Going green by the millions: Toyota’s hybrid sales top 3 million units

2010 Toyota Prius
2010 Toyota Prius

Spurred by strong demand of its Prius model, Toyota has topped 3 million hybrid sales. The world’s leading auto manufacturer has sold over 3.03 million gas-electric hybrid vehicles since the Prius first rolled out in Japan back in ’97. The flagship model accounts for over 70% of the company’s global hybrid sales.

Of the 7.53 million units sold last year by Toyota, 690,000 were hybrids. North American sales have surged to reach 1.15 million units, up from 5,790 in 2000.

Toyota has far outsold its rivals on hybrids, with Honda having sold 610,000 units worldwide, and Nissan’s domestic sales of hybrids totaling 1,900 as of February. Nissan, which launched hybrid sales in North America in 2007, was unable to furnish numbers for the region.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Detroit News