Hybrid vehicle sales in the U.S. dropped 48.4 percent when compared with August 2009, following the end of the Cash for Clunkers program.

The hybrid sales fell 4.1 percent compared with September 2008. New vehicle market share for hybrids fell to 2.7 per cent in September, from a high of 3.6 per cent in July.

Overall, car and light-duty truck sales in September 2009 dropped 22.7 per cent from September 2008, but were down 41 per cent from August 2009, with 745,997 vehicles sold.

New car dealers sold 19,977, with more than a half of the sales coming from the Toyota Prius. The figures don’t include sales of the Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid, which went on sale in late August.

Toyota reported overall sales of 14,585 hybrids. World’s biggest automaker sold 10,984 Priuses. The Camry Hybrid sold 872 units; the Highlander Hybrid sold 269 units; the Lexus RX450h sold 1,168 units; the GS450h sold 38 units; the LS600h sold 12 units. The new HS250 sold 1,242 units.

Ford sold 2,138 hybrids, up 116 per cent from 2008. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids accounted for 1,260.

Honda sold 1,898 hybrids allowing Ford to become the No. 2 seller of hybrid vehicles in September.

General Motors sold a total of 1,011 were hybrids, while Nissan reported total sales of 345 Altima Hybrids.

August Hybrid Sales

Toyota
Toyota Prius – 10,984
Toyota Camry – 872
Toyota Highlander – 269
Lexus HS250h – 1,242
Lexus RX 450h – 1,168
Lexus GS 450h – 38
Lexus LS 600h L – 12

Ford
Ford Escape – 787
Mercury Mariner – 91
Ford Fusion – 1,116
Mercury Milan – 144

Honda
Civic – 152
Insight – 1,746

GM
Chevrolet Malibu – 156
Chevrolet Silverado – 120
Chevrolet Tahoe – 280
GMC Yukon – 146
Cadillac Escalade – 189
Saturn Aura – 30
Saturn Vue Greenline – 90

Nissan
Altima – 345