394 Fuel-Efficient Models
As gas prices continue to rise, automakers are giving consumers more and more fuel-efficient choices. Typically, the lead time required for R&D on new technologies ranges from 5-10 years, so the innovations being developed by auto engineers earlier this decade are now on sale or coming to market.
Automakers Increased High Mileage Vehicle Choice by More Than 471% in 7 Years
In just seven years, the number of 30+ MPG models increased by more than 471%, from 69 on sale in 2006 to 394 models today.
Today, consumers can choose from diverse technologies to improve their fuel economy, including 51 hybrids, 14 clean diesel, 11 electric vehicles and more, according to www.fueleconomy.gov.
2012 Hybrid Sales Rise Slightly
In 2012 automakers sold 427, 676 hybrid cars compared to 261,507 in 2011, an increase of 63.5%.
Growing Clean Diesel Sales Are Predicted
In 2011, the consumers purchased 101,624 clean diesel cars. In 2012, the number of clean diesels sales rose to 125,522. Diesel share is consistent at 0.8 percent in December and in 2012 and 2011, but The Diesel Technology Forum forecasts that diesel sales in the U.S. will reach 7.4% of total vehicle sales by 2017.