Hybrid Car Review

Although Toyota started selling the Prius in 1997, it wasn't until 2007 the 1 million milestone was passed. After that, it only took until 2009 to pass the 2 million mark. Now, with the incentives still in full swing and a backlog of orders, hybrid sales in Japan alone have passed the million marker. The Prius has been the top selling car in Japan for 15 months straight.

Worldwide sales have topped 2.68 million.

Toyota estimates that the hybrid vehicles they have sold since 1997 have led to approximately 4 million fewer tons3 of CO2 emissions—considered to be a cause of global warming—in Japan, and approximately 15 million fewer tons globally, than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

TMC Hybrid Vehicle Chronology
Year Month Milestone
1997 Mar. Toyota Hybrid System unveiled
1997 Aug. Coaster Hybrid EV launched (Japan only)
1997 Dec. Prius launched
2000 Nov. Cumulative Prius sales top 50,000 vehicles
2001 Jun. Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2001 Aug. Crown Mild Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2002 Mar. Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 100,000 mark
2002 Aug. Cumulative Prius sales top 100,000 vehicles
2003 Apr. Toyota Hybrid System II unveiled
2003 Jul. Alphard Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2003 Sep. Second-generation Prius launched
2003 Nov. Dyna Hybrid and Toyoace Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2005 Mar. Harrier Hybrid (RX400h outside Japan) and Kluger Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid) launched
2005 Oct. Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 500,000 mark
2005 Dec. Prius production commenced at SFTM's Changchun Plant, China
2006 Mar. GS450h launched in Japan
2006 Apr. Cumulative Prius sales top 500,000 vehicles
2006 May Camry Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan)
2006 Jun. Redesigned Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only)
2006 Oct. Camry Hybrid production commenced at TMMK's plant in the U.S.; Quick Delivery
2007 May Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 1-million mark; LS600h/LS600hL launched
2008 Feb. Crown Hybrid unveiled (launched in April; Japan only)
2008 May Cumulative Prius sales top 1 million vehicles
2009 Jan. RX450h unveiled (launched in April)
2009 May Third-generation Prius launched
2009 Jul. Camry Hybrid production commenced at the Gateway Plant, Thailand; HS250h launched
2009 Aug. Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 2-million mark
2009 Oct. Sai unveiled (launched in December, Japan only)
2009 Dec. Camry Hybrid production commenced at the TMCA's Altona Plant, Australia
2010 Apr. Camry Hybrid production commenced at the GTMC's plant in China
2010 Jun. Auris Hybrid production commenced at the TMUK's Burnaston Plant, UK; Auris Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan)
2010 Jul. Cumulative sales in Japan of TMC hybrids top 1 million units