Toyota surpasses 1 million milestone for sales of its hybrids in Japan

RP news wires
Tags: green manufacturing, energy management

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that cumulative sales in Japan of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 1 million mark, while more than 2.68 million units have been sold globally as of July 31, 20101.

In August 1997 in Japan, TMC launched its first hybrid vehicle, the Toyota "Coaster Hybrid EV" minibus.  In December of the same year, TMC launched the Toyota "Prius" — the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. The use of the Toyota hybrid system was subsequently expanded to such vehicles as minivans, SUVs and rear-wheel-drive sedans. In 2009, TMC broadened its range of hybrid vehicles further with the launch of the third-generation Prius, as well as two other dedicated hybrid vehicles, the Lexus "HS250h" and the Toyota "Sai".  Currently, nine TMC-produced hybrid passenger vehicle models and three hybrid commercial vehicle models are sold in Japan.

Outside Japan, eight hybrid passenger vehicle models are sold in approximately 80 countries and regions, with cumulative overseas sales having topped 1.68 million units. 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 July 31, 2010, TMC calculates that TMC hybrid vehicles2, since 1997, have led to approximately 4 million fewer tons3 of CO2 emissions — considered to be a cause of global warming — in Japan, and approximately 15 million fewer tons globally, than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority, TMC has endeavored to achieve the widespread use of hybrid vehicles. TMC's stance is to further promote the use of hybrid vehicles, through such measures as aiming to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles a year as early as possible in the 2010s, and introducing hybrid models in all vehicle series in its lineup as early as possible in the 2020s.

 

TMC Hybrid Vehicle Sales*1 (Unit = 1,000 vehicles)
Year ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03
Japan 0.3 17.7 15.3 12.5 18.5 20.0 27.2
  Cum. total 0.3 18.0 33.2 45.8 64.2 84.2 111.4
Overseas 6.5 18.5 21.4 26.1
  Cum. total 0 0 0 6.5 25.0 46.3 72.5
Global 0.3 17.7 15.3 19.0 36.9 41.3 53.3
  Cum. total 18.0 33.2 52.3 89.2 130.5 183.8
Year ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 Jan. –Jul.
'10
Japan 68.7 58.5 72.4 82.0 104.4 251.1 258.9
  Cum. total 180.1 238.6 311.0 393.0 497.4 748.6 1,007.4
Overseas 66.0 176.4 240.1 347.5 325.3 279.0 170.8
  Cum. total 138.4 314.8 554.9 902.4 1,227.7 1,506.7 1,677.4
Global 134.7 234.9 312.5 429.4 429.7 530.1 429.7
  Cum. total 318.5 553.5 866.0 1,295.4 1,725.1 2,255.2 2,684.9
*1Including Lexus brand; based on TMC data

 

TMC Hybrid Vehicle Chronology
Year Month Milestone
1997 Mar. Toyota Hybrid System 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 System 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 (RX400h outside Japan) and Kluger Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid) launched
Oct. Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 500,000 mark
Dec. Prius production commenced at SFTM's Changchun Plant, China
2006 Mar. GS450h launched in Japan
Apr. Cumulative Prius sales top 500,000 vehicles
May Camry Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan)
Jun. Redesigned Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only)
Oct. Camry Hybrid production commenced at TMMK's plant in the U.S.; Quick Delivery
200 launched (Japan only)
2007 May Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 1-million mark; LS600h/LS600hL launched
2008 Feb. Crown Hybrid unveiled (launched in April; Japan only)
May Cumulative Prius sales top 1 million vehicles
2009 Jan. RX450h unveiled (launched in April)
May Third-generation Prius launched
Jul. Camry Hybrid production commenced at the Gateway Plant, Thailand; HS250h launched
Aug. Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 2-million mark
Oct. Sai unveiled (launched in December, Japan only)
Dec. Camry Hybrid production commenced at the TMCA'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 in Japan of TMC hybrids top 1 million units

 

1Based on TMC data
2Excluding the Coaster Hybrid EV, "Dyna Hybrid", "Toyoace Hybrid" and "Quick Delivery 200"
3Number of registered vehicles × distance traveled × fuel costs (official fuel-efficiency rating in each country or region) × CO2 conversion factor