Earth Equity News

Toyota Prius Tops Japan Sales Despite Recall Woes. By Yuri Kageyama, AP, March 4, 2010. "Toyota's Prius remains the top-selling car in Japan despite the automaker's global recall woes that included braking problems with the hit hybrid. More than 27,000 of the gas-electric hybrids were sold in February, making the Prius the best selling model for the 10th straight month, according to Japan Automobile Dealers Association figures released oon March 4. The continued popularity of the Prius comes despite Toyota's recall debacle affecting 8.5 million vehicles around the world, including the third-generation Prius in Japan, recalled for a glitch in antilock braking. But the safety concerns and bad publicity have hurt sales of Toyota models in the U.S. -- the automaker's biggest market. Sales of the Prius have been boosted by its reputation for delivering superb mileage by switching between a gasoline engine and electric motor as well as tax breaks and other government incentives. The Prius, also the world's top-selling hybrid, has been so popular in Japan that it has a big backlog of orders, with a waiting list lasting about six months... Cancellations of Prius orders are extremely rare, [dealers' association spokesman Kentaro Nakata] said. 'There are people waiting to snatch up the car.'"