Honda Insight tops Japanese sales charts

The Honda Insight has become the first hybrid car to top the sales charts in its Japanese home market. The innovative petrol-electric Insight toppled its Fit (badged Jazz in Europe) relative from the number one spot to become Japan's best-selling vehicle with 10,481 sales.

The Honda Jazz was Japan's best-seller new car for calendar year 2008, but it was displaced in April by the new Insight. Introduced in February in its first month the Insight sold 4,906 units, with a further 4088 sales in March before achieving its top spot claiming sales April figure of 10,481 units. That's significant as it underlines the acceptance of hybrids by buyers, Honda also cleverly positioning its Insight hybrid as an affordable choice.

On sale in the UK since April 4 the Insight has been doing well in its first few weeks in UK showrooms. Honda UK says 229 Insights have been sold to date, the new car outselling its Toyota Prius rival. Combined with 79 Civic hybrid sales Honda's dealers are busy selling petrol-electric driven vehicles despite the otherwise slow trading conditions.

Cost conscious customers in the UK are attracted to not just the 60mpg-plus official combined economy figure the Insight brings, but also its £15 road tax, London Congestion Charge free status and the promise of good residual values. Honda anticipates selling around 7,000 Insights in the UK this year, the new car starting at £15,490 on-the-road.

Kyle Fortune