| The Toyota Motor Corp. said last Thursday | | | | warming. |
| that global sales of its hybrid vehicles, | | | | |
| which were first introduced a decade ago, | | | | "Toyota is clearly ahead of the pack in |
| have topped one million - a landmark record | | | | hybrids," said Tsuyoshi Mochimaru, an auto |
| for the fast-rising Japanese automaker. | | | | analyst with Deutsche Securities in Tokyo. |
| | | | Although most automakers are offering |
| Toyota's cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles | | | | hybrids, the Japanese automaker has the |
| totaled 1.047 million as of the end of May. | | | | advantage of selling the technology in its |
| Of those hybrids, nearly 345,000 were sold in | | | | products for nearly ten years, and using |
| Japan and 702,000 abroad, the company said in | | | | feedback from drivers to make enhancements. |
| a statement. | | | | The company does not only rely on information |
| | | | from laboratories and testing, it also delves |
| The Prius is the apparent hybrid leader, with | | | | deeper to include the consumers. This is also |
| a total of 757,600 units sold since its | | | | done in the BMW radiator and other auto parts |
| launch in 1997 in Japan. The Japanese | | | | from the German automaker. This is to secure |
| automaker began selling the Prius in North | | | | the quality of the product lines. |
| America, Europe and other places in 2000. In | | | | |
| 2006, the model made up more than 40 percent | | | | Toyota, a world leader in gas-and-electric |
| of hybrid sales in the United States. | | | | cars, believes hybrid technology is the way |
| | | | of the future. This is why it broadens its |
| The Prius is the first mass-produced and | | | | offers to include the Camry hybrid and the |
| marketed hybrid car. It went on sale in Japan | | | | Lexus hybrids. "Hybrids will play a key role |
| in 1997, and worldwide in 2001. By the end of | | | | throughout our lineup," Toyota spokesman Paul |
| 2003, about 160,000 units had been produced | | | | Nolasco said. "That means all vehicle |
| for sale in Japan, Europe, and North America. | | | | categories." |
| The Prius has also accumulated several awards | | | | |
| including Car of the Year for Europe, Japan | | | | But not all hybrids sell well. Hybrid SUVs, |
| and North America. But the hybrid became most | | | | for instance, have struggled in sales |
| famous for its fuel economy feature. The U.S. | | | | compared to the Prius. This is partly because |
| Environmental Protection Agency's revised | | | | an SUV does not have a green image to start |
| fuel economy procedure rates the hybrid at 48 | | | | with, analysts said. Sales of Toyota's RX400h |
| mpg city driving and 45 mpg on the highway. | | | | hybrid SUV, sold as the Harrier in Japan, has |
| | | | reached 85,000 worldwide since it was |
| In the U.S., the Prius initially attracted | | | | launched in 2005. Another hybrid SUV, the |
| purchasers interested in its low particulate | | | | Highlander, known as the Kluger in Japan, has |
| emissions, advanced technology, and high fuel | | | | sold 67,000 over the same period. On the |
| economy. In the previous year, demand for the | | | | contrary, the Prius, has sold 478,800 units |
| hybrid widened for a number of reasons. They | | | | since the start of 2005. |
| include the rising gasoline prices, federal | | | | |
| tax credits, as well as privileges for hybrid | | | | Toyota continuously reiterates that the |
| drivers. States like California, Maryland and | | | | hybrid is the single big ecological |
| Virginia allowed single-occupant hybrid | | | | technology of the future, holding more |
| vehicles in HOV-lanes. | | | | potential than the diesel or other |
| | | | innovations. The company's officials said |
| At present, the demand for hybrids, which | | | | that hybrids will continue to be important, |
| offer superior mileage by shifting between a | | | | even with the advent of more futuristic |
| gasoline engine and the electric motor, has | | | | technologies like the electric vehicle and |
| dramatically increased amid rising oil prices | | | | fuel-cells that run on hydrogen. |
| and greater consumer concern about global | | | | |