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Toyota Prius is world top 3 best seller
The Toyota Prius has become the world’s third best-selling car as demand for the green hybrid model soars.
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In the first quarter of 2012, Toyota sold more than 247,000 Prius – just 30,000 global units less than the second-placed Ford Focus.
The Toyota Corolla remains the world’s best-selling car and the only new car to sell more than 300,000 units in the first three months of 2011.
Bloomberg reports that rising US demand and incentives in Japan have both aided sales of the Prius. Toyota’s expansion of the Prius brand to four models has also helped – the range now encompasses compact hatch, people carrier and plug-in hybrid models too.
Toyota was the world’s largest car maker until 2010, but lost top slot after fallout from a global recall and the disaster of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. However, in Q1 2012, it has actually regained this slot, leading both GM and VW with sales of 2.49 million cars in the quarter.
The Prius is an iconic car for Toyota and, since its launch in 1997, has gone on to sell four million units. It helped define the market for green cars and is now considered by many to be the top green hybrid model: sales figures now resolutely bear this out.
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