Hybrid-Vehicle Interest Picks Up Among Australians

A new poll indicates a slight rise in the number of Australian motorists who say they’d seriously consider buying a hybrid vehicle.

The first increase since 2008, although small, is noteworthy, Roy Morgan Research says.

The pollster says almost 46% of the 2.26 million Australians planning to buy a new car in the next four years seriously would consider buying a hybrid vehicle. This is up from 43.6% at the same time last year, and represents an increase of 21,000 people.

The brand garnering the highest portion of hybrid consideration is Volvo, at 64.2%. The research company says this is an important factor for Volvo Australia to bear in mind when assessing whether to import the all-new XC90 Plug-In Hybrid.

Motorists in the market considering a Kia, Lexus or Honda also would look closely into whether to buy a hybrid, while those thinking of buying a Mercedes or Jeep are the least open to the idea.

Jordan Pakes, Roy Morgan Research industry director-automotive, says the latest research shows motorists considering or planning to buy certain makes are more likely than others to be open to the idea of a hybrid.

“With a growing variety of hybrid cars now on the market, ranging from the budget-friendly Toyota Prius C and Honda Jazz Hybrid…to luxury models including the all-new BMW i8, motorists have more opportunity than ever to choose a hybrid model manufactured by their preferred automotive make,” Pakes says in a statement.