Toyota Motor Europe (TME) marked a milestone when cumulative European sales of both Toyota and Lexus brand hybrid vehicles passed the 50,000-unit mark.
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Since sales of the Toyota Prius – the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car – began in Europe in 2000, a total of almost 41,000 units have been sold to date. Meanwhile, sales of the Lexus brand’s hybrid models (RX 400h and GS 450h) have reached a cumulative total of over 10,000 units in 17 months of sales.
Toyota expects its annual European hybrid sales to reach 37,400 units in 2006, while overall European sales are expected to exceed 1 million units for the Toyota brand and some 45,000 units for the Lexus brand.
Thierry Dombreval, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe, said:
“Reaching 50,000 hybrid sales is a clear sign that Europeans have taken to this exciting new technology. Hybrid has already established itself as an advanced solution delivering both power and environmental performance. Toyota is committed to developing a range of cleaner technologies including hybrid, clean diesel and alternative fuels.”
The Lexus brand first introduced hybrid power trains with the RX400h SUV in May 2005. The GS450h was launched in May 2006 and the company’s forthcoming flagship, the LS600h, will be launched onto the European market in May 2007.
