The Toyota Camry Hybrid also set an all time record of 6,853 units sold, which is an increase of 126.0% from last year.
The Prius set an all time high record of 24,009 units sold in May, which is an increase of 196.3% from last May.
The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 3,312 units for the month.
The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,746 units for the month.

TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 119,154 units, an increase of 75 percent over the same period last year. In May, TMS posted sales of 36,101 hybrid vehicles, up 102 percent over last May. Toyota Division posted sales of 34,174 hybrids, up 121 percent over the same period last year. Lexus Division posted sales of 1,927 hybrids.

 

I think the Camry HV started selling in the US in the middle of May last year. So how can they compare this May to May of last year accurately?

 

2007 TCH went on sale in "late April" 2006 so they had a full May to compare to.

 

That's great news.

I'm happy to see that people are able to work through the abundance of swirl about hybrids ("time to recoup additional up-front costs", "battery replacement cost", "battery environment impact", "unproven tech", "gotta be a treehugger to want one", "self-righteous environmentalist", etc....).

They're a great example of some innovative (albeit marginally more expensive) technology that will only benefit by increased adoption. And such extraordinary growth in sales numbers will do a lot to convince other manufacturers that there's an American market for such innovation.

 

I don't think any of us who were here since last April-May are suprised. Everyone knew that the TCH sales figures were only low due to limited production. After production ramped up, sales had a chance to increase sharply.

Great to see it come to fruition!

 

I personally think the cost would come down if they did away with the standard 4 cyl Camry and made them all TCHs. Then there would be NO premiun to go hybrid and the CAFE average would go up.

The only problem would be supplying enough batteries.

On a different note, a coworker just bought a 2 door yaris and he said he is only getting 35 mpg. Heck, I am getting better than that in my luxury camry.