Alternative Fuels

Toyota Prius - Sales

Toyaota has now sold more than half a million petrol/electric hybrid Prius cars worldwide. Toyota launched the Prius in 1997 in Japan and started selling it overseas in 2000. It was not available in Australia until 2001.

The world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle has now sold 504,700 units up to the end of April. In the first five months of this year, Toyota sold 625 Prius which is a 21 per cent increase on the 516 sold in the same period in 2005.

Toyota hybrid registrations in Australia are now closing in on 4000.

The second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System lI, was introduced in 2003 with an emphasis on delivering both eco­friendliness and driving performance. It has been enjoying good sales in Japan and overseas, especially in North America.

The Prius is now being manufactured outside Japan for the first time, with production for the Chinese market starting in Changchun, China, in December 2006.

Overall cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota (including Lexus) hybrid vehicles passed the 600,000 mark at the end of March this year.