The progress of Toyota’s hybrid power technology has reached another landmark with cumulative global sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles reaching 6.072 million units at the end of December. Notably the latest million-milestone has been reached in the fastest time yet, just nine months since the figure moved past five million.
Toyota recognises that its cleaner, efficient technologies can only truly make a positive impact if they are widely used, hence its on-going efforts to encourage the mass-market take-up of its hybrid vehicles.
As of this month, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 24 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world. In the UK, home to production of the hybrid versions of Auris and Auris Touring Sports, the range extends to 10 Toyota and Lexus hybrids, plus Prius Plug-in.
Within the next two years, Toyota will launch 15 new hybrids. It will continue to develop its product range and the number of markets where its hybrid models are available.
Toyota calculates that, as of 31 December 2013, Toyota hybrid vehicles have reduced the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere – believed to be a cause of global warming – by approximately 41 million tonnes, compared to the impact the same number of equivalent petrol-powered vehicles would have. On the same basis, it also estimates its hybrids have saved around 15,000 million litres of petrol.
Toyota entered hybrid vehicle production in August 1997 with the launch in Japan of the Coast Hybrid EV bus, followed in December by the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. Since then Toyota’s hybrids have enjoyed increasing support from customers around the world.
Toyota’s hybrid system is designed as a core technology that can be used in different forms to create environmentally efficient vehicles for different customer requirements. The company will continue to work to raise performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up – including the introduction of environmentally efficient non-hybrid vehicles.
Toyota hybrid vehicle sales – all brands
Year Global Europe UK
1997 0.3 – –
1998 17.6 – –
1999 15.2 – –
2000 19.0 0.7 0.184
2001 36.9 2.3 0.622
2002 41.3 0.8 0.291
2003 53.2 0.8 0.370
2004 134.6 8.1 1.595
2005 234.9 23.3 5.279
2006 312.5 36.0 8.343
2007 429.4 48.9 13.195
2008 429.7 48.9 12.809
2009 530.1 54.7 11.190
2010 690.1 70.1 16.432
2011 628.9 82.8 17.545
2012 1,219.0 106.8 19.905
2013 1,279.4 153.0 24.649
TOTAL 6,072.9 646.6 132.409
(1 = 1,000 units)
Cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid passenger vehicles
Model Global Europe UK
Prius 3,166.6 268.6 63.244*
Prius α/Prius v/Prius + 405.1 21.7 1.937
Aqua/Prius c 633.6 – –
Camry Hybrid 418.7 – –
Alphard Hybrid 446.7 – –
Auris Hybrid 128.0 124.2 17.303**
Yaris Hybrid 75.4 73.4 8.521
Avalon Hybrid 17.2 – –
Highlander Hybrid/Kluger Hybrid 138.3 – –
Vellfire Hybrid 17.1 – –
Sai 71.0 – –
Estima Hybrid 105.0 – –
Crown Hybrid 77.9 – –
Harrier Hybrid 23.7 – –
Crown Mild Hybrid 77.9 – –
Crown Majesta 3.0 – –
Corolla Axio Hybrid 8.7 – –
Corolla Fielder Hybrid 21.3 – –
Lexus LS 600h 35.3 4.3 0.609
Lexus GS 450h/300h 38.7 12.4 3.163
Lexus RX 400h/450h 288.6 86.0 22.565
Lexus HS 250h 61.6 – –
Lexus CT 200h 169.0 41.3 13.1161
Lexus ES 300h 47.0 0.2 –
Lexus IS 300h 16.7 5.9 1.751
(1 = 1,000 units) * Including Prius Plug-in; ** including Auris Hybrid Touring Sports.c
