Smart Motors: Hybrid car dealers see summer sales spike

Hybrid Car Dealers See Summer Sales Spike

Dealer’s investment in recharge stations attests to eco-friendly cars’ popularity and staying power

MADISON, WI. — New sales information shows that Americans are embracing hybrid vehicles in record numbers, with hybrids accounting for nearly half (48.6 percent) of new passenger cars sold at a dealer in America’s heartland in August. Nationwide, dealers saw a 32 percent increase in hybrid sales compared to August 2012 numbers, according to an L.A.Times story citing Autodata Corp. statistics (http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-electric-hybrid-car-sales-record-20130909,0,2202835.story).

Also this summer, Smart Motors became the first automotive dealer in Wisconsin to provide free recharge stations for drivers of any make of electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV).

The “Smart Charge Station” can fully recharge a Plug-In Toyota Prius in as little as 90 minutes. The station features networking tools that connect drivers to the ChargePoint network via a smartphone app that alerts them when the station is available, allows them to make reservations and notifies them when the vehicle is charged. “We’re very accessible in Madison, so it’s easy for someone to locate our charging station with the app, use the built-in GPS to get directions to our dealership, drop by and get charged up over a long lunch,” said John Dolan, network administrator for the Smart Charge stations.

The Smart Charge Station allows for round-the-clock access, but to use the ChargePoint station with its network integration, users must register at the showroom desk to receive the ChargePass card.

Additionally, Smart Motors has a Leviton Evr-Green charge station near the service entrance that operates as a first come, first serve station with no registration requirements.

Smart Motors has always prided itself on its green credentials. With hybrid vehicles consistently accounting for upwards of 40 percent of its new passenger car sales, the company is the Midwest’s largest hybrid dealer. The company installed the charging stations to enhance its green credentials, but also help to jumpstart Madison’s electronic station infrastructure, developing in response to public demand.

“The public has embraced hybrid vehicles because they have proven to be efficient and reliable, and they are available at different price points and a range of features so there’s something for everyone,” says Allen Foster, vice president/general manager of Smart Motors.
For example, an entry-level Toyota Prius C costs about $20,885.

“As 2012 came to a close, it was one of our strongest years for hybrid sales,” Foster says, “but 2013 is shaping up to be even better.”
Smart Motors’ Foster is available to discuss the surge in hybrid sales from a number of angles:

  • Other factors besides fuel efficiency that influence buyers
  • The most popular models and features
  • Calculating how long it will take to see a return on investment when fuel efficiency and gas savings are motivating factors
  • How to maximize a hybrid vehicle’s energy savings
  • About Smart Motors: Founded in 1908, Smart Motors is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships and the Midwest’s largest hybrid dealer. In Wisconsin, Smart Motors is the No. 1 volume dealer for both Toyota and Scion. Located at 5901 Odana Road, in Madison, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service and sales volume. For more information visit www.smarttoyota.com