Toyota Prius Hybrid Car Helps Toyota Achieve Record Market Share in U.S.

Despite a surprise drop in quarterly profits, largely due to an unfavorable exchange rate, Toyota Corp. posted a record profit for the first fiscal half. Robust overseas sales growth in Europe and North America have continued to drive the world's-largest-car-maker challenger.

Toyota increased sales in the world's most important auto market, the U.S., by 8.9 percent in January-September, driven by its increasingly popular Prius hybrid vehicle, voted 2004 Car of the Year in the U.S..

Other impact vehicles included the RX330 luxury car and the young-targeted Scion. Overall, total Toyota car sales surpassed 1.5 million and resulted in a record 12.1 percent market share.

As Toyota's hybrid car selection increases next year, things continue to look good well into the future for the world's automotive leader. The Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV and the Highlander Hybrid SUV should provide a nice complement of vehicles to the Prius.