Hybrid Cars Shining Again In The US: More Efficient, Cheap, And The Main Choice Of Consumers

Ford Maverick Hybrid is one of the best-selling hybrid cars in the United States. (Doc. Ford)

JAKARTA - Not only in Indonesia and a number of other countries, hybrid cars are the most attractive variant of consumers in the United States, and even sales exceed pure electric cars in 2024.

Launching Autoblogging, March 25, Head of the Division of Gasoline Cars and Ford Hybrid Division, Andrew Frick stated that hybrid technology now has "very little shortage" than ordinary gasoline cars. hybrid cars combine gasoline engines with battery-powered electric motors, making them more fuel efficient.

Another advantage of hybrid cars other than the price is more affordable than electric cars (EVs) and the price is starting to approach ICE cars. Data attention shows the average price of hybrid cars at the end of 2023 is 42,500 US dollars (Rp.679 million) while electric cars are 60,500 US dollars (Rp955 million).

Meanwhile, analysts from Cox Automotive expect 14 percent of the new 15.7 million cars sold in the United States this year to be hybrid cars. This figure is higher than the estimated sales of electric cars of 10 percent.

Ford is one of the manufacturers enjoying an increase in hybrid car sales. Ford's hybrid sales jumped 37 percent in the first two months of 2024, driven by the popularity of the hybrid version of Maverick pickup truck.

The price of this hybrid version of Ford Maverick is around USD 25.300 (IDR 400 million), only 1,500 US dollars (IDR 24 million) more expensive than the gasoline version. Interestingly, 60 percent of Ford Maverick hybrid buyers are Ford's new consumers.

"The hybrid car will continue to play an important role for a long time," said Ford Product Development Operations Chief Jim Baumbick.

"For us, freedom of choice and making this technology affordable for everyone is very important," he added.

Not only Ford, the pioneer of a hybrid car, Toyota, which has been so successful in the past with the Toyota Prius Hybrid in the US, has also felt a positive impact. Sales of their hybrid and electric cars rose 84 percent in February. This Japanese brand even ranks the top as the brand most interested in electric car buyers, even though they only sell one pure electric car.

Seeing this phenomenon, even though electric cars are predicted to be the future, hybrid cars with economical advantages, affordable, and minimal maintenance, are now becoming the prima donna of consumers.