Tokyo, May 22, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 4 million mark as of April 30(1).
Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority and based on its belief that environment-friendly vehicles can only truly have a positive impact if they are used widely, TMC has endeavored to promote the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles.
In 1997 in Japan, TMC launched the "Coaster Hybrid EV" in August and launched the"Prius" - the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger 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 on such vehicles as minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and compact hatchbacks. In particular, the third-generation Prius launched in May 2009 received strong support from customers around the world, leading to global cumulative sales of TMC's hybridvehicles topping 3 million vehicles by the end of February 2011.
Since then, new models such as the "Prius Alpha" and the "Aqua" have been launched.
TMC currently sells 18 hybrid, passenger vehicle models in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world. This year, hybrid vehicles have accounted for 15% of TMC's global vehicle sales. With the upcoming "Yaris Hybrid" scheduled for launch in Europe and the Lexus "ES 300h" for the United States, TMC is committed to augmenting itsproduct lineup even further and increasing the number of countries and regions in which it sells hybrid vehicles.
As of April 30, 2012, TMC calculates that TMC hybrid vehicles(2), since 1997, have led to approximately 26 million fewer tons(3)ofCO2 emissions - considered to be a cause of climate change - than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.
Having positioned hybrid technologies - consisting of the component technologies necessary for development of various environment - friendly cars - as key technologies, TMC plans to continue working to further raise performance, reduce costs, and expand its product lineup, including that of non-hybrid environment-friendly vehicles,tocreate vehicles that are popular with consumers.
TMC Hybrid Vehicle Chronology
1997
Mar: Toyota Hybrid System (THS) unveiled
Aug: Coaster Hybrid EV launched (Japan only)
Dec: Prius launched
2000
Nov: Cumulative Prius sales top 50,000 vehicles
2001
Jun: Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only)
Aug: Crown Mild Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2002
Mar: Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 100,000 mark
Aug: Cumulative Prius sales top 100,000 vehicles
2003
Apr: Toyota Hybrid SystemII(THS II) unveiled
Jul: Alphard Hybrid launched (Japan only)
Sep: Second-generation Prius launched
Nov: Dyna Hybrid and Toyoace Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2005
Mar: Harrier Hybrid (RX 400h) and Kluger Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid) launched
Oct:Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 500,000 mark
Dec: Second-generation Prius production commenced at the Changchun plant in China
2006
Mar: GS 450h launched in Japan
Apr: Cumulative Prius sales top 500,000 vehicles
May: Camry Hybridlaunched(for sale outside Japan)
Jun: Redesigned Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only)
Oct: Camry Hybrid production commenced at the TMMK's Kentucky Plant, U.S.; Quick Delivery 200 launched (Japan only)
2007
May: Cumulative hybrid vehicle salestop 1million mark; LS 600h/LS 600hL launched
2008
Feb: Crown Hybrid unveiled (launched in April; Japan only)
May: Cumulative Prius sales top 1 million vehicles
2009
Jan: RX 450h unveiled (launched in April)
May: Third-generation Prius launched
Jul:Camry Hybrid production commenced at the TMT's Gateway Plant, Thailand; HS 250h launched
Aug: Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 2 million mark
Oct: Sai unveiled (launched in December, Japan only)
Dec: Camry Hybrid production commencedat theTMCA's Altona Plant, Australia
2010
Apr: Camry Hybrid production commenced at the GTMC's plant in China
Jun: Auris Hybrid production commenced at the TMUK's Burnaston Plant, UK; Auris Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan)
Jul: Cumulative sales inJapan of TMC hybrids top 1 million vehicles
Sep: Cumulative Prius sales top 2 million vehicles
Nov: Third-generation Prius production commenced at TMT's Gateway Plant, Thailand
2011
Jan: Annual Prius sales in Japan of new vehiclesin 2010were 315,669 vehicles, the largest amount of annual sales ever recorded; CT 200h unveiled
Feb: Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 3 million mark
May: Prius alpha launched
Aug: Prius sales in Japan top 1 million mark; Camry Hybrid unveiled; Hybrid models of the Alphard and Vellfire added (launched in November, Japan only);
Oct: TMEC of China conducts cornerstone laying ceremony and announces plan to produce and sell vehicles with hybrid system produced in China jointly with China FAW Groupand GACby around 2015
Nov: Prius PHV unveiled (launched in January 2012 in Japan and March in the U.S. and scheduled for launch in Europe in the summer of 2012)
Dec: Production of third-generation Prius commenced at SFTM's Changchun Plantin China;Aqua unveiled
2012
Jan: Redesigned GS 450h launched
Feb: Start of Highlander Hybrid production at Indiana Plant in the U.S. in the second half of 2013 announced; production and sale of Camry Hybrid in Taiwan commenced
Apr: Cumulativehybrid vehicle sales top 4 million mark
(1) Based on TMC data
(2) Excluding the Coaster Hybrid EV, Dyna Hybrid, Toyoace Hybrid and Quick Delivery 200
(3) Number of registered vehicles x distance traveled x fuel efficiency (actual fuel efficiencyin each country) xCO2 conversion factor
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of March 2011, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 50 overseas manufacturing companies in 26 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. For more information, please visit
www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota
Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Public Affairs Division
Tel: +81-3-3817-9150
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