LOC20:04
17:04 GMT
TOKYO, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s Aqua hybrid was the
best-selling car last year for the first time, industry bodes said on
Thursday. Toyota sold 262,367 Aqua cars in 2013, down 1.6 percent on the year,
according to data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the
Japan Mini Vehicles Association.
Toyota's Prius hybrid was the second-best seller with 253,711 units, down
20.1 percent, followed by Honda Motor Co.'s N-Box with 234,994 units, up 11.3
percent. Of the 10 best-selling cars, six were minicars with engines below 660
cc, reflecting interest among consumers in its fuel efficiency and affordable
price.
Aqua, which is smaller and cheaper than Prius, met demand for such hybrids
following the phase out of government subsidies for fuel-efficient vehicles in
2012. Toyota launched sales of Aqua's renovated model last month which is the
top of world's fuel-efficiency ranking with capable of getting 37.0 km per
liter.
In December 2013 alone, Honda's Fit compact car topped the sales ranking
for the third straight month. Hybrid vehicles account for about 20 percent of
all new cars sold in Japan, with the percentage expected to grow as major
automakers will roll out more new models. (end)
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