Toyota posted record sales of its Prius hybrid in the first two months of this year. Japan’s strongest earthquake hindered the company’s ability to keep that pace.
Rising gasoline prices, along with low-cost leases and loans, helped Prius sales jump 47 per cent in the first two months of 2011. With most of Japan’s auto production halted after the March 11 temblor and tsunami, Toyota may be unable to meet demand for the world’s top-selling hybrid.
The carmaker may still need weeks to restore Prius assembly to the pre-disaster level, said an automobile industry analyst.
