The Japanese manufacturer boasts that it has sold more than 15 million hybrid-powered cars since 1997. Every other Toyota sold in Europe is a hybrid today
Japan's Toyota, the company that launched and popularized the sale of modern hybrid cars, has crossed the symbolic limit of 15 million cars sold since the introduction of the Prius, the first fully mass-produced hybrid car in 1997. Since then, the global supply of Toyota and Lexus hybrid cars has grown to 44 individual models, with 19 models being offered in Europe.
The first generation Prius (pictured above) has not achieved much success, only about a hundred thousand cars have been sold, of which less than 5000 in Europe, but a breakthrough has occurred with the second-generation Prius (pictured below), which has achieved great global success. Since then, sales of Toyota hybrids have grown steadily and supply has expanded. Toyota hybrids have been particularly popular in the US and Japan throughout history, but Europe has not lagged much in recent years. So far, Toyota has sold as many as 2.8 million hybrids in Europe. The importance of hybrids for a Japanese company is shown by the following information. Specifically, in 2019, as many as 52 percents of Toyota and Lexus new sales in Europe were hybrid-powered.
Toyota's decision to develop hybrid electric vehicles began more than 25 years ago when Takeshi Uchiyamada led the team to develop 21st Century Automobiles, a car that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful substances. The first-generation Prius was introduced in 1997, at the time of the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, which gave new impetus to the environmental movement. Today, with 15 million hybrids sold later, Toyota has made a significant contribution to the environment, as its hybrid-electric technology has reduced CO2 emissions by more than 120 million tonnes worldwide today compared to the sale of equivalent gasoline vehicles.
Toyota, of course, does not intend to stop the figures of 15 million hybrids sold. New models are constantly arriving and the last of these is the Yaris Cross in a hybrid design. Toyota plans to market 40 new or refreshed electrified vehicles by 2025, including at least 10 vehicles with emissions of 0 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Despite the advent of electric and plug-in hybrid models, classic hybrids will remain a key part of Toyota's offering, with the largest share of sales.
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