For just over a decade, those who bought a Toyota Prius hybrid have had to entertain the possibility that the rest of the world would view them as tree-hugging, tofu-eating, hemp-wearing, middle-class hippies.
In April however, that changed forever as the Toyota Prius family became the world’s third best-selling car line for the first quarter of 2012.
To do that, Toyota sold a staggering 247,230 Prius hybrids, beating sales figures for cars like the Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf.
In first place for the quarter, selling 300,800 cars was another Toyota, the 2012 Corolla. In second place, just under 30,000 cars ahead of the Prius line, was the 2012 Ford Focus.
Toyota’s Prius family success highlights a growing trend towards fuel efficient cars and higher gas prices, but it also highlights the effect that expanding the Prius family has had on sales.
A year ago, Toyota only sold one Prius, the 2011 Prius mid-size hatchback. Since then, it has launched the 2012 Toyota Prius C subcompact hatch, 2012 Toyota Prius V mid-size wagon, and the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
In doing so, Toyota has placed its legendary Prius name into three markets that it didn’t occupy, enticing more sales than it would ever have done from a single car.
In addition, green car tax rebates and credits in countries like Japan have meant that the 2012 Toyota Prius C -- which is sold in Japan as the 2012 Aqua -- have become runaway successes.
Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1076525_toyota-prius-becomes-worlds-third-best-selling-car-line
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