Toyota's Hybrids Reach a New High

Toyota's Hybrids Reach a New High

Posted on December 6, 2012

It is official. Toyota’s hybrid vehicles sales on a global scale since 1997 have reached over 4.6 million units as of October 31 of this year, with 1.02 million selling this year alone (from January 1 through October 31).

This is great news for Toyota, but many people don’t know that this achievement is helping the environment. Toyota estimated that as of October 31, 2012, Toyota hybrid vehicles sold since 1997 have reduced CO2 emissions—considered to be a leading cause of climate change—by approximately 30 million tonnes worldwide compared to the amount of emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

Another element which is helping the environment is that Toyota also estimates that its hybrid vehicles have saved approximately 11 million litres of gasoline worldwide compared to the amount used by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size.

Toyota has been the main promoter of the hybrid car. This is thanks to its business philosophy to be a leader in environmental technology. It has promoted the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles in order to meet its environmental goals and allow its customers to choose a vehicle which reduces their own environmental impact and the use of fossil fuels.

As of October 2012, Toyota has 19 hybrid vehicles and one plug-in hybrid vehicle available in 80 countries and regions around the globe. In Canada, Toyota and Lexus offer 10 of these hybrid vehicle models and one plug-in hybrid model.

On a global scale, Toyota plans to launch 21 new hybrid models by the end of 2015.  In Canada, the launch of the “Prius c” compact hybrid hatchback and rising awareness of hybrid vehicles have pushed the percentage of hybrid vehicles sold higher each year. Over 80 per cent of Canada’s hybrid vehicle sales are Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

Since the creation of the company, Toyota has always believed that hybrid technology is the basis of the twenty-first century. Not only that, it is Toyota’s technology that will enable the development of the next generation of environmentally responsible vehicles by serving as the starting-point for plug-ins, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Toyota pledges to always work on continuously improving hybrid vehicle performance and expand its hybrid vehicle lineup. All of this will be done while reducing costs. This way Toyota will be able to offer a wide-range of vehicles that will suit the needs of many vehicle buyers on the market.