Toyota’s Prius hybrid was the best-selling car in Japan in 2009 and the first of its type to top the annual rankings, industry data showed .

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


Toyota sold 208,876 of the petrol-electric models, well ahead of the second placed Honda Fit (Jazz) which attracted 157,324 orders, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.


The rankings exclude minivehicles with engines of up to 660cc.


The Prius has been Japan’s top-selling car since May and its sales almost tripled year on year in 2009. Honda’s Insight hybrid, which has a less complex drivetrain, ranked fifth with 93,283 sales.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact