Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
The popularity of vans, SUVs and pickups among Hawaii residents during the first quarter has the state on track to see roughly 60,000 new registered vehicles on isle roadways this year.
During the first three months of 2017, some 15,138 new passenger vehicles were registered in the state, according to a Hawaii Auto Outlook report set for publication today by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.
Light trucks — a category that includes vans, SUVs and pickups — were the most popular among Hawaii drivers with 9,510 registered during the first quarter. The market share for light trucks expanded to 62.8 percent. Cars, with 5,628 registered, made up 37.2 percent.
Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, said he anticipates the number of registered vehicles will stay consistent through all four quarters to reach about 60,000 for the year.
“Our sales will continue to climb just a little bit. … All indicators of the economy are good,” Rolf said, noting fuel prices helped sales.
The average price at the pump statewide was $3.05 on Thursday, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. The average was above $4 a gallon for much of 2012-2014.
“With gasoline prices being so low, people are comfortable purchasing vehicles with lots of attributes,” Rolf said.
Alternative-fuel vehicles saw an upturn in the quarter, after trending slightly lower over the past three years.
Hawaii drivers’ interest in electric and hybrid vehicles rose in the state during the quarter, as alternative-fuel vehicles made up roughly
6 percent of new vehicles sold.
The 370 electric vehicles registered in the first three months of 2017 exceeded the total number of electric vehicles registered in 2012; 340 electric vehicles were registered that year.
Rolf said that the total number of new EVs on Hawaii’s roadways could hit 1,000 in 2017. Rolf said the increase in automakers that offer EVs, as well as a rebate offered by Nissan North America during the first quarter of the year, could make for a record result. The record for EV sales was set last year with 913.
In January, Nissan began its $10,000 rebate on the all-electric Nissan Leaf car in Hawaii. When the rebate is combined with federal tax incentives, some customers can save up to $17,500 on a 2016-17 Leaf. There were 233 Leafs sold in the first quarter, making up
62.9 percent of the total EVs sold.
Chevrolet and Tesla Inc. will be adding to the EV market in 2017. Chevy Bolt sales begin in Hawaii in September, and the Tesla Model 3 will arrive by the end of the year.
For automakers, Toyota maintained its leading position in the market with a
26 percent market share. Honda was next at 15.5 percent.
The Toyota Tacoma, with 1,329 registrations, was the most popular vehicle in the first three months.
The Honda Civic was the best-selling compact car in the first quarter, making up 20.9 percent of new registrations in the compact segment. The Toyota Corolla, with 14.7 percent of new registrations, came in second followed by the Nissan Leaf with 9.8 percent.
New vehicle registrations can be representative of auto sales, but the two don’t always align because a buyer can purchase a vehicle one month and register it in another month. The data are based on county Department of Motor Vehicles registrations.
88
