From Autoweek · Jim Motavalli · · 1m 10s
Car Buyers Choose Hybrids
Hybrid sales surge as automakers scramble to meet demand.
In brief
Hybrid sales surge as automakers scramble to meet demand. Car buyers increasingly prioritize fuel efficiency, driving hybrid adoption despite automakers' delayed responses. Originally reported by Autoweek.
Hybrid sales surge
Hybrid electric vehicles reached a record 16 percent of light-duty vehicle sales in 2026.
“Hybrid electric vehicles continued to gain market share, reaching a record 16 percent of light-duty vehicle sales”
Consumer demand for fuel efficiency
Two-thirds of American car buyers prioritize fuel efficiency when choosing a new vehicle.
“two-thirds (68 percent) of people who plan to buy or lease a new car say that fuel efficiency is either "very" or "extremely" important to their decision”
Hybrid sales growth
Hybrid sales jumped 23 percent year over year in Q2 2026, with 24 percent growth for the first nine months of 2026.
“hybrid sales jumped 23 percent in the second quarter, year over year”
Automakers' hybrid response
General Motors canceled many green car programs but plans hybrid options by 2027.
“General Motors was perhaps a bit hasty in canceling many of its green car programs”
Fuel economy standards shift
Trump administration cuts fuel economy standards from 50.4 mpg to 34.9 mpg by 2031.
“The Trump initiative called "Freedom Means Affordable Cars" finalizes regulations that basically gut the Biden initiative requiring fuel economy of 50.4 mpg by model year 2031”
Ford's hybrid strategy
Ford increased hybrid sales by 22 percent to 228,072 units in 2025 but wrote down $19.5 billion in EV programs.
“At Ford, 2025 was a banner year for hybrids, with sales up almost 22 percent to 228,072 units (from 187,426 in 2024)”
Stellantis' hybrid plans
Stellantis plans conventional hybrids after discontinuing plug-in hybrids for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe.
“Stellantis might have picked a bad time to discontinue plug-in hybrid versions of cars like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe”
Hybrid market leadership
Asian automakers lead hybrid sales growth with Hyundai up 39 percent and Kia up 152 percent in Q3 2026.
“In the third quarter, Hyundai reported a strong 39 percent increase in hybrid sales”
The big picture
Car buyers increasingly prioritize fuel efficiency, driving hybrid adoption despite automakers' delayed responses.
