The world's most popular hybrid has become the best-selling model car in the state of California. Recent sales figures show that the vehicle line's four variants sold more than 46,000 units in the state during the first three quarters of 2012, Bloomberg reports.
Last year saw the Prius have the fourth-most popular car in California, behind the Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. As gas prices rise across the state to 80 cents above the national average, more drivers are looking into fuel-efficient vehicles.
According to AutoBlog, more than one-fourth of all Prius cars bought in the U.S. were sold in California, with demand for the vehicle being consistently strong all year. Already in 2012, more than 230,000 Prius units have been sold, a record amount for the vehicle that will only increase in the final few months.
"Prius is going to stay strong through 2012, and into 2013," Alex Gutierrez, an analyst for Kelly Blue Book, told Bloomberg. "We're going to get some relief at the pump, but not that much."
Drivers are drawn not only to the fuel-efficiency, but also to the manageable vehicle maintenance and customizable driving options.