Toyota City, Japan, Apr 17, 2013 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that cumulative global sales of its hybrid vehicles topped the 5 million unit mark as of March 31, 2013, reaching 5.125 million units(1).
Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority and based on its belief that environment-friendly vehicles can only truly have a positive impact if they are used widely, TMC has endeavored to promote the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles.
Last year, hybrid vehicles accounted for 14 percent of TMC's global vehicle sales and 40 percent of its vehicle sales in Japan. As of this month, TMC sells 19 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid model in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world, and between now and December 2015, TMC will launch a total of 18 new hybrid vehicles worldwide and is committed to augmenting its product lineup even further and increasing the number of countries and regions where it sells hybrid vehicles.
TMC calculates that as of March 31, 2013, TMC hybrid vehicles(2) have resulted in approximately 34 million fewer tons(3) of CO2 emissions - believed to be a cause of global warming - than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance. TMC also estimates that its hybrid vehicles have saved approximately 12 million kiloliters of gasoline compared to the amount used by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size.
In 1997 in Japan, TMC launched the "Coaster Hybrid EV" in August and launched the "Prius"—the worlds first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle—in December. Since then, TMC hybrid vehicles have received tremendous support from consumers around the world.
TMC Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who was responsible for development of the first-generation Prius, said: We developed the first-generation Prius with the aim of making it a car for the twenty-first century and as an indication of Toyotas response to environmental issues. We had to develop a hybrid system from scratch, making our task extremely difficult. Nevertheless, we took on the challenge. The launch of the first-generation Prius had effects beyond our expectations, with the vehicle increasing consumer environmental awareness and raising hybrid vehicle expectations. The understanding of consumers at launch time laid the foundation for the widespread adoption, and, since then, consumers have continued to support TMC hybrid vehicles. For this, I am extremely grateful.
Having positioned hybrid technologies that enable the use of different fuel combinations—including the component technologies necessary for development of various environment-friendly cars—as core environmental technologies for the twenty-first century, TMC plans to continue working to further raise performance, reduce costs, and expand its product lineup—including that of non-hybrid environment-friendly vehicles—to create vehicles that are popular with consumers.
Link to dedicated web content including a video message from Vice Chairman Uchiyamada: http://www.toyota-global.com/hv5m/.
Full press release at: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/13/04/0417.html.
(1) Including plug-in hybrid vehicles; TMC data
(2) Excluding the Coaster Hybrid EV and Quick Delivery 200
(3) Number of registered vehicles x distance traveled x fuel efficiency (actual fuel efficiency in each country) x CO2 conversion factor.
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of March 2012, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 50 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions. Toyotas vehicles are sold in more than 160 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota
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