Japan: Toyota already has 75,000 pre-orders for the new Prius

Japan's [I]Nikkei Business Daily[/I] has reported that Toyota has accepted 75,000 pre-orders for the 2010 Prius. This surpasses the carmaker's initial forecast of 40,000 units.

It's a bit of good news for the Japanese manufacturer, who, like all other car manufacturers, had been hit badly due to the global economic downturn. Toyota's sales figures in its largest market, the United States, had dropped sharply following a slump in demand for new cars.

The Japanese automaker also registered a US$ 7.7 billion loss during the fourth quarter of its financial year. Toyota estimates that it will report a loss of US$ 8.6 billion at the end of FY2009.

Honda has recently jumped ahead of Toyota in the hybrid car category, when it launched its new Insight ahead of the new Prius. The Insight Hybrid then went on to become Japan's best-selling car last month, with over 10,000 units sold.

With the hybrid battle just heating up, it will be interesting to see which hybrid car will eventually emerge as the more successful one.

Official sales of the new Prius in Japan will begin on May 18.

[IMG]http://www.oneshift.com/showroom/uploadimages/resized-2009051800104086.jpg[/IMG]

Credits: JRC