Hotai Motor Co (和泰汽車), a local agent for Toyota Motor Corp, yesterday said it had asked the Japanese automaker to increase supplies of components used to build a hybrid vehicle because of rising demand.
Hotai Motor said since the government had removed a mechanism that partially froze increases in domestic fuel prices, interest in the company’s hybrid model — the Camry Hybrid — has increased. Launched in the middle of February, the Camry Hybrid is the nation’s first locally made hybrid car.
On Monday, domestic fuel prices were increased by about 10 percent, the largest one-time jump since 2008.
Market analysts have said the increase would boost fuel expenses per car by about NT$700 a month.
The car vendor said it has received 1,800 orders for the Camry Hybrid, while about 400 orders have been placed for Toyota’s imported Prius C model, which was unveiled at the end of last month.
Hotai said since it expects domestic fuel prices to continue to climb, demand for its hybrid cars should increase accordingly.
The vendor said robust interest in the Camry Hybrid and Prius C was expected to make a significant contribution to the company’s revenues this month.
Last month, Hotai Motor retained the title as the largest car vendor in Taiwan by selling 10,722 units, up 62.7 percent from February.
The car dealer grasped a 32.5 percent share of the local auto market, ahead of China Motor Corp (中華汽車) with 14.3 percent and Yulon Nissan Motor Co (裕隆日產) with 11.6 percent.
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