At the 40mpg.org Web site, consumers can make their picks for three of the 10 best-selling vehicles in America with no publicly announced plans (as of May 15, 2005) to introduce hybrid models. 40mpg.org encourages higher fuel-efficiency standards for U.S. vehicles and is a Web-based campaign organized by the Results for America arm of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI).
The 10 best-selling vehicles with no publicly announced hybrid plans are (in order of sales): Ford F-Series pick-ups; Toyota Corolla; Chevy Impala; Ford Explorer; Ford Taurus; Chevy Trailblazer; Jeep Grand Cherokee; Ford Focus; Chrysler Town&Country; and the Ford Econoline.
The six out of 10 top-selling U.S. vehicles with hybrids already available (or in the works) are (in terms of their non-hybrid overall U.S. vehicle sales ranking): #2 Chevy Silverado (available now as a 2005 model in limited states); #3 Toyota Camry (hybrid version planned for 2007 model year); #4 Dodge Ram (hybrid production reportedly began in 2004-2005 winter); #6 Honda Accord (hybrid version came out for 2006 model year); #9 Nissan Altima (hybrid planned for 2007 model year) and #10 Honda Civic (hybrid version rolled out for model year 2003).
Civil Society Institute President Pam Solo said: “We are conducting this online poll for one simple reason: Detroit needs to get the message that it can’t keep its head in the sand forever when it comes to vehicles achieving greater fuel efficiency. We have the technology, it is affordable and other nations are using it to overtake American automakers. Our economy depends on the auto industry for tens of thousands of jobs. Unfortunately, it is no coincidence that, of the six vehicles now available in hybrid version among the top 10 sellers in America, four are being offered by non-U.S. automakers.”
Solo added: “Our poll comes at a critical juncture for American automakers. It does no one any good to ignore the increasingly obvious facts: Detroit is allowing itself to be left behind as consumers embrace the new technology that can save them money at the pump, cut pollution and reduce our dangerous over-dependence on oil from the volatile Middle East.”
The source for the data used in the survey for top 10 U.S. vehicle sales (through April 2005) is Automotivenews.com. Announced hybrid sales plans are based on two sources: www.hybridcars.com and public announcements by U.S. and non-U.S. automakers. 40mpg.org recognizes that the status of the auto industry’s hybrid vehicle plans change on a weekly basis and is prepared to adjust the survey as new hybrid-introduction announcements are made by automakers. Information about new hybrid auto introductions should be submitted to contactus@40mpg.org.
The 40mpg.org campaign and Results For America/Civil Society Institute have no direct or indirect ties to any automakers in the United States or elsewhere around the world. Hybrid technology is only one of the fuel-efficiency approaches that 40mpg.org is promoting as a way to save consumers money, reduce harm to the environment and help curb the United States’ dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
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