If the latest industry figures are taken into consideration, Toyota Motor's Prius has become the maiden fuel-sipping hybrid car, which has outsold all other vehicles in Japan last month. This has enhanced the automaker's recovery efforts.
The month of June witnessed Toyota selling 22,292 Prius, above from 6,231 in the same month last year; the credit of which goes to the launch of a remodeled version. The second place was won by Honda's Fit, which sold 13,016 vehicles.
According to the figures, "In May the Prius had already become the top-selling car -- a category that excludes popular mini-vehicles with engines of up to 660 cc -- and in June it outsold all autos, including mini-vehicles."
Due to high oil prices and growing concern about emissions blamed for global warming, Japanese automakers have made strides with hybrid cars, which are supported both by petrol and electricity. It should be noted that over 1.25 million Prius vehicles has been sold by the Japanese giant since its launch in 1997, making it the world's most popular hybrid.
As per the company, the new model launched in mid-May is not only cheaper, but also more efficient than the two previous models.