“Toyota dealerships across the U.S. reported that the Prius is their best-selling vehicle, according to The Channel Checkers latest poll. The hybrid vehicle was a best-seller for 30% of dealerships surveyed. The Camry was the next highest seller (27%), followed by the Corolla (18%). Forty-two percent of dealerships are offering special deals on trucks, given the falloff in sales due to high gas prices.

The move to mass purchasing of hybrid is a dramatic shift in u.s. auto buyers preferences. The Channel Checkers will continue to track this trend, but we see the shift as being a 12-month cycle of “no trucks” - “small cars” - “hybrids/electrics / CNG’s”.  We believe that the final three months of 2008 could be the phase for dramatic adoption of hybrid’s and other alternative fuel vehicles.