Has California Given Up On The Car Culture? Prius Top Selling Car So Far In 2012

The Toyota Prius is the best-selling car in California. Combined, the Prius, Prius V, Prius C and Prius Plug-in have outsold every other passenger vehicle sold in the Golden State so far this year, according to data from Experian Automotive.

By the end of September, Toyota had sold over 46,000 Priuses in California. Of those, about 6,000 were the Prius C, a less expensive compact version with a smaller engine, and about 7,600 were the Prius V, a wagon version with more cargo space. The remainders were the standard Prius and the Prius Plug-in, which has a battery that can be charged from an electrical outlet.

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pcar4evr - 10/23/2012 10:30:26 AM

+3 Boost

I was in CA a few weeks ago and mentioned to my wife that I didn't see nearly as many interesting cars as I had in the past. Even Laguna Beach and Malibu could only muster up one 458 and one R8. Price of gas? Rich, liberal Californians not wanting to be defined as "the 1%?"? Not sure, but I definitely saw enough of a shift to actually mention it when I was there.

Lexus - 10/23/2012 2:33:32 PM

+5 Boost

Considering the outrageous gas price we paid in California I was not surprise at all. I mean two weeks ago didn't gas cost almost $7 in some part of Los Angeles CA?

chewy - 10/23/2012 5:22:44 PM

+1 Boost

Most I saw was 5.15 ish for premium at fancy gas stations in fancy places in SD area. LA might have been more?

While fuel price plays a role, the image factor and fitting in is probably a bigger factor than purely cost savings.

Lexus - 10/23/2012 4:16:11 PM

+4 Boost

I'm just happy that I still have a place to sleep, enough food to eat, car to drive and a job. If thing don't get better soon were all going be living like the Wild West riding Horses and Horses Carriage.

knowitall1985 - 10/23/2012 6:06:17 PM

+4 Boost

They want clean air in california.....

MorePower - 10/23/2012 10:17:32 PM

+2 Boost

Gas is the reason why Prius sales have increased. With prices at/near $5 9/10, those whom have a long commute or have the money, will pick up a hybrid.

I've also noticed an increase in the number of Leafs, Volts and the occasional Insights.

MorePower - 10/23/2012 10:18:56 PM

+1 Boost

Side note:

Most of the new, large SUV's I see on the road have police officers behind the wheel.

ThierryHenry14 - 10/24/2012 10:16:16 AM

+2 Boost

Even if gas was $.01, I cannot imagine that people would be buying more Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins than Prius.

Could it also be that those cars cost 10-20X the Prius? hhhmmm....