Tokyo — Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) announces today that global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 2-million mark, with more than 2.01 million units sold worldwide as of Aug. 31, 2009.
In 1997 in Japan, TMC launched the "Coaster Hybrid EV" in August and launched the "Prius" — the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle — in December. Sales of the Prius began in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000. Next came the second-generation Prius in 2003 and the expanded use of TMC’s hybrid system to such vehicles as minivans, SUVs and rear-wheel-drive sedans. On May 31, 2007, the global cumulative sales of TMC’s hybrid vehicles topped 1 million.
This year, TMC continued to expand its hybrid vehicle lineup, launching the Lexus "RX450h" in April, the third-generation Prius in May and the Lexus "HS250h" — the first dedicated Lexus hybrid model — in July. All three vehicles have been well received and are expected to contribute to the popularization of hybrid vehicles. TMC currently sells 13 hybrid vehicle models in approximately 50 countries and regions around the world, including three commercial vehicle models in Japan. TMC is committed to augmenting this lineup even further and increasing the number of countries and regions in which it sells hybrid vehicles.
As of Aug. 31, 2009, TMC calculates that TMC hybrid vehicles, since 1997, have led to approximately 11 million fewer tons of CO
