Toyota Sells 4 Million Hybrids Hybrid Sales on the Rise

Toyota Hybrids Breaking Records

Bruce Sheridan

Hybrid leader

Toyota released their very first hybrid vehicle way back in 1997, and the original Prius debuted in December of the same year. Toyota was on the ground floor of the hybrid market, and the Prius was leading the way the entire time, and now they have reached a milestone never before seen.

In April of this year, Toyota has reached 4,000,000 total hybrid vehicles sold worldwide. Toyota is clearly at the forefront of this rapidly growing segment, and they are aiming to stay at the head of the pack with the expansion of its hybrid lineup.

It was a different time 15 years ago, and concerns over fuel efficiency were not nearly what they are today. It took Toyota almost five years to sell just 100,000 new hybrid vehicles . As you might expect, demand for these new kinds of cars skyrocketed over just a few years, and it directly correlated to the increase in gas prices and concerns over the environment.

Hybrids sold		Date
0		August 1997
50,000		November 2000
100,000		March 2002
500,000		October 2005
1,000,000		May 2007
2,000,000		August 2009
3,000,000		February 2011
4,000,000		April 2012

Prius - Toyota's MVP

Achieving this kind of growth for new hybrid sales would have been a pipe dream for Toyota had it not been for the Toyota Prius. It has become the poster child for hybrid vehicles, and is the best selling hybrid vehicle of all time.

Toyota estimated that sales of the Prius over comparable but more highly polluting vehicles have directly saved the atmosphere from 26 million tones of CO2 emissions.

Nearly every model for the Prius has enjoyed success. The new 2012 Toyota Prius Plug In Hybrid hit Toyota dealers little more than two months ago, but has already become the third fastest selling vehicle in the US. Although it is only on sale in select markets, it will see a nationwide release in 2013, and these numbers are very promising for the new Prius.

There are cheaper Toyota options for people who can't quite spring for the high end hybrids but still need the most efficient vehicle they can buy. The 2012 Toyota Prius C is a subcompact Toyota car coupled with hybrid technology, making it a very affordable and fuel efficient option.

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