Honda Insight first hybrid to rank top in Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) – Honda Motor Co said on Monday its new Insight model became the first hybrid to be crowned Japan’s best-selling car last month.

The Insight went on sale in Japan in early February as Honda’s first real attempt to challenge Toyota Motor Corp’s dominance in the gasoline-electric hybrid segment.

A ranking of Japan’s top 30 excluding 660cc minivehicles announced by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association showed the Insight selling 10,481 units in April, catapulting it from 21st place in March.

The car, whose main sell is its affordability with a price tag starting at 1.89 million yen ($19,190), was followed by Honda’s Fit subcompact.

Reuters