Global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrids hit 5 million

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has announced that as of 31 March 2013, the cumulative sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid-models has surpassed the five million mark, totaling 5.125 million units worldwide, a figure that includes both regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Based on the company’s own estimates, and your guess is as good as ours how they reached these figures, the five million plus Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles have saved the planet some 34 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions compared to if their places were taken by regular petrol vehicles of similar size and power. On the consumption front, Toyota estimates savings of some 12 million kilolitres of fuel, which when written in numbers is 12,000,000,000 litres

In 2012, some 14% of TMC’s global sales volume was accounted for by hybrid vehicles. Response is even better in the Japanese domestic market, where 40% of the company’s vehicle sales are hybrid models. Currently, TMC has 19 hybrid-powered models (plus one plug-in hybrid) in the Toyota and Lexus line-up marketed in approximately 80 countries around the world. Over the next two and a half years, TMC commits to launch a total of 18 new hybrid models worldwide.

TMC’s affiliation with hybrid started in 1997 with the launch of the Coaster Hybrid EV in August that year followed by the first-generation Prius in December. Reflecting on what was a lengthy journey, TMC Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who was himself responsible for the first-gen Prius’ development said, “We developed the first-generation Prius with the aim of making it a car for the twenty-first century and as an indication of Toyota’s response to environmental issues.”

Uchiyamada then continued, “We had to develop a hybrid system from scratch, making our task extremely difficult. Nevertheless, we took on the challenge. The launch of the first-generation Prius had effects beyond our expectations, with the vehicle increasing consumer environmental awareness and raising hybrid vehicle expectations. The understanding of consumers at launch time laid the foundation for the widespread adoption, and, since then, consumers have continued to support TMC hybrid vehicles. For this, I am extremely grateful.”

KON