehicles, and already many are claiming GM's dual mode hybrids are superior to Toyota's hybrids.

And they are right. Well, sort of. OK, maybe, in some circumstances, although no one really knows, to be quite honest.


---> Finish GM's dual mode hybrid advantage

Tahoe and Yukon hybrids hopefully ready be end of year?

Tahoe and Yukon hybrids still in development stages

GM was able to show off working versions of both the Tahoe hybrid and the Yukon hybrid yesterday, according to the DetroitNews, but neither hybrid is yet production-ready.

"We're still in the development stages, but we're on track to have these vehicles ready by the fourth quarter of this year," said Larry Nitz, GM's executive director of hybrid technology.

GM's first two full hybrid vehicles, utilizing GM's dual mode hybrid powertrain, are expected to offer a 25 percent increase in fuel economy.