Cheap Gas Leading California Drivers to Ditch Hybrid Cars?

Are drivers in California trading in their hybrids for SUVs? According to the Wall Street Journal, the answer is, apparently, yes.

The WSJ reports that dealers are seeing an increase in customers trading in their hybrids for SUVs. The cause may be the relatively low gas prices and the improved gas mileage on cars across the board.

“There is a direct correlation in the price of gasoline and the interest of consumers in hybrids,” Brian Maas, the head of the California New Car Dealers Association told the WSJ.

Sales of Toyota Prius are down 26 percent and it's unique only to the U.S. Elsewhere in the world, the Prius is still a top seller, especially in places where gas prices range around $4 a gallon.

In California, gas prices have been stable since Labor Day weekend. In fact, it was the cheapest gas has been for the Labor Day holiday since 2004.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in California on Friday is $2.757.

The average price is six-tenth of a cent less than one week ago and 26.8 cents lower than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. However, the average price is 9.4 cents more than one month ago.

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