Toyota European Hybrid Sales Accelerate Past 100.000 Units

Toyota has announced that cumulative European sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles have topped the 100,000 mark.

Since hybrids were first launched in Europe in 2000, a total of 101,235 vehicles have been sold as of 31 July 2007. This achievement highlights a rapid acceleration in the uptake of hybrid vehicles, with more than 50 per cent of Toyota’s cumulative European sales achieved in the last 13 months.

The Toyota Prius – the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle – maintains its position as Toyota’s best selling hybrid, with over 73,000 vehicles sold in Europe since 2000. 

Total cumulative sales of Lexus hybrid vehicles have now exceeded 27,000 units in Europe, incorporating the launch of the LS 600h in June.

In 2007, Toyota expects its annual hybrid sales to reach 44,500 units, as part of an overall sales target for Toyota and Lexus vehicles of 1.22 million units.

“These results demonstrate a dramatic shift amongst European customers towards cleaner vehicles which offer greater fuel efficiency and a comfortable and powerful drive,” said Thierry Dombreval, Executive Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe.

“This milestone coincides with 10 years of hybrid leadership for Toyota and endorses our belief that hybrid is a mainstream technology for Europe.”

Toyota’s hybrid technology combines a petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver the cleanest engine technology on the market today. Hybrid technology can be applied effectively to improve the efficiencies on a variety of power trains irrespective of whether they rely on gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Hybrids offer lower vehicle emissions, exceptional fuel efficiency, seamless acceleration and quiet driving.

Toyota and Lexus currently have four different hybrid vehicles in their European vehicle line-up featuring either Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive or Lexus Hybrid Drive technology. Cumulative worldwide hybrid sales broke the one million unit mark in June this year. Toyota has a global target of one million hybrid sales per year by the early 2010s, with European sales comprising up to 10 per cent of this target.

[source: Toyota]