The crisis affects demand for hybrids

“Last year, 68 Toyota Prius were sold, 70 percent more than the year before, but the upward trend seems to have halted this year. By the end of the year, we estimate that the total number will be below that in 2008. Sales are dropping,” according to a declaration for Business Standard by Ana Maria Toma, representative of Toyota Romania.

The Prius was also the first hybrid car to be sold on the Romanian market, 12 units in 2006, and over five times as many in 2008. Besides Toyota’s hybrid, other cars available locally are the Honda Civic Hybrid and Lexus’ hybrids. “The interest of Romanians for such cars is rising, but the international crisis has also affected the decision in Romania for buying a car with a hybrid propulsion system,” added Toyota’s representative.