Toyota’s Prius is the best selling car in Japan
For an astonishing 14th straight month in June, was the top-selling car in Japan.
Japan Automobile Dealers Association said on Tuesday that Toyota sold 31,876 of the gas-electric cars last month, far outnumbering and almost twice as much as Honda's fuel-efficient Fit, which came in second place with
15,955 sales.
Since its introduction in 1997, the Prius is presently in its third generation.
A government subsidy for environmentally friendly cars and tax breaks help in selling the Prius like hot cakes. Demand for the vehicle is so high in Japan that it has a three-month waiting list. Association spokesman Yukio Kogoshi said that, the demand for the Prius remains very strong as consumers continue to choose hybrid vehicles.
Toyota however seems to be troubled by quality issues. The world's No. 1 automaker on Monday began recalling nearly 92,000 Lexus and Crown model vehicles in Japan for an engine defect. It was part of a global recall affecting 270,000 cars.
The latest lapse in quality comes as Toyota tries to free itself from massive global recalls that started in October. More than 8.5 million vehicles, including the Prius, have been recalled for various problems ranging from defective floor mats to sticking gas pedals to braking software glitches.
Toyota now has to endure in excess of 200 lawsuits in the U. S. related to accidents that involved its defective automobiles, the lower resale value of Toyota vehicles, and a drop in its stock value.
Toyota however with regard to the Prius says it's the best-selling hybrid in the world, with 1.79 million sold. There is such a big demand in Japan that there is a three month waiting period on the automobile.
