Hybrid Car Mania – Prius is Hot in Japan
June 1, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Business
Hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular in the United States. In Japan, the Toyota Prius is selling a lot faster than expected. Various reports indicate that Prius orders in Japan have already totaled between 100,000 and 110,000. Toyota has responded by focusing more of their manufacturing on building the Prius.
A Toyota Prius is Japan (Image: Flickr)
Considering that Toyota had the stated goal of selling 10,000 Prius hybrid cars per month in Japan, the company has to be happy with this move. That said, this news isn’t good enough to stop the company from losing billions of dollars in 2009.
The main reason why so many Japanese citizens have decided to buy Prius hybrid cars is money related. First of all, the Japan government is offering tax breaks to buy a hybrid car. The government is also offering bonuses for older cars to be traded in for a hybrid car. Additionally, the amount of gas a hybrid car can save makes it a much cheaper option over the long haul.
In the U.S., it appears as if hybrid cars will explode in popularity over the next decade. That is especially true with the U.S. government likely having their say in what type of cars General Motors and Chrysler will produce.
