Toyota Prius is best-selling car in Japan for August, 16th month in a row, but sales may fade

Toyota Prius top-selling car in Japan for August

TOKYO — Toyota’s Prius was the top selling car in Japan during August for the 16th straight month, as incentives for green vehicles continued to boost sales of the hybrid.

The Prius, Toyota Motor Corp.’s best-selling gasoline-gas hybrid, sold 22,263 of the cars during the month, enough to secure the top spot ahead of Honda’s Fit compact at 17,258 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.

But it was the lowest monthly total so far this year for the hybrid, sales of which may fade once government-backed tax breaks and incentives run out at the end of this month in Japan.

The Prius went on sale for the first time in 1997, beating rivals as the first mass-produced commercially available hybrid. Toyota’s hybrids currently span minivans, sport utility vehicles and luxury models.

The car has remained a best seller despite massive global recalls by Toyota of various models for issues including faulty floor mats and defective gas pedals.

Other hybrid offerings haven’t fared as well. Honda’s lower-priced Insight hybrid was 15th during August.