Hybrid vehicles have their advocates and detractors, but their popularity is accelerating at a quick pace.
According to recently released statistics announced by J.D. Power & Associates, the auto information company, an estimated 187,000 hybrids were sold in the U.S. in the first six months of this year — about 2.3 percent of all new vehicle sales.
Power forecasts total sales of 345,000 hybrid for 2007, a 35 percent increase from 2006 when the current record of annual hybrid sales was established.
Here are hybrids sales for the first six months of 2007:
Toyota Prius, 94,500
Toyota Camry Hybrid, 28,000
Honda Civic Hybrid, 17,000
Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 14,300
Ford Escape Hybrid, 11,400
Lexus RX400h, 8,600
Saturn Vue Hybrid, 4,600
Nissan Altima Hybrid, 2,000
Honda Accord Hybrid, 2,000
Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2,000
Lexus GS450h, 1000
Saturn Aura Hybrid, 300
Honda Insight, 2
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