TOKYO: Toyota said on Thursday its worldwide output and sales rose for a fourth consecutive month in April on strong demand for hybrid vehicles and rush buying in the United States over U.S. President Donald Trump’s import tariffs.

The world’s biggest automaker’s global sales for April increased 10% year-on-year to 876,864 vehicles, with U.S. sales climbing just as much, fuelled by strong demand, including rush-buying over the tariffs, according to Toyota.

Hybrid vehicle sales made up about 44% of Toyota’s total worldwide sales for the first four months of the year.

In April, the Japanese company’s global vehicle production rose 8% year-on-year to 814,787 vehicles, lifted by higher production in Japan and markets in North America, South America and China.

The production and sales figures include its luxury Lexus brand.

Reuters