Nissan Prices 2010 Altima Hybrid at $26,780; U.S. Sales Still Limited to 9 States
By Scott Doggett October 2, 2009
Nissan North America has announced that the 2010 Altima Hybrid, which goes on sale in nine U.S. states on Monday, will have an MSRP of $26,780.
A statement distributed by Nissan on Wednesday and posted verbatim on many blogs and Websites erroneously reported that the model will be available nationwide.
In fact, it will only be available in the same nine states that the 2009 Altima Hybrid was sold in (California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont).
The Altima Hybrid powertrain mates a specialized version of Nissan's QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT with an advanced electric drive motor/generator. The 198-horsepower hybrid has been EPA rated at 35 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg highway.
Combined with Altima's standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the model has a projected driving range of more than 600 miles between fill-ups.
Among the many changes for the 2010 Altima Hybrid is a restyled hood, grille and front bumper, new wheel designs, standard Vehicle Dynamic Control on all models, revised interior fabric and finishers, new exterior colors and revised option package content.
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"In fact, it will only be available in the same nine states that the 2009 Altima Hybrid was sold in (California, Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont)."
You only listed eight states - what's the ninth?
Why would Nissan only sell this car in 9 states? As far as I know it's available in all Canadian provinces, so what gives?
Nissan has never sold the Altima hybrid in the U.S. in states other than those 9 that use the California emissions rules and zero emissions vehicle mandate. The company says it is not cost-effective for it to market the car in states where the lower emissions and advanced technology (hybrid) status won't earn it some benefit (in the nine states it earns Nissan points toward adhering to the tougher-than-federal emissions regulations).
Why it sells it in all Canadian provinces I couldn't tell you. But now that you bring it up, I'll ask.
One thought: Nissan licenses the technology for the Altima hybrid from Toyota - it may be that the company doesn't want to help enrich Toyota by selling more in the US than it has too. When Nissan introduces its own self-developed hybrid in the US sometime around 2011, it is expected to sell it nationwide (http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/nissan-considering-an-expanded-hybrid-lineup-but-after-2010-ev-launch.html).
jkp: Hmm, looks like a ninth - Oregon - was added after you looked at story. Here's what it says now - California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. That's nine.
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