Prius is the top-selling car in Japan for the sixth month

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest automaker, sold 26,918 Prius cars last month, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association. That was a big jump from 6,341 Prius cars sold in October last year.

Surging demand for the Prius helped Toyota post a surprise profit Thursday.

The Japanese auto giant posted better-than-expected net income of 21.8 billion yen (US$242 million) for the July-September period after three straight losing quarters. The company also halved its expected loss for the fiscal year.

Honda Motor Co.'s Fit compact was No. 2 in October with 15,444 units sold, the association said. Although the Fit isn't a hybrid, it still qualifies for tax breaks because it's fuel-efficient.

Toyota's Vitz subcompact, marketed overseas as the Yaris, came in third last month. Honda's Insight hybrid — a direct competitor with Toyota's Prius — was ninth.

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