Toyota to Unveil New Prius in Hopes of Reversing Slump - CNBC
What goes up must come down, something even the world's most popular hybrid-electric vehicle has experienced in recent months. So, Toyota officials have reason to be excited as they prepare to reveal an all-new version of the Prius next month. Like virtually all battery-based vehicles, sales of the Prius have been hit by low gas prices in recent months. Still, it remains the world's most popular hybrid—and one of the best sellers among all vehicles in the big California market. The Toyota Prius hasn't had a major update in seven years, and early reports suggest the new one will grow longer, get a little more power, have better fuel economy and possible stretch its range in all-electric mode. At times, the Prius has become the best-selling vehicle of all types in both Japan and in the green-minded California market. And industry sales data show it snapped up 82 percent of the U. S. hybrid segment's sales during the first seven months of 2015. But demand has taken a rare dip, nonetheless, Prius sales falling 15 percent during that period, year-over-year. Sales numbers for the Prius actually include a mix of vehicles in the so-called Prius "family," including a plug-in hybrid, the bigger Prius V and the subcompact Prius C. As with the rest. Source: www.cnbc.com
