TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) recently announced it has sold more than 2 million hybrid vehicles since the launch of its Coaster Hybrid EV and Prius models in 1997.

Cumulative sales of the Prius represent 71% of the global hybrid total, at slightly more than 1.4 million units. Camry hybrid is the second-most popular, with 8.3% of total sales, or slightly more than 167,000 units, followed by the RX400h/450h, with 7.3%, or more than 146,000 units.

In the US, Toyota has sold more than 1,041 thousand hybrids, and in Japan, some 615.8 thousand hybrids.

As of August 31, 2009, TMC calculates that TMC hybrid vehicles, since 1997, have led to approximately 11 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions—considered to be a cause of global warming—than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

The news also coincided with Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) report that cumulative hybrid sales in Europe have topped the 200,000 mark, with 50% of sales recorded in the last 24 months. TME has sold a total of 202,126 Toyota and Lexus hybrids since introducing Europe’s first commercial hybrid in 2000.

The third generation Toyota Prius, which is currently being launched in Europe, has generated more than 17,000 additional customer orders since June 2009. Lexus remains the only premium brand in Europe to offer three full hybrids as part of its range: the GS 450h, the LS 600h and the newly-launched RX 450h. Together, these models comprise more than 40% of Lexus sales in Europe, and as much as 52% in Western Europe alone.

Toyota has a global target of one million hybrid sales per year by the early 2010s, with European sales representing up to 10% of this target. In July, TME announced that it would manufacture a hybrid version of its C-segment hatchback, Auris, in the United Kingdom from mid-2010.

Sources: TMC, Green Car Congress

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