Sales of Toyota’s famous Prius hybrids have hit the one million mark in the United States, the car maker announced today.
The Prius has been the biggest-selling hybrid in the US since it was first launched 11 years ago.
Worldwide Prius sales topped two million in October last year; with Toyota hybrid sales globally hitting three million last month.
Commenting, Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, said: “Prius has become synonymous with the word hybrid and as we see fuel prices starting to rise again, it has accounted for more than 60 percent of hybrid passenger car sales so far this year.
“Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy, I’m proud to say that since its introduction, 13 other auto brands have seen the benefits of hybrid technology and joined the hybrid market.”
The company said that since its launch, the Prius has saved American consumers more than an estimated 881 million gallons of gas, $2.19 billion in fuel costs, and 12.4 million tons of CO2 emissions when compared to the average car.
At the North American International Auto Show held in Detroit in January, Toyota unveiled its Prius v, due to go on sale in the third quarter of this year. The Prius v is a mid-size vehicle that offers over 50 percent additional interior cargo space than the current Prius, the company said.
