USA June 2013

Chevrolet Volt's "trunk" (Didn't they had the time to make a proper one?)

"Lower Prices = Increased Sales" Edition

Thanks to lower prices in some models (Leaf, Fit) and larger discounts in others (Volt), the US EV market grew 4% regarding last month, reaching 7.897 units sold in June, making it the second best selling month this year, with YTD now reaching 40.730 units, almost tripling sales regarding June '12 and just 15K behind the total sales of 2012 (54.933). The 90.000 units I've predicted early this year for the US market in '13 are on track and considering that the second half of the year is always stronger in the US plug-in market, we should see numbers above that, will it reach 100.000 units? Only time will tell.

In the podium, the Chevrolet Volt jumped from third to the top spot thanks to a year-best month: 2.698 units sold due to generous incentives making the GM plug-in also #1 YTD. The Model S dropped to third, selling just 950 units, while it prepares itself to arrive in Europe. The Nissan Leaf remained in #2 with the second best ever month (2.225 units), enjoying the benefits of the price reduction it had a few months ago, securing also the second place YTD. As a curious fact, all three models are separated by just 55 units in the YTD ranking...Now that Tesla will focus on foreign markets, the next months should see both the Volt and the Leaf fighting for #1.

In the next positions things remain stable, with the Prius (#4), Ford C-Max (#5) and Ford Fusion Energi (#6) cementing their positions, while the consistent Focus Electric climbs one position to #7.

For the rest of the market, Honda registers a new sales record for the Fit EV with 208 units sold in June (The previous record was just 26 units), a not-so-surprising number given the price reduction (259$/month lease, down from 389$) it had, which only strengthens the feeling that price reductions translates in more sales. Who will be next to follow this strategy? We're looking at you, Ford...   

We welcome the Chevrolet Spark EV, selling 27 units in its debut month, a surprisingly low number, let's see what the next months brings to this new market player.

Pl	USA	June	YTD	%
1	Chevrolet Volt	2.698	9.855	24
2	Nissan Leaf	2.225	9.839	24
3	Tesla Model S	950	9.800	24
4	Toyota Prius Plug-In	584	4.214	10
5	Ford C-Max Energi	455	2.482	6
6	Ford Fusion Energi	390	1.585	4
7	Ford Focus Electric	177	900	2
8	Mitsubishi I-Miev	39	882	2
9	Toyota RAV4 EV	44	410	1
10	Honda Fit EV	208	291	1
11	Honda Accord Plug-In	42	200	0
12 13 14	Smart Fortwo ED Fisker Karma Scion iQ EV	53 5	115 100 30	0 0 0
15	Chevrolet Spark EV	27	27	0
	TOTAL	7.897	40.730	100

Source: insideevs.com

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Is car leasing the right option for me?

The wonderful world of brand new cars is incredible, but it can also be overwhelming. When you want a new car, you have so many different options for purchasing it. How can you tell if new car leasing is the right option for you?

Affording the down payment and monthly payments

Simply purchasing a car outright might be your end goal one day. However, with the amount of money that you currently have saved, you know that would not be a reasonable possibility. Therefore, in order to determine if leasing a vehicle is the right choice, you must assess whether you have enough money to cover the monthly payments. Working with the car dealership Click here can let you know what those payments would likely be.

You don't drive an excessive amount

When you buy or finance a car, you generally do not have a limit on the number of miles that you can drive. With a car lease, however, you do. The dealership will give you a certain number of miles that you can drive on an annual basis. If you exceed that amount, you will have to pay a certain price for each additional mileage. Negotiating with the car dealership is often possible when you feel that more distance is necessary.

No long term commitment

Some people like to keep their cars for years and years. When you do not fall into that category, a car lease can definitely be the best option for you. Leases can last for all different amounts of time, but it's very popular for one to last about 36 months. As a result, within a three-year time span, you will be able to trade that car in and get another new vehicle.

You love prestigious vehicles

Perhaps you are wondering who doesn't love the newest and most fashionable cars on the market. Well, all people have their own opinions, and some might not care about this quality. Leasing is the perfect arrangement for individuals who do. Without a leasing program, you might never have been able to afford this particular car. Now, since the payments are less, you actually can. Of course there are also more cost effective options such as Ford leasing Click here.

Saving money is a priority

Speaking about the lower payments, leasing is definitely a smart option for people who are looking to save money. In most cases, a finance deal is going to cost more on a monthly basis than a lease will, so these leasing plans help you to save money overall.

Deciding what to do when you want a new car can be a little tricky, but considering these factors will help you to determine if leasing a vehicle is the right option for you now.

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