Global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have topped the 500,000 mark, with approximately 513,000 units sold worldwide by the end of October this year.
Toyota launched the Prius — the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle — in Japan in 1997 and began selling it in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000.
In 2001, it added in Japan the Estima Hybrid minivan, the Crown luxury sedan mild hybrid and the Dyna light-duty hybrid truck.
In 2003 came the second-generation Prius with a new-generation hybrid system based on the concept of Hybrid Synergy Drive.
In 2005, it expanded use of this system to the Lexus RX400h and the Highlander Hybrid.
Toyota is preparing a Hybrid Synergy Drive-based hybrid system for rear-wheel-drive passenger vehicles and expects to introduce it on the Lexus GS450h, scheduled for launch in spring 2006.
Brian Byrne.
