Toyota Prius June sales "boom"

Sales of Toyota Prius cars whose propulsion system is made up of a hybrid petrol-powered and electric engine, have “boomed” after a stiflingly hot month in June, selling six units in total after the first five months of the year saw just one unit sold in Romania. Prius saw its biggest sales right after its autumn launch in Romania last year, when it sold 12 units. The car runs exclusively on petrol, with the batteries of the electric engine charging when the car brakes or runs at constant speed. The car can run without petrol for no more than five minutes, powered only by the electric engine. The electric engine in fact helps the petrol-powered engine to reduce fuel consumption. Toyota Romania’s target for Prius is 24 units by the end of this year. “We cannot expect tens of units in sales, as this niche is still poorly developed in Romania,” stated Ioana Marinescu, junior brand manager of Toyota Romania. Toyota sells another two hybrid propulsion system models through Lexus, the group’s premium division, for which no sales information is available at present.