Toyota Motor’s Prius hybrid has been voted 2005 European Car of the Year after picking up the corresponding title in North America in January.
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Reuters noted that, since launch in early 2004, sales of the second-generation petrol-electric Prius, which is in short supply all over the world, are expected to reach 8,500 units in Europe this year while Toyota is forecasting a near-doubling to 15,000 units next year.
It was the third time for a Japanese brand to win the European award since its inception in 1964, after Nissan’s Micra compact – called the March in Japan – in 1993 and Toyota’s Yaris – also known as the Vitz and Echo – in the same segment in 2000, the report added.
“This is a major milestone in the acceptance of the hybrid powertrain and the recognition of its potential to become a mainstream technology,” said Tadashi Arashima, chief executive of Toyota Motor Marketing Europe, in a statement cited by Reuters.
This year’s jury consisted of 58 motoring journalists representing 22 European countries, the report added.
