Toyota Prius Japan top-selling car for third year

TOKYO—The Prius gas-electric hybrid was Japan’s top-selling vehicle in 2011 for the third straight year, underlining how the ecological car has scored a big hit.

Sales of Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius totaled 252,528 vehicles in 2011, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Wednesday.

The Fit subcompact from Japanese rival Honda Motor Co., which also comes in hybrid models, was No. 2.

Government-backed incentives and tax breaks have lifted the sales of ecological models despite a sluggish Japanese auto market.