World October 2012: Toyota sells one-millionth hybrid this year

Toyota Prius v

* See the worldwide sales of Toyota/Lexus hybrid models in detail by clicking on the title! *

Toyota announced today that it has sold its one millionth hybrid for 2012 during October, with the total worldwide hybrid sales for the group this year standing at 1,028,900 after 10 months this year. This is the first time Toyota or any vehicle manufacturer sells over 1 million hybrids in a single year, and the year-to-date total is already up 64% on the Full Year 2011 result of 628,989 sales, a record at the time. This means about 14% of Toyota’s global sales this year are powered by hybrid technology, and for example in the USA the Toyota Group holds around 67% of the hybrid/electric car market.

1997 Toyota Prius

Since the first Prius was launched in Japan in 1997, Toyota has sold 4.6 million hybrid cars worldwide, including 2 million in Japan, in the process saving over 11 million litres of petrol. 74% of Toyota’s 2012 hybrid sales are delivered by the Prius family, which welcomed 3 new members in the last 12 months: the Prius v, Prius c (aka Aqua) and Prius plug-in.

Toyota Prius

The ‘traditional’ Prius still leads the way however, with 316,600 units year-to-date in 2012 and cumulative total sales since the launch of the first generation in 1997 up to a staggering 2.8 million… The Prius c, boosted by its exceptional success in Japan where, sold as the Aqua, it managed to become the best-selling passenger car in the country last month, has sold a total of 259,700 units globally in 2012 so far, while the Prius v is at 159,700. Apart from Japan, the Prius family is already the best-selling vehicle in California.

Full details on Toyota’s worldwide hybrid sales are below.