139,682 Prius in 2009

The 2009 Prius didn't have the "cute" commercials, but lots of discount. Great bargains were everywhere.

 

Those commercials....I love those commercials...whenever I see one, I just have this urge to buy a really large 4 wheel drive truck, with tires the size of Brazilian rainforests and then go drive rough shod through a plant nursery.

Oh, of course I'd have that "There's a Reason" song playing loudly through my stereo.

 

Is that suppose to be funny? That sounds like a troll post.

 

Happy to be of assistance.

Since the launch of the 2010 MY, 16% of the buyers replaced a Prius (figure does not include small number that became multi-Prius households). However, in June it was 31%, so it has come down a lot.

Also, since launch, 77% of buyers are first-time hybrid buyers. In June, that number was 63%

I'll let you draw the conclusions.

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

Thank you, I'd have to assume that Toyota is very happy with those numbers. I'm frankly very suprised that you are saying since launch 77% of buyers are first-time buyers. I wouldn't of thought it would be that high of a "first time" number. But perhaps my perception is tainted by hanging around Prius Chat which of course is filled with a lot of long time Prius Owners.

In anycase, thanks for interesting information, and if possible NEVER let me draw the conclusions....I run with scissors and draw way outside the lines..

 

"replaced a Prius" means replacing a G1 and/or G2 with a 2009 G2 and/or 2010 G3, correct? (assuming no 2008 G2s were sold in 09).

Again, these percentages account for both G2s and G3s sold, right?

 

No, in this case I was counting only the G3s that were sold, but the replaced model could have been G1 or G2.

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

Impressive numbers no matter how you slice it.

 

Actually, it did:

Recharge

City

There were others too, like the one with tire.
.

 

FYI,
Following is remarkable Japanese numbers.
Prius is top-selling car in 2009 including K-cars.
source: Japanese vehicle sales ranking (Japanese only)
news: Toyota's Prius top-selling car in Japan last year

	number of sales	CY2009	CY2008	% change
1	Prius in December	22	594	6	047	+273.6%
2	Prius in whole year	208	876	73	110	+185.7%
3	Toyota in December	107	893	66	739	+61.7%
4	Toyota in whole year	1	238	137	1	291	591	-4.1%
5	Japan in December	230	316	158	785	+45.0%
6	Japan in whole year	2	640	312	2	800	664	-5.7%

note: passenger cars only. Toyota brand only (not included Lexus and Daihatsu). K-cars (mini vehicles less than 660cc) are not included.
note: Gen2 Prius (approx 15%) are included

Following is Prius market share among Toyota brand only passenger cars and all passenger cars sold in Japan.

	Prius % share	CY2009	CY2008
1	Toyota in December	20.9%	9.1%
2	Toyota in whole year	16.9%	5.7%
3	Japan in December	9.8%	3.8%
4	Japan in whole year	7.9%	2.6%

Honda Insight number was 93,283 and 3.5% share in 2009.
I don't have other Hybrid numbers, but we already see more than 10% hybrid share in Japan.
So, the hybrid vehicles are not for niche market in Japan anymore.

Ken@Japan

 

Wow!

In December, one in five Toyota car sold in Japan is the Prius.

One in ten car sold in Japan is the Prius.

 

Could it have been due to some government tax deduction program expiring at the end of the year?

 

Yes but if the car is crappy, ppl wouldn't buy it even with the incentive. Prius is outselling the Insight because it is just that good.

 

True. But my point was that the December data point was a spike in the year-on-year trend.

 

Now I'm confused. The percentages Doug Coleman presented were for Toyota USA only? At least that's what I thought. If they were global sales percentages and including Japan, I wouldn't be suprised at all at a 77% first time buyers. My understanding was that Japan's goverment was offering incentives as well as potentially future carbon taxes....so as most at Prius Chat already know, The Prius is selling great in Japan.

In anycase, great numbers for Prius, USA and abroad. Maybe I'm a little defensive lately but just to clarify I didn't mean to suggest The Prius wasn't doing well, only that comparitevly, in what was a horrible year for Automakers across the board, I would say The Prius, had a lot on it's side. Loyal base of owners and supporters. Incredibly high profile release, following incredible build up. All the reasons I stated before, plus the fact that I also think in "frugal" times, people are going to be thinking more about cost of ownership and that might make Prius all the more attractive.

All these 1st time buyers....great for Prius Chat, brace yourself for ever growing influx of questions as new owners discover the resource.

 

Ken,

What was the 2nd best selling car? How about the price?

With the government incentive for the price of the Prius, what other cars can a buyer purchase?

 

Following is the data.

	rank	vehicle	engine size	starting price	weight tax	acquired tax	cash back
1	1	Toyota Prius	1800cc	2	050kyen	0	0	100kyen
2	2	Suzuki Wagon R	660cc	1	045kyen	3.3kyen	6.7kyen	50kyen
3	3	Daihatsu Move	660cc	1	050kyen	6.6kyen	13.4kyen	50kyen
4	4	Honda Fit	1300cc	1	197kyen	14.1kyen	12.8kyen	100kyen
5	5	Daihatsu Tanto	660cc	1	085kyen	13.2kyen	26.8kyen	50kyen

news: Prius is top-selling in 2009 (Japanese only)

Ken@Japan