Toyota has now sold 5m hybrid vehicles worldwide and almost 2m (1,951,243) Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles have been sold in the United States, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
The company said it took just 11 months to sell the latest million, bringing the total to 5,125,600 at the end of March.
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After releasing its first hybrid vehicles in Japan in 1997, Toyota took almost 10 years to reach 1m sales.
Since then, consumers have been buying hybrids at an ever-faster rate. The second million was posted in two years and three months, the third million took 18 months and the fourth million 14 months.
Last year, hybrid vehicles accounted for 14% of TMC’s global vehicle sales and 40% of its sales in Japan.
Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle with more than 2.9m sales. In Australia, where 50,000 Toyota hybrids have been sold, the locally built Camry Hybrid has recently overtaken the Prius to become the top seller.
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By GlobalDataToyota estimated its global fleet of nearly 20 hybrid vehicles has resulted in approximately 34m fewer tons of CO2 emissions than those emitted by petrol-powered vehicles.
In addition, Toyota estimates its hybrids have saved their owners over 3bn gallons of petrol compared to petrol-only powered vehicles.
“With more than 50 hybrid vehicle models from various manufacturers available in the US today, hybrids on the road are saving nearly 500m gallons of petroleum annually in this country,” said Tony Markel, senior engineer with the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Golden, Colorado.
He recalled that DOE and NREL’s collaborative research with the auto industry, which started 20 years ago, spurred the development of hybrid-electric technology for the mainstream market to help reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum.
“With millions of hybrid vehicles on the road today, hybrid powertrains are mainstream market reality,” Markel concluded.
Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles make up 70% of the US auto industry’s total hybrid sales, while they account for 16% of overall Toyota/Lexus sales, both globally and locally. Total industry hybrid sales are roughly 3% of the nation’s car market.
Toyota and Lexus sell 19 hybrid models and one plug-in hybrid in 80 countries and regions around the world. Twelve of the models are available in the United States, including seven from Toyota and five from Lexus. They are Prius Liftback, Prius v, Prius c [as the Aqua, the top selling car in Japan], Prius Plug-in, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, Lexus CT 200h, ES 300h, GS 450h, LS 600h and RX 450h.
Of the 12 US models, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid and RX 450h are manufactured in North America with a fourth model, Highlander Hybrid, planned.
Between now and the end of 2015, Toyota will introduce 18 new hybrid models and expects global sales of its hybrids to be at least 1m units a year in the same period. TMS forecasts that about one-third of those will be sold in the United States.
“The first Prius was a surprising success and we never imagined the market would become as vast as it has for the hybrid powertrain,” said Bob Carter, TMS senior vice president of automotive operations.
Toyota’s hybrid vehicle sales in the United States began in July 2000 with the first-generation Prius and it provided consumers excellent fuel economy and reduced emissions using a precursor to Toyota’s advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive System. The high-technology nature and environmental benefits offered by this early Prius helped it appeal to a small but passionate following of early adopters.
With just 5,562 sold in the first six months, the Prius would eventually find favor with consumers helping it become the recognised symbol of hybrid technology. As a result, it has inspired the development of hybrid vehicles by competitors, with more than 50 models on the market today.
The first Prius has evolved into a modern family of vehicles, while leading to the development of a wide range of additional Toyota and Lexus hybrid models.
The company sells hybrid vehicles in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world and is committed to expanding its hybrid line-up and sales destinations.
TMC vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who was responsible for development of the first-generation Prius, welcomed the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by consumers.
“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,” Uchiyamada said.
“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.”
He said Toyota has positioned hybrid and the components needed to develop ultra-low or zero-emission cars as core environmental technologies.
Toyota plans to continue working to further raise performance, reduce costs and expand its line-up of hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles that reduce the impact on the environment.
