{
  "id": 20110256,
  "title": "Hybrids make gains in US auto market amid high gasoline prices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/hybrids-make-gains-in-us-auto-market-amid-high-gasoline-prices-20110256",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-15T03:28:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/11/15/hybrids-make-gains-in-us-auto-market-amid-high-gasoline-prices"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amid soaring gasoline prices due to the Iran war, hybrid automobiles are gaining market share in the US auto industry. Electric vehicle growth has hit a roadblock, but hybrid autos, which can run on either gasoline or an electric charge, are proving popular with American consumers. Major Japanese and South Korean carmakers, including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, have announced investments to expand their hybrid vehicle production capacity in response to the trend.\n\nHonda has committed US$3 billion to build a new hybrid plant in Ohio and increase production capacity in other states. Nissan, which is set to launch its first significant hybrid product for the US market this fall, acknowledged that its absence in the category was affecting sales. The company's senior vice president, Ponz Pandikuthira, stated that many customers wanted to test drive a hybrid even if they ended up purchasing an internal-combustion engine vehicle.\n\nGeneral Motors, which had previously focused on electric vehicles, plans to introduce hybrids across multiple segments. CEO Mary Barra hinted at more information about the company's hybrid plans in the near future. Hybrid electric vehicle volumes have increased by more than a fifth since mid-2025, accounting for 16.3% of the market at the end of the second quarter, according to Cox Automotive. This represents a record high and a significant increase from 13% a year earlier.\n\nThe surge in hybrid sales comes despite declines in the share of internal-combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) vehicles. The latter suffered from the elimination of US tax credits under legislation signed by former President Donald Trump. Gasoline prices have averaged US$3.87 per gallon in 2026, driven by the Middle East war.\n\nNissan's US hybrid strategy will kick off with the Rogue, a hybrid version of the compact SUV – the company's top-selling ICE product in the US. Nissan's new Rogue has been optimized for US driving conditions, particularly its highway usage. The vehicle's electric powertrain exclusively drives the wheels, resulting in a quieter and smoother ride compared to other hybrid models. As hybrid sales continue to rise, Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, predicts that additional hybrids in popular vehicle classes like pickup trucks or full-sized SUVs could also find success in the market.",
  "summary": "Hybrid vehicle sales have risen by more than 20% since mid-2025, capturing a 16.3% market share by the end of the second quarter, according to Cox Automotive.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Hybrids make gains in US auto market amid high gasoline prices",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/hybrids-make-gains-in-us-auto-market-amid-high-gasoline-prices",
        "published": "2026-11-15T01:59:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}