As the latest and greatest piece of automotive technology, a lot of hype surrounds electric vehicles like the models from companies like Rivian (RIVN) and Tesla (TSLA) .
The promise of virtually zero airborne emissions and gas-free propulsion is tempting for many buyers who see their purchase as a conscious choice that reduces their carbon footprint and changes how they get around.
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While it has its benefits, switching from the pump to the plug can be a tall order for many ordinary motorists. EVs have a limited range, and complications surrounding charging can be real hurdles for owners to tackle along the way.
However, newly released sales figures reveal that a segment of EV alternatives is gaining more traction among U.S. buyers and driving mainstream manufacturers toward record-setting gains.
A person photographs a new Toyota Prius.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images
All hail the gas-electric hybrid
According to the latest monthly sales data from several mainstream manufacturers, demand for gas-electric hybrids in the United States during November is helping it become a defining segment driving new car sales.
According to data seen by Automotive News, one manufacturer posting big gains is Japanese automaker Toyota (TM) , whose big bet on hybrid technology is starting to bear fruit.
While other mainstream stalwarts have heavily bet on electric vehicles, Toyota is persistent in its belief that many buyers prefer options that will keep them at the gas pump. Recently, the brand has expanded hybrid technology beyond the iconic Prius, offering them as the sole engine choice in mainstream models like the Camry.
Last month, Toyota Motor North America broke a two-month-long U.S. sales slump by posting a 4.8% sales jump powered by strong sales of hybrids.
Sales of two models solely offered as hybrids, the iconic Camry and the cult Tacoma pickup, rose by double-digits in November, posting gains of 25% and 29%, respectively.
In November 2024, Toyota’s electrified vehicle sales, which include EVs, plug-in hybrids, and gas-electric hybrids, increased by 49% to about 100,000 units.
2025 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring Hybrid
Honda
In its release, Toyota’s rival and Japanese compatriot, Honda (HMC) , credits strong sales of “light trucks and electrified models” for its strong sales month that saw a 14.5% gain and 121,419 cars fly from its dealer lots in the States.
In its data, Honda lumps together both EVs and battery-electric hybrids as “electrified” vehicles but says that sales during November 2024 set a new monthly record for electrified vehicles, as a “strong demand for hybrids” with 38,374 of them sold.
With the 6,823 units of the Prologue pure EV taken out, the 31,551 hybrid models of the Civic, Accord, and CR-V crossover SUV that left Honda dealerships is a significant chunk of its November 2024 sales. Sales of hybrids alone represented roughly 28.7% of the 110,020 cars that the Honda brand alone pushed out.
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However, the biggest, most surprising hybrid growth comes from South Korean automaker Hyundai (HYMTF) .
According to data released by the automaker on December 3, sales of hybrids at Hyundai dealers are up 104%, with the biggest gains coming from hybrid versions of its mainstream models such as the Santa Fe and Tucson crossover SUVs. Respectively, sales of the two models jumped 64% and 227%.
In a statement, Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker credited the strong performance and availability of both EV and hybrid vehicles as the driver behind an “exceptional sales month.”
“Customers continue to be attracted to Hyundai’s diverse vehicle lineup, which can meet a variety of customer needs.”
The growth isn’t just limited to foreign manufacturers.
Dearborn’s Ford (F) may be hyping its “Skunk Works” EV project, but its latest sales data shows that hybrid vehicle sales across Ford and Lincoln brands were up 18.5% in November 2024, representing a 42% year-to-date gain.
Related: Toyota exec slams “impossible” EV mandate amidst political chaos
Why do hybrid car sales matter?
Though the automotive world is adapting to even tighter emissions regulations both in the U.S., the EU, and other territories around the world, many auto figureheads and executives believe that buyers need freedom of choice.
In a company event in January 2024, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda declared that carbon itself is the true enemy and that any way to remove it, including deploying gas-powered hybrid vehicles that produce lower emissions than full-on gas-guzzlers, makes a world of difference.
He claimed that Japan has reduced its CO2 emissions by 23% since introducing hybrid cars in its domestic market. Additionally, he made a very stark prediction about the future of electric vehicles.
“No matter how much progress BEVs make, I think they will still only have a 30 % market share,” said Toyoda. “[…] I think this is something that customers and the market will decide, not regulatory values or political power.”
In a similar vein, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) chief operating officer Jack Hollis declared that rules regarding EV adoption in CARB states that are due to take effect in 2025 are “impossible” for automakers like Toyota to meet, noting that customers will naturally gravitate toward cars they want to buy.
He stressed that such rules will lead to automakers committing “unnatural acts,” where automakers disproportionately provide more “compliance” cars like EVs, plug-ins and fuel-cell vehicles to CARB-adopting states and limiting buyers’ choices at dealerships there.
“It’s going to distort the industry. It’s going to distort the business. Why? Because it’s unnatural to what the current demand in the marketplace is,” Hollis said.
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