In the February 2020, EVAdoption article: US Hybrid Sales Rebound in 2019 – Will Hybrids Steal EV Sales in 2020?
More than a year later is impossible to truly know the answer to my question, but a regular hybrid buyer is also likely a potential EV buyer. Their interest in a hybrid suggests they care about lowering their fuel costs, and reducing emissions and pollution. All things you get when buying an EV.
So when someone buys a regular hybrid, that purchase could have been a PHEV or BEV. They may have reasons such as not having convenient charging access where they live, they take lots of 500+ mile trips, are a ride sharing driver, etc. – making a regular hybrid more preferable to many people not convinced and EV is right for them.
So that potential EV sale is lost until their next purchase, but then because they drove a hybrid for a few years the experience might make them a more likely EV buyer next time around.