Clean Green Cars: REPORT: Toyota to ask Japanese government to extend green car incentives

REPORT: Toyota to ask Japanese government to extend green car incentives

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota, Legislation and Policy, Japan

2010 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery

It comes as little surprise that Toyota would want the Japanese government to extend its current series of green car incentives past their scheduled ending date of March, 2010. After all, the automaker has seen sales of its latest hybrids skyrocket in its home market, and much of that success has been attributed to the generous tax incentives levied on hybrid vehicles in Japan along with relatively high gas prices.

For instance, Toyota sold an impressive 22,292 Prius hybrids in the month of June in Japan, and some buyers are adding their names to waiting lists that could stretch for months. Sales of the Lexus HS 250h have also proven rather strong and the automaker has reportedly accepted 10,000 orders for the entry-level luxury hybrid in its first month on the market.

An election last Sunday saw the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party take a major hit from the Democratic Party in Japan. According to Reuters, it’s now feared that the new lawmakers may put an early end to the hybrid incentive program, so Toyota is lobbying early and often to get the program extended through 2012.

Gallery: Lexus HS 250h