Toyota’s new Prius hybrid was Japan’s best-selling vehicle in May with monthly sales of 10,915 units. The Prius outsold Honda’s Insight hybrid, which topped the sales chart in April – a first for a hybrid.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“I think a green car tax break and other incentives helped the sales performance (of the Prius) quite a bit,” Akihiko Otsuka, chief engineer for the new Prius, told reporters in Toyota City.
The third-generation model Prius, which went on sale on May 18, was priced about $3,000 less than the previous version and there were more than 80,000 advance orders for it, according to Reuters.
Toyota said on its website that factory shipment would be mid-November or later for orders made after May 31.
Hybrids are popular in Japan’s depressed market, appealing to consumers on the grounds of lower fuel costs and their cheaper prices.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataHonda’s low priced Insight has started a battle for leadership in the segment between Toyota and Honda.
See also: JAPAN: US Toyota Prius build still on hold
