 These record sales allowed Japan to surpass the U.S. in total new hybrid sales, with the Japanese market representing almost half (48%) of the worldwide hybrid sales in 2009 while the U.S. market represented 42% of global sales.The Toyota Prius became the first hybrid to top annual new car sales in Japan with 208,876 units sold in 2009.The Insight ranked fifth in overall sales in 2009 with 93,283 units sold.