On April 30, Toyota broke a very special record. Sales numbers of its hybrid cars rose to 9.014 million globally. An important sign, showing how hybrids grow in popularity, is also the fact that the last million units were sold in just nine months.
In the past year, Toyota added a hybrid model of the popular minivan, the Sienta and also began selling the fourth-generation Prius, which went on to become the latest hybrid icon. In China, Toyota introduced the Corolla and Levin hybrid models with locally-produced hybrid systems and spiced up their hybrid line-up by adding a hybrid model of the RAV4.
At the end of April, Toyota's hybrid fleet included 33 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid (PHV) model being offered in more than 90 countries and regions.
According to Toyota, drivers who remained loyal to the brand's hybrids ever since they launched the Coaster Hybrid EV and Prius in 1997, produced approximately 67 million fewer tons 3 of CO2 emissions and saved approximately 25 million kiloliters of gasoline compared to the amount used by gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class.
Toyota is now working to expand its lineup of hybrid vehicles even further and will work to contribute to the environment by achieving annual sales of 1.5 million units, and cumulative sales of 15 million units by 2020.