At the end of every month, major automakers participate in the age-old tradition of reporting their sales figures for the previous month. 

Frankly, those figures aren’t normally that exciting, but this month’s sales returns from Toyota caught our attention for one simple reason.

During June 2012, sales of the 2012 Toyota Prius family -- including the 2012 Prius liftback, 2012 Prius V, 2012 Prius C and 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid -- were 340 percent higher than they were during June 2011. 

In real-world figures, that equates to 19,150 Toyota Prius hybrids sold during June, 14,810 more cars than it sold during the same period in 2011. 

Of that total, Prius liftbacks were 60 percent, with the Prius C at 19 percent, the Prius V at 17 percent, and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid at 4 percent.

Similarly, in May, Toyota sold 21,477 Prius cars, split between the original liftback (60 percent), Prius C subcompact (17 percent), Prius V wagon (17 percent) and Prius plug-in hybrid (5 percent). 

This time last year, there was only one Prius model available, the 2011 Prius liftback. 

2012 Toyota Prius C

2012 Toyota Prius C

However, while the addition of the Prius C, Prius V and Prius Plug-in Hybrid for the 2012 model year has gained Toyota some extra sales, the Prius liftback still remains the most popular Prius model among car buyers, and has done since the launch of the Prius V last year. 

While the Prius family has undoubtedly increased in popularity in the past year, it’s also worth noting that last year, like other Japanese-built cars, the Prius suffered a drop in availability following the devastating Tsunami and Earthquake which hit the country in March. 

With production of the Prius family at an all-time high, and supplies now replenished, there’s only one more question to ask. 

Will the Prius continue to retain its sudden popularity? Or will 2013 model cars like the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid steal its crown? 

Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below. 

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