May 15, 2008 - Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that
worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius—the world's first mass-produced
gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle—have passed the 1 million mark, with
approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year*1.
Currently, Prius sales are robust in more than 40 countries and regions,
particularly in Japan and North America.
Based on sales figures collected up to April 30, 2008, TMC believes that
Prius vehicles worldwide have contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions
(considered a cause of global warming) by producing approximately 4.5 million
tons*2 less CO2 when compared with gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class
and of similar size and driving performance.
The Prius was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North
America and other markets in 2000. In 2005, Toyota began first overseas
production of the Prius in Changchun, China, and sales of Prius vehicles in
South Korea are expected to begin in the latter half of 2009.
In 2003, the second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System
II, was introduced with improved environmental performance and power. In August
2007, Prius G, S and S “Standard Package” Japan models achieved a fuel
efficiency of 29.6km/l in the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport's newly introduced JC08 test cycle. (The Prius S and S "Standard
Package" models achieved 35.5km/l in the older 10-15 test cycle.) The Prius is
also one of the first vehicles to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency
standards set out under the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy.
As part of its high-priority environment-management policies, Toyota has made
a concerted effort to promote and popularize hybrid technology, chiefly through
the Prius. And as hybrid technology can be applied to a wide range of vehicles,
Toyota aims to sell 1 million or more hybrid vehicles annually as early as
possible in the 2010s.
*1. Based on TMC data.
*2. Number of registered vehicles x distance
traveled x actual fuel efficiency in each country x CO2 conversion factor
