US plug-in vehicle sales set to grow

Tesla Model 3 production is expected to boost plug-in EV sales in the US this year, after low to moderate growth in this category last year.

Nearly 200,000 plug-in sales were recorded in the US last year, up 27% on 2016, EV-Volumes.com reports.

The EV world sales database says 53% of the 200,000 plug-ins were pure electric (BEV), with the plug-in share of the total light vehicle market at 1.2% compared with 0.9% the previous year.

It says much of the growth is attributed to the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV and the new Toyota Prius Prime PHEV, the latter representing 20%-25% of all Prius sales.

“Yearly volumes remained significant for the Chevrolet Volt (plug-in hybrid), Nissan Leaf and Ford Energi models.”

Tesla remained number one last year for both individual nameplates (Model S) and OEM totals.

EV-Volumes predicts “significant market growth” this year, with sales doubling to 400,000 units, pulling the rolling stock of plug-ins to over a million units.

It says the Tesla Model 3 is the major driver, with mass production ramping up after delays last year, part of the reason for last year’s low to moderate plug-in growth.

About 150,000 Model 3s are expected to be delivered in North America this year.

Reaching 2500 Model 3 units a week by the end of this quarter seems feasible now after Tesla stated it had reached 1000 units weekly by the end of December, EV-Volumes says.

However, the next step to 5000 units weekly by the end of the second quarter still carries uncertainties, it reports.

“If Tesla does manage to scale up without compromising quality, the Model 3 has all chance to lead EVs into the mainstream car market.”