Toyota Sells One-Millionth Prius in the U.S.
Automaker Toyota has announced the one-millionth sale of the Toyota Prius, a mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicle, in the United States.
It is stated to be the third milestone for Toyota’s hybrid lineup in the last six months that started with the announcement of worldwide Toyota Prius sales topping two million in October 2010 and overall global Toyota hybrid sales passing three million last month, according to the company.
“Since the Prius went on sale eleven years ago not a year has gone by when it hasn’t been the number one selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S.,” claimed Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager.
[ Also Read: Bumpy Roads Ahead for Electric Cars ]The company says more than 97 percent of all Toyota Prii sold since 2000 are still on the road.
Toyota had launched the Prius Goes Plural voting campaign at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and challenged the public to help it determine the plural nomenclature of Prius.
With 25 percent of the votes, Prii became the word not only endorsed by the public who chose it, but also as the term recognized by Toyota. (Read: Toyota Prefers Prii as the Plural of Prius)
[ Also Read: Portuguese Prime Minister to Use Electric Car ]Toyota’s comprehensive technology strategy is a portfolio approach that includes a long-term commitment to hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and battery electrics all driven by the further proliferation of conventional gas-electric hybrids, like Prius, as its core technology. (Read: Toyota Plans to Produce New Electric Vehicles)
Since it was introduced in the U.S. in 2000, Prius, when compared to the average car, 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, another claim by Toyota.
[ Also Read: Nissan Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Tennessee ]In January 2011 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota debuted the Prius v, the first vehicle to be debuted as part of the Prius family marketing strategy.
Prius v, which goes on sale in third quarter of 2011, is a mid-size vehicle that provides more than 50 percent additional interior cargo space than the current Prius.
In early 2012 Prius will launch two more Prius family members – the Prius c compact hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle.
The announcement came today, April 6.
Photo courtesy: Toyota
