Toyota And Lexus Global Hybrid Sales Top Five Million

LONDON – April 17, 2013: Prius has gone on to become one of the world’s best-selling cars and it features today among 20 different hybrids – including the first Toyota plug-in hybrid – sold by Toyota Motor Corporation in around 80 countries and regions.

That figure is set to grow as the company plans to introduce 18 new hybrids and a fuel cell vehicle within the next two years.

Toyota calculates that its hybrid vehicles2 have contributed to around 34 million tonnes3 less CO2 entering the atmosphere, compared to the impact of the same number of petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and performance. In terms of fuel, it estimates on the same basis that 1.2 billion litres of petrol have been saved.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota Motor Corporation Vice-Chairman, who was responsible for development of the first-generation Prius, said: “We developed the first-generation Prius with the aim of making it a car for the 21st century and as an indication of Toyota’s response to environmental issues. We had to develop a hybrid system from scratch, making our task extremely difficult. Nevertheless, we took on the challenge. The launch of the first-generation Prius had effects beyond our expectations, with the vehicle increasing consumer environmental awareness and raising hybrid vehicle expectations. The understanding of consumers at launch time laid the foundation for the widespread adoption, and, since then, consumers have continued to support TMC hybrid vehicles. For this, I am extremely grateful.”

Toyota plans to continue working to further raise performance, reduce costs and expand its hybrid product range.