Toyota Has Sold More Than 5 Million Hybrid Vehicles, Have Become "Core Technology"

Toyota recently announced that it sold more than five million hybrid vehicle, which has "resulted in approximately 34 million fewer tons of CO₂ emissions than those emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles" and saved their owners more than 3 BILLION gallons of gas compared to gasoline-only counterparts.

1997 Toyota Prius

Toyota has come a long way since first introducing the Toyota Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, in 1997. Toyota had sold 5.125 million hybrids by the end of March. According to this Washington-Post article, "Toyota’s hybrid vehicles now account for 14 percent of its global sales and 40 percent of its sales in Japan. Toyota Motor Corp. sells 19 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid, and is promising 18 new hybrids from now through December 2015."

The thought of having 18 new Toyota hybrid models in the next two years is very exciting to think about considering the amazing hybrid vehicles, like the various members of the Toyota Prius family, Toyota has already produced.

"What an achievement for this technology to have grown this widespread,” said Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, known as “the father of the Prius” for having led the team that developed the hit model. “I believe there is a lot more room for this technology to grow,” he told reporters at Toyota’s Tokyo office Wednesday."

2013 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius and other Toyota hybrid vehicles have made hybrid technology mainstream, helping preserve the environment and their owner's bank account as gasoline prices have only skyrocketed since the Toyota Prius first came on the scene 15 years ago, when the average cost of a gallon of unleaded gasoline was...ready for it?...$1.23! Here in the Seattle-area we feel the sticker shock of the price of gasoline more than most of the country, so it makes sense that the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles have found a welcoming home here.

“With more than 50 hybrid vehicle models from various manufacturers available in the U.S. today, hybrids on the road are saving nearly 500 million gallons of petroleum annually in this country,” said Tony Markel, senior engineer with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Golden, Colo.

According to the Toyota press release, "Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles make up 70 percent of the U.S. auto industry’s total hybrid sales, while they account for 16 percent of overall Toyota/Lexus sales, both globally and locally. Total industry hybrid sales are roughly three percent of the nation’s car market."

Now that's impressive considering Uchiyamada had to beg for production to be increased from 300 per month to 1,000 per month when the Toyota Prius first went into production (and it sold more than 5,000 units in the first six months), but he doesn't need to beg now that, as he stated, hybrid technology has become "core technology" to the auto industry.

2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Prius has exceeded everyone's expectation, including Toyota's: “The first Prius was a surprising success and we never imagined the market would become as vast as it has for the hybrid powertrain,” said Bob Carter, TMS senior vice president of automotive operations.

If you don't own a Toyota Prius or have ever test-driven one, now is the time to join the hybrid-vehicle family of more than five million! Save yourself money on gas and do a small part to preserve the beautiful Pacific Northwest that we all love.

Stop by Burien Toyota, your Toyota Prius headquarters, to check out our inventory of the all new Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. In fact, you can lease a 2013 Toyota Prius from Burien Toyota for only $299 per month! Stop by today!