Report: Toyota already has 75,000 orders for new Prius


The new Prius is just days away from sale in Japan but has already racked up more than 75,000 orders, according to latest reports


Toyota is predicting that its new 2010 Prius hybrid will garner enough orders to easily outsell the rival Honda Insight hybrid in Japan, and if initial reports are anything to go by the car has already accomplished this goal before even reaching showrooms. Scheduled to go on sale in Japan on Monday, the new Prius has reportedly racked up more than 75,000 sales.

The information comes from Japan’s Nikkei business daily, and if it turns out to be correct the orders will represent a significant amount of sales for the car's annual sales - last year, 73,000 units of the Prius were sold in Japan.

The news bodes well for Toyota, which is still preparing for an all-out price war with Honda's Insight, a car which has already beaten Toyota's Prius in Japanese sales for one month this year. Now, sales for both cars are expected to rise, especially in light of new incentives for hybrid car buyers provided by the Japanese government.

Reportedly the new Prius will still be more costly than the Honda Insight, which sells for less than ¥2 million (approximately $21,000), but will come with a larger engine and more standard features. Toyota is hoping to eventually sell 400,000 units of the new Prius around the world next year, while Honda's sales have easily eclipsed their own predicted sales figures.

Whoever will win out of the hybrid battle will now be decided in the global market, but whatever the outcome the result is good for consumers as the rivalry will likely create a new price war.

The news bodes well for Toyota, which is still preparing for an all-out price war with Honda's Insight, a car which has already beaten Toyota's Prius in Japanese sales for one month this year.