Toyota Motor Corp. announced that global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007.
Toyota launched the Prius – the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle – in Japan in 1997 and began selling it in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000. The second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II, was introduced in 2003 with an emphasis on delivering both environmental performance and power. Over time, Toyota has expanded the use of its hybrid system to minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and other vehicles. According to the company, hybrid vehicles have been enjoying good sales both in Japan and in over 40 countries and regions around the world, particularly North America. Toyota began overseas production of hybrid vehicles in Changchun, China in 2005 and in Kentucky in the United States in 2006.
Toyota has calculated that as of April 30, 2007, worldwide sales of its hybrid vehicles since 1997 have greatly contributed to reductions in CO2 emissions, which are considered a cause of global warming, by producing approximately 3.5 million fewer tons3 of CO2 compared with the same class gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.
Toyota stated that it has positioned environmental responses as a priority management issue, and as such has made a concerted effort to popularize hybrid systems. The company also stated that it will actively continue to find ways to utilize the system’s high degree of applicability to double its hybrid lineup and will aim to achieve annual sales of 1 million units in the early part of the 2010s.
