Cumulative Prius Sales in Europe Top 100,000 Vehicles
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) announced today on its website http://www.toyota-media.com that cumulative European sales of the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, have topped 100,000 vehicles. Since 2000, a total of 100,821 vehicles have been sold in Europe, with more than one third of this result achieved in the last 12 months. This achievement coincides with global sales of one million Prius, highlighting widespread acceptance of Hybrid Synergy Drive as a mainstream technology. The Toyota Prius was launched in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. In 2008, TME aims to grow total Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales by more than 20%.
Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) May 17, 2008 -- 'This achievement is the result of customers' commitment to Toyota's environmental vision,' said Thierry Dombreval, Executive Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe. 'These are customers who share our conviction that advanced technologies such as hybrid deliver a great driving experience together with best-in-class CO2 emissions.'
Backed by more than 10 years of on-road experience, the Prius this month has been named Green Engine of the Year 2008 at the International Engine of the Year Awards for the fifth consecutive time^. Adding to this success, it has also topped the J.D. Power & Associates 2008 Customer Satisfaction Index Study in the UK for the second time, receiving high marks for quality and reliability.
Toyota's hybrid technology combines a petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver the cleanest powertrain technology on the market. Hybrid technology can be applied to improve the efficiency of a variety of powertrains, whether they rely on gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Hybrids offer lower vehicle emissions, exceptional fuel efficiency, seamless acceleration and quiet driving.
Toyota and Lexus presently have four hybrid models on the market in Europe, equipped with either the Hybrid Synergy Drive® or Lexus Hybrid Drive systems. Cumulative world-wide hybrid sales are approximately 1.5 million units. Toyota has a global target of one million hybrid vehicles per year by the early 2010s, with European sales contributing more than 10% of this target.
Notes to the editors:
^Green Engine of the Year replaces the Best Fuel Economy category (awarded to Prius in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007)
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota's European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly and indirectly employs around 80,000 people in Europe and has invested almost €7 billion since 1990. In 2007, Toyota sold 1,238,638 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe, enjoying its 11th consecutive record year of sales. For more information, go to http://www.toyota.eu.
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