Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Prius
Toyota announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius have passed the 1 million mark. While that milestone is impressive, more astounding is the fact that sales of the gasoline/electric hybrid continue to increase year-after-year -- even without a model change.
The Toyota Prius has been sold in Japan since 1997. However, it wasn't introduced into the U.S. market until 2000 (as a 2001 model). The first compact models sold in the States didn't exactly fly out of the showroom (North American sales in 2001 were only 16,000 units), but the innovative vehicles educated customers to the benefits of hybrid technology, and paved the groundwork for the current-generation Prius with its updated Toyota Hybrid System II technology. The current model (pictured above) was first sold in 2005. As owners will boast, it is often recognized as the most fuel efficient vehicle sold in the United States. With fuel prices skyrocketing, the gas-sipping sedan has been hot from day one, regardless of its looks or ergonomics. In 2005, Toyota pushed 109,000 units out the door. Last year, 183,000 found new homes in North America alone and through the first four months of 2008, over 107,000 have been sold. If going green is your thing and the current model doesn't do it for you, Toyota will introduce the 3rd-generation Prius in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
[Source: Toyota Motor Corporation]
PRESS RELEASE
Worldwide Prius Sales Top 1 Million Mark
May 15, 2008 - Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius-the world's first mass-produced gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle-have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year*1. Currently, Prius sales are robust in more than 40 countries and regions, particularly in Japan and North America.
Based on sales figures collected up to April 30, 2008, TMC believes that Prius vehicles worldwide have contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions (considered a cause of global warming) by producing approximately 4.5 million tons*2 less CO2 when compared with gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class and of similar size and driving performance.
The Prius was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other markets in 2000. In 2005, Toyota began first overseas production of the Prius in Changchun, China, and sales of Prius vehicles in South Korea are expected to begin in the latter half of 2009.
In 2003, the second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II, was introduced with improved environmental performance and power. In August 2007, Prius G, S and S "Standard Package" Japan models achieved a fuel efficiency of 29.6km/l in the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's newly introduced JC08 test cycle. (The Prius S and S "Standard Package" models achieved 35.5km/l in the older 10-15 test cycle.) The Prius is also one of the first vehicles to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards set out under the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy.
As part of its high-priority environment-management policies, Toyota has made a concerted effort to promote and popularize hybrid technology, chiefly through the Prius. And as hybrid technology can be applied to a wide range of vehicles, Toyota aims to sell 1 million or more hybrid vehicles annually as early as possible in the 2010s.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
IK47 @ May 15th 2008 2:28PM
Honda needs to bring back the insight
so much cooler looking / better than the prius!
psarhjinian @ May 15th 2008 3:39PM
I loved the Insight, but it really wasn't practical, even compared to the first-gen Prius:
* No back seat. This is pretty much a dealbreaker as the kind of people who buy two-seaters are probably just as likely to own a bike (on one end of the spectrum) or buy a Tesla (on the other).
* Not a lot of cargo space, despite the hatch.
* Really slow. Slower than both the Prius and akin to the CDI Smart.
* IMA wasn't as impressive as HSD.
Honda does need to get back into the game, and with something more versatile than the Civic. I always thought the Element would make a good choice; it shares the Civic's platform, has more than enough cargo space to sacrifice to battery, is versatile and has curb appeal.
Johnnie @ May 15th 2008 2:35PM
I know very little about hybrids.
Could someone please tell me what the expectancy of the batteries in these cars are? Do they weaken over time? How much are they to replace?
Are there any issues with the electrical power in an accident? Has anyone been shocked.
I can totally see the benefit to electrical power, but are their downsides later on that might require large amounts of money to repair?
Thanks for any input.
GROM @ May 15th 2008 2:49PM
There are no repairs(for batteries) . I know of 2 plp that have had their prius's for about 7 yrs with 100K + miles on and they have been perfect in every sence of the word. Batteries are still going strong.
Personally I can't wait for the next generation of this car, so I can buy it. I live in Los Angeles and as you all know the traffic is TERRIBLE, so this car is perfect for stop and go traffic.
I hope the styling will improve a bit in the next generation model so plp will have one less excuse to buy it.
I have taken a 200 mile road trip in this car and I can't tell you how super conftable the ride is. That road trip we did 45 mpg all highway miles going 80 mph or so.
MarcT @ May 15th 2008 4:44PM
"Could someone please tell me what the expectancy of the batteries in these cars are? Do they weaken over time? How much are they to replace?"
Not one case of a car needing its battery replaced has occurred in the 10 years of hybrid sales. Additionally, taxi drivers have been citing reports of driving 200,000 miles on their hybrids with no battery issues. The batteries are expected to last the life of the vehicle and are recyclable (to the tune of a couple hundred bucks) at that point.
"Are there any issues with the electrical power in an accident? Has anyone been shocked."
No one has been nurt in emergency procedures involving the electrical systems of hybrids. Can the same be said for exploding gasoline engines?
"I can totally see the benefit to electrical power, but are their downsides later on that might require large amounts of money to repair?"
Electrical systems are much less subject to the wear and tear of Internal Combustion Engines. Their reliability over the past 10 years has been remarkable.
Corey W. @ May 15th 2008 2:38PM
...just wished it had better styling.
steve @ May 15th 2008 2:43PM
ok toyota time to make the light duty hybrid pick up,please
psarhjinian @ May 15th 2008 4:34PM
It's function over form. You're going to see a lot more cars that look like this as gas gets more expensive, so you may want to acclimatize to it's looks now.
Corey W. @ May 16th 2008 8:37AM
Function over form will never happen to me. A vehicle is more than something that's get me from point A to B. Once the industry is that lame and forces such a mind set, I'll just get a used 3 cylinder Metro and live out of a small travel trailer.
Kevin @ May 15th 2008 2:52PM
1,000,000+ uninspiring, boring, glacially (almost dangerously, with the way people around here drive) slow mobile penalty boxes/ego inflation devices. What a joyous occasion.
Brent @ May 15th 2008 3:01PM
It is called transportation. Not a lifestyle.
MKIV @ May 15th 2008 3:06PM
Kevin,
I'm still waiting to hear your solution to the environmental problem.
Bryan @ May 15th 2008 3:34PM
@Brent
Why are you reading Autoblog??
Kevin @ May 15th 2008 3:35PM
Brent:
It is indeed. And the Prius (along with every other vehicle in the current U.S. market Toyota linuep save for possibly the FJ) is the poster child for vehicles as transportation appliances. No character, no style, no passion, nothing but the automotive equivalent of a washing machine. Typical Toyota. What Car & Driver said about the Echo can be applied across every model they currently sell in the U.S.; "(the car is) Metamucil for the road-you'll go, and you'll be glad when it's over." Toyota, and the Prius in particular, are representative of the death march that the concept of an automobile as an expression of individualism has been on for the past 30+ years. If you're happy being a sheeple in a beige Camry, or an Accord, or whatever, more power to you. Personally, I think it's sad.
MKIV:
One car does not solve "the environmental problem". 1,000,000 Priuses do not solve (or even siginificantly mitgate) the "environmental problem." Coal, oil, and gas powerplants produce an enormous amount of pollution in their own right, and most "green" solutions such as hydroelectric and solar power have enormous environmental footprints of their own, either through habitat destruction at the site of the powerplant, through the chemicals used in the process of manufacturing materials for the powerplants, or both. The biggest step the U.S.-and indeed, the world-could take towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and temporarily mitigating some of the environmental issues would be a complete switch to nuclear fission as a source of electric power until such time as nuclear fusion is practical. This would also net a surplus of energy large enough to electrolyse water into hydrogen and oxygen, allowing the development of cars (both internal combustion and fuel cell) that operate on hydrogen and produce, effectively, zero tailpipe emissions. But that's not going to happen because the ecoterrorists like those running the state of California are delusional, uneducated idiots that have a knee-jerk reaction to the word "nuclear".
On a more practical level, small displacement CDI and GDI engines with engine start/stop technology, using efficient automatic, CVT, or manual transmissions are a viable alternative to hybrids in small cars like the Prius. But beyond that, it's not the fact that the Prius is a hybrid that makes me dislike it. As I said in my response to Brent, it's the fact that it is the automotive equivalent of a Maytag. It's not a car, it's an appliance. It belongs on the showroom floor at Sears between the washing machines, the refrigerators and the lawnmowers. Build a hybrid that has some redeeming qualities like the Accord or GS450h (performance), or the Honda Insight (looks), and I'll have some respect for it.
MarcT @ May 15th 2008 4:54PM
"1,000,000 Priuses do not solve (or even siginificantly mitgate) the "environmental problem."
4.5 miilion tons of CO2 not spewing into the atmosphere. I'd say 1 million Priuses have made a difference. Plus the millios of barrels less oil that has been used, and the fewer smog forming emissions.
"small displacement CDI and GDI engines with engine start/stop technology, using efficient automatic, CVT, or manual transmissions are a viable alternative to hybrids in small cars like the Prius."
Small displacement would mean small and slow, thats just not a practical solution. Older tech CDI engines spew smog-forming emissions, and the new ones that spew less are costly. Start/stop would be great on all vehicles, You can thank the Prius for that. Priuses and many other hybrids use efficient ehgines and transmissions to maximize fuel economy on top of the electric assist.
So basically your argument comes down to how it looks. Thats a pretty shallow argument. I dont like the way the Civic looks. So what, that doesnt mean it's a bad car.
PJ @ May 15th 2008 5:03PM
"No character, no style, no passion, nothing but the automotive equivalent of a washing machine."
Have you driven an Focus, Impala, Cobalt or Taurus lately? With the possible, and then only partial, exeption of a handful of models from Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, et al, all affordable (i.e. under $30K) high-volume mainstream cars are forgettable drives. At their price points, they all drive remarkably alike, too.
People who don't like cars prefer a shallow learning curve when they buy a new one. The market reflects this.
Any perception of non-Toyotas or -Hondas being more interesting, I think, can be chaled up to that individual's emotional attachments to a badge.
LloydChiro @ May 15th 2008 5:50PM
I voted you up, Kevin. I'm looking at one now across the street from my office. Is it possible for one car to induce immediate headache and nausea? I would say yes: the Aztec, and the Prius.
I think half of those millions were sold in my area. Every time I take my favorite mountain road home, I'm surrounded by Priuses. And what are they doing? They're driving very slowly. I'm sure they have one eye on the computer readout and one eye on the herbal tea in the cupholder. "Astonishing! I averaged 45mpg on Bennett Valley road today. Next time I'm going for 48!"
Save money and get off my road: Take the bus.
John @ May 15th 2008 8:42PM
The Prius is as ugly as the Aztec. The only reason they are popular is the "I care more than you" attitude and fashion statement about the environment.
The Civic hybrid is a much better vehicle.
tekdemon @ May 16th 2008 3:43PM
You guys can keep telling yourself that it's only popular because it's a statement, but I knew it was going to be a BIG deal for Toyota ever since they launched the website to preview the 2nd generation Prius. When I saw it I knew that this was when hybrids would become real volume-selling vehicles.
First off, while it's styling is not exactly hot, do you remember how the 1st generation looked?! This thing is leaps and bounds better.
Secondly, it was FAR more practical than the only other hybrid on the market at the time, the Insight.
And finally? It is STILL both more affordable, and gets better mileage, than a Civic Hybrid.
Do you know why? Because Toyota's been making hybrid drives for so long that they have their cost for the powertrain down to $4500 a car. NO OTHER MANUFACTURER can build a hybrid powertrain this cheaply, it costs GM more than $10K right now for every hybrid they build.
So why do people buy the Prius? Because it makes the most financial sense! It has excellent resale (back when the supply was less it would often resell over MSRP), has the best mileage, and is cheaper than the other hybrids on the road. What a shocker that it would also be the highest volume seller.
Yes there are SOME people who buy it as some lame enviro-fad crap, but then the L.A. trendy-types buy all sorts of stupid crap to stay up on trends. How do you think half those luxury cars get their sales?!
Mobius_1 @ May 18th 2008 11:43AM
@ MKIV
First, as someone said, there are far more polluting things than cars, and if you decide to focus on transport, there are several good ways of lowering environmental impact
1, Public transport. What exactly is wrong with buses and the like? Is it un-American or un-cool to be taking public transport whilst a Prius is cool? If we all used public transport it would likely solve many problems like congestion
2. Legs. Walking would solve congestion and pollution, and even the obesity problem, ok so it's slow but if you do live that far from work, take the bus
Of course, if you can't do either, then feel free to buy a car (EVEN a Prius, though small petrol cars are almost as good, and better looking, and faster, and cheaper, and nicer, and... and...)