Prius Top Seller in Japan in July; 14 Months in a Row
05 August 2010
The Toyota Prius was the top-seller in Japan for the 14th month in a row, according to the monthly brand ranking data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.
Sales of the Prius hit 34,456 units in July, up 24.3% year-on-year. In second place was the Honda Fit, which saw its sales climb 6.6% to 18,141 units, followed by the Toyota Vitz in third with 15,267 units, up 23.5%.
Sales of hybrid cars and energy-efficient smaller models were strong in July, the Nikkei noted, as consumers rushed to buy such cars before the September expiration of subsidies for environmentally friendly cars. Four of the top ten selling models in japan in July were minivehicles.
In the US, the Prius posted July sales of 14,102 units, down 26.4%. Overall in the US, sales of light trucks surged 17.8% in July to 522,428 units according to figures from Autodata, representing 50% of the new vehicle market, up from 44% of the new vehicle market in July 2009.
"In the US, the Prius posted July sales of 14,102 units, down 26.4%. Overall in the US, sales of light trucks surged 17.8% in July to 522,428 units according to figures from Autodata, representing 50% of the new vehicle market, up from 44% of the new vehicle market in July 2009."
In other words, an excellent collection of VERY inexpensive used light trucks when gas hits $5 per gallon.
Posted by: kelly | 05 August 2010 at 05:54 AM
As soon as gas price goes down in USA, local sales of fuel efficient cars go down. This does not seem to be associated with the rather low Prius price but with it smaller size. We would buy a 50+ mpg HEV if it is as large as a Lincoln Town car.
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 August 2010 at 11:46 AM
We would buy Escalades if they got 40 mpg and were priced at $30,000. Most people think of economy cars as small uncomfortable and are perceived as unsafe little cars. It does not fit their "lifestyle".
Listen to what people say, they have to take the kids to soccer or they HAVE to tow their boat. These are excuses and not reasons, but as long as others will pretend to believe them, away they go.
Posted by: SJC | 07 August 2010 at 01:24 PM