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